May 2017: I’ve had fun recording and performing with world music outfit, Sligo-based ” dynamic folk orchestra” NoCrows in the past year. We recorded album number 5, “Why Us?” with Rían Trench in Wicklow, in September 2016. The album was released at the turn of 2017 and we’ve played the tracks live. Its proven to me that NoCrows is a band that should gig the tunes before we record them. Most of the CD we had played the tunes for a while but the tracks that we hadn’t gigged have improved with every live performance since. I’ve two original tracks on the album. The odd little song “Metal Man” co-written with my friend David Lyttle on Coney Island a year previous, and rearranged by the band, is one of them. Its got some airplay on RTE radio 1 and Lyric fm. Its about our well known Sligo landmark, which has been a fascination of mine since we spoent holidays each August in Rosses Point in my youth. Some of my earliest memories are of Rosses Point, which looks out to Coney Island in Sligo Bay. The Metal Man stands there since 1821, guiding ships to shore.
In January and February 2017 we did some Irish gigs, and the material was so well received, it was very rewarding. Then it was our annual trip to Switzerland in March and early April. That was a real joy. The sun shone all the way and the gigs were pretty much all sellouts, and the new stuff went down so well. Its a great band to tour with, Oleg, Steve bouncing off each other all the time (musically I mean) on the two fiddles, Felip having the craic with the crowd and Anna translating when she has to. Ray Coen is growing in stature in this band and heis energy and musicianship is such a great addition to the whole affair.
Last weekend we played the wonderful Fiddle Fair in Baltimore Co. Cork. It was a joy. Wonderful outdoor natural amphitheatre, sunshine, lovely warm audience, we would love to have stayed longer (especially after the 7 hour trip by car there!)
As I write this we are readying ourselves for another trip to Belgium for some gigs next week. One Netherlands gig in the middle too… should be fun!