KERN - Monday, Feb 13, 2017

KERN is a contemporary folk band from County Louth, and they'll play their debut BAG gig in Mick Murphy's Bar, in Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, on Monday, Feb 13th. Doors open at 8:30pm for a 9pm start.

www.kernmusic.com

An introduction to the music, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JbYaClJvck
'The Hard Wind' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU2jKLnVb2I

The Band: Brendan McCreanor is a thrilling uilleann piper who has worked extensively in both traditional music and in contemporary crossover projects. By contrast, SJ McArdle is a well-known rock and folk musician, a published songwriter and singer (songs from his three albums have featured in film, TV and radio and he has toured extensively - including playing BAG on several occasions). And Barry Kieran is a former Leinster champion fiddler, steeped in the raw, pure music of Oriel. All three men are from Louth, and this is reflected in their repertoire, which includes tunes and songs from all over the county as well as self-written new ones.

False Deceiver is their brand new debut album. It is a true blend, in terms of its mood, its styles and its musicians. Thunderous sets of traditional tunes vie with lyrical, atmospheric songs, all underpinned by the production of legendary Lúnasa and Waterboys bassist Trevor Hutchinson. As a result, False Deceiver manages to be emotional without being sentimental, traditional yet contemporary.

The band has been featured on RTE Lyric FM's, The Blue of the Night, RTE Radio 1's Ceilí House, numerous shows on Raidio na Gaeilge and are soon playing on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show. Kern have already played a host of festivals and concerts, including Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Drogheda Arts Festival, Vantastival, Dingle Tradfest and Baltimore Fiddle Fair to name only a few.

Praise for False Deceiver:
"Quite lovely ... an intriguing release. Those interested in trad music that crosses over into singer/songwriter territory will find this album particularly attractive, but its accessibility will have easy appeal to general audiences. Thumbs up!" – Irish Echo

“The instrumental tracks on the album are absolutely superb. (In “The Hard Wind”) SJ McArdle has written a really fine and brave song ... really interesting, powerful and complex”– Mike Harding

“Gorgeous. It’s been a while since I heard something traditional this sweet and good.” – Susan McKeown

John Spillane - Monday, Feb 6, 2017

Perennial BAG favourite, John Spillane returns to kick off 2017's BAG gigs in Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, on Monday, February 6th. Unusually, John wasn't with us in 2016, so it's great to welcome him back - he's played Ballymore pretty much every year for the past 20 years. Doors open at 8:30pm for a 9pm show. Admission is €15.

www.johnspillane.com

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer – a canvass filled with color and brilliance.  His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience.  In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic.

What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference.  Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop – that’s fine with John.  He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes.

John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane, to name a few from the home stage, and Blues/Roots artiste, Brooks Williams, from the USA. He performs to audiences large and small everywhere.

BAG Gig Schedule - February to May 2017

The BAG Spring 2017 gig schedule is now fully booked. All dates are Monday nights. All gigs are in Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, and start at 9pm, with doors open at 8:30pm. Admission to each gig is €12, unless otherwise noted.

The descriptions included below are a guide to the type of music each artist plays. Descriptions are subjective, and can mean different things to different people, so for a real flavour of the music, follow the links to artist websites, where you'll find samples of what you can expect. Suffice to say: it's all good!

Feb. 6 - John Spillane (IRL) - Folk - http://www.johnspillane.com/ Admission: €15

Feb. 13 - Kern (IRL) - Folk/Trad - http://kernmusic.com/

Feb. 20 - HATS (IRL) - Folk/Blues/Roots - www.hatssongs.com

Feb. 27 - Mark Geary (IRL) - Indie/Folk - http://markgeary.com/

March 6 - Ger Wolfe (IRL) - Folk - http://www.gerwolfe.com/

March 13 - Peter Byrne & Conor Mahony (IRL) - Folk/reinterpretation - https://www.facebook.com/peterbyrneconormahony/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QGR_ISa2uY

March 20 - Susan Tomelty & Pat Farrell (IRL) - Blues/Roots - http://www.susantomelty.ie/

March 27 - Pat Coldrick (IRL) - Classical, but so much more - http://www.patcoldrick.com/

April 3 - Brooksie Wells (USA) - Roots/Americana - http://www.brooksiewells.com/

April 10 - Luan Parle & Clive Barnes (IRL) - Folk/Country/Roots - http://www.luanparle.com/

April 24 - John Statz (USA) - Alt. Folk/Americana - http://johnstatz.com/

May 8 - Cormac O'Caoimh (IRL) - Indie/Folk/Pop - http://www.thecitadels.net/

May 15 - Krista Detor (USA) - Alt. Folk/Indie - http://kristadetor.com/

May 22 - Tim Grimm and The Family Band (USA) - Roots/Americana/Folk - http://timgrimm.com/

May 29 - Roy Thompson (IRL) - Folk/Roots/Country - https://www.facebook.com/roythompsonmusic/

Thank-you.

Music knows no boundaries, and music fans of many nationalities and cultural identities have, and continue to support this little gig. The reach of this Blog, now, is quite extraordinary, and in the past week, the greatest number of views has originated in Russia!
So, as we come to the end of another successful year for BAG, may I just say thank-you to everyone involved in making it so. To all the wonderful acts who came and played for us; to local B&Bs for providing home comforts to musicians far from home; to various local press outlets for helping to publicise gigs; to the Murphy family for hosting us; and, finally, to all of you who come along on a Monday night to listen to great music, and support touring musicians - I offer my heartfelt thanks.
We take a break now until early February 2017, when we'll be back with a terrific schedule of gigs for the Spring. Until then, whether or not you celebrate the impending festivities, and however you mark the turning of the year, may I wish each and every one of you peace and joy until we meet again.

6th Annual 'Vibe for Larry' - Friday, Dec. 9th

Photo by Mike Lindauer - bassist, friend, and former golf partner of Larry's!

The BAG year wraps up with the 6th Annual 'Vibe For Larry', which will take place in Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare on Friday, December 9th at 8pm. No cover charge. All welcome.

The purpose of this night is to bring together friends and family of the late Larry Roddy, to honour his memory by doing some of the things that made him happiest - making music, singing songs, telling stories and raising a few glasses while doing so. The night takes the form of an open, fully acoustic session that any performer can join in, play a tune, sing, give a recitation, tell a story, raise a toast, etc.

So, for those who didn't know him: who was Larry Roddy?

Well, firstly, he was my friend. One of my dearest friends. He was a gentleman; a gentle man. A quiet, humble man; a man beloved and missed by so many since his death in 2010.

Those who didn't know him privately, probably best knew him as a music promoter. But that term does not adequately describe his contribution to the live music scene in Ireland. Since the mid-60s when the great Blues Revival began in the UK, Larry brought to Ireland some of the cream of the American Bluesmen, including Mississippi Fred McDowell. Later, he branched out into Folk and Roots music too, booking tours, and acting as Irish Agent for many overseas acts from the four corners of the globe. Names like Jeff Lang and Bruce Mathiske from Australia; Chris Smither and Geoff Muldaur from the US; Johnny Dickinson and Paul Lamb from the UK; John Spillane and Ger Wolfe from Ireland, and so many more. Names, and music, that many of us may never have heard, but for Larry's love of the music, and a desire to bring it to fans who shared that love. He continued to put on gigs, through loss and illness, right up until the end.

The gig in Ballymore Eustace was started by Larry nearly 25 years ago, and with any luck will continue for the same again! So, on Friday Dec. 9th, we'll come together to celebrate music, with music, and to fondly remember Larry, and the many, many, magic nights he gave us.

See ye in Mick's!

I Draw Slow - Monday, December 5th, 2016 - ** 2016 Finale **

www.idrawslow.wordpress.com

I Draw Slow play BAG @ Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare on Monday, December 5th. Doors open at 8:30pm. Admission is €15.

This is the last gig of 2016, so come along and let's finish this year with a flourish!

I Draw Slow fool many people at first listen - their alt-country/Bluegrass/Appalachian sound is so authentic, one could be excused for assuming this Irish band is actually from the U.S. But, there is no affectation in their sound; it is honest, respectful to the musical traditions that underpin it, and distinctly original.
At times, you hear an old time string band; at others, an Irish Trad session. Throughout it all, you hear superb musicianship, tied together with the vocal ribbon that is Louise Holden's rich voice, and to further embellish the package, lush harmonies abound.

With three albums under their belt - 'Downside' 2008; 'Redhills' 2011; 'White Wave Chapel' 2014, I Draw Slow, who are currently signed to U.S. Bluegrass label, Pinecastle Records, are in the process of recording their fourth album, 'Turn Your Face To The Sun', and there's a crowd-funding campaign where you can get involved. Details, here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/idrawslow

Ten years of recording and touring the world have honed this band into one of the finest folk/roots/Americana acts this country - or any other, for that matter - has produced, and it is in live performance that they are at their best. So, here's your chance to catch them locally. Spread the word, come along, and be prepared to be blown away!

Videos:
'Valentine': https://idrawslow.wordpress.com/video/valentine-video/
'Goldmine': https://idrawslow.wordpress.com/video/goldmine-video/
'Swans': https://idrawslow.wordpress.com/video/swans-video/
'Cry Help': https://idrawslow.wordpress.com/video/cry-help-live-video/

John Blek (Solo) - Monday, November 28, 2016

John Blek returns to BAG @ Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, to play a solo show on Monday, November 28th. Doors open at 8:30pm. Admission is €12

John's previous BAG appearances have been very well received, and its a pleasure to welcome back this gentle giant (he's six foot five!) from Cork in support of his cracking second debut album. There's an old soul in the body of this young man, that manifests itself in a sound that could easily take root somewhere between the deep South, and the great mid-western plains of America. Known for some time now as a fine songwriter and singer, on 'Cut The Light' John Blek's guitar playing comes to the fore. His efforts to further develop his already considerable guitar talents have paid off, and the listener is treated to some fine, fine playing and instrumentation.

Watch/listen to 'Little Sparrow', here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkuTP88qkq4

and 'Take Me Home', here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iygAM0b1xj4

www.johnblekandtherats.com

John Blek has announced the release of his highly anticipated second solo album entitled “Cut the Light”. This sophomore outing will be hitting shelves and online stores on the 30th  September 2016.

The album was recorded in Bantry, West Cork, Ireland over a period of four days in early spring. A collection of eleven original contemporary folk songs carefully crafted and documented with the help of Davie Ryan (Drums), Brian Hassett (Bass Guitar) and Brian Casey (Producer). With a sound that harks back to that of Bert Jansch and Liege & Lief era Fairport Convention, “Cut the Light” is likely to become a favourite amongst both new listeners and existing fans.

“Cut the Light is an album I have wanted to record for quite a while. I pushed myself to become a better instrumentalist and songwriter on these songs and really focused on creating a collection of pieces that could live together on a cohesive album. It’s something I’m very proud of...…. “ John Blek

Blek is constantly proving himself to be a prolific writer of some of the most beautiful folk music being created today, both solo and with his band John Blek & the Rats. It is less than 12 months since the band released their last record and already John is ready to share his latest work “Cut the Light”.

The album is being put out independently in Ireland on John Blek and the Rats own WARR label and through Tonetoaster Records in Germany. It will be available on CD, 180 gram Vinyl and MP3.