Whiskey Still

Whiskey Still has become one of the most sought after shows for festivals in Europe and next year they look forward to a new cd and touring u.s.a....yes its all go for Sara ,Paul,Brendan and Paddy. Irish roots group whiskey still are the only irish group chosen to play for 10 nights in a row at tall ships race in Rouen France
Whiskey Still have charmed audiences all over europe and are now booking 2009/2010 ...... Management & Booking Bernard Maillard Tel 00 33 388684738 [email protected]
The most exciting new ballad groups in Dublin at the moment has to be Dubliners "Whiskey Still" I had the privilege of sharing the stage with them in Switzerland a few weeks ago & the reaction they got from a packed audience each night of their shows, said it all. It was fabulous!
With some changes in personnel along the way, "Whiskey Still" have been together as a band for over 6 years now. The most senior member (& founder of the origonal group) is Brendan Leeson.
Brendan has bucket loads of experience in the ballad business. He started with "The Weavers" back in the 60s & since then has been in "The Quare Fellas" featuring Patsy Watchorn & Sean McGuinness, which later became a little known trad outfit called "The Dublin City Ramblers" :-) Brendean also founded "The Buskers" with Paul Furey & Davey Arthur, with whom he toured England, Scotland & Canada throughout the 70s. Paul Furey & Davey Arthur joined up with "The Furey Brothers" & the rest is a story for another day. From there, Brendan joined "Rakish Paddy" in the 80s, which I personally believe, in their day, were the best ballad group in Dublin with Sean Og McKenna (Barneys brother) on tenor banjo, Gerry Crilly on guitar, Noel Carroll also on guitar & Brendan Leeson, himself on five string banjo. As with "Whiskey Still" now, each member of "Rakish Paddy" shared the vocals, of course & every show was one to remember. "Rakish Paddy" made one LP which is now a collectors item. In the year 2000, Brendan joined up with Paddy Leonard, Karen Doherty & Martin Dempsey to form the origonal "Whiskey Still" line up, which I believe has reached it's definitve peak since Martin Dempsey was replaced by Paul Holohan. Brendan has an extraordinary repertoire of ballads at his disposal & leads the band, as they take in the familiar, fun & crowd-pleasing tunes, jigs & reels alongside the more mysterious, contemplative, storytelling ballads.
Paddy Leonard plays guitar & sings in "Whiskey Still" He has a fine singing voice & a great collection of ballads up his sleeve, in his cap and wherever else he can fit them! Paddy's been in the ballad business since 1982, when he started playing with a group called "Smugglers" He continued with them for 2 years before forming "Coopers Trade" & later joined "Simplicity" with PJ Crowe formerly of "The Jackabites" .."Simplicity" played all over Dublin, as well as nationwide & their reputation at live shows garnered them a standing invitation to play a heart warming Christmas show in Birmingham every year. Paddy is now the front man with "Whiskey Still" & as popular among audiences for his colourful banter as he is for his fine singing voice. Paddy can turn in a melodic ballad like few other singers on the trad/folk/bluegrass scene, but most importantly makes sure NO ONE leaves a "Whiskey Still" show feeling left out!
Paul Holohan is bass player & singer with "Whiskey Still" Paul also plays keyboard & is an excellent songwriter. His background is varied, but most notably took shape in the vibrant 60s pop/rock scene of Dublin's hip & trendy. Paul was origonally a member of the poll & chart topping sixties Irish beat group "The ByeLaws" ..& I should mention that I have great admiration for the guitar Paul plays. It is a classic old school Rickenbacker bass guitar (the same model as Paul McCartney played through most of he days in Wings & clutches in the cover artwork of 'Pipes Of Peace') In the 60s, "The ByeLaws" were actually managed by the same management company as "The Dubliners" & after his time with "The ByeLaws" had ended, Paul moved to Canada with his own band "Lola and The Gipsies" who's extensive tours took in nightclubs, theatres & prisons (yes, prisons! ..move over Johnny Cash!) in the U.S. & Canade alike. On his return from Canada, in the late 70s, Paul made a foray back into to the Irish music scene which felt like a return to his roots as he grew up playing Irish music on his very first instrument, the piano accordion
Sarah Lang started playing with the group "Vagabond" at the tender age of 15! Sarah has since recorded an album of Irish traditional music with Pat Fitzpatrick & set to tape a version of "Song for Ireland" for The Temple Inn company. She has often played fiddle with Dublin based Celtic Rock band "Bag of the Laughs" & although still in her early twenties, Sarah plays & sings trad, ballads and bluegrass, with the expertise of a seasoned musician ..
So, yes, collectively "Whiskey Still" are one the finest working live groups in Dublin today. If you like what you hear here & you want to catch them live, every weekend in the prestigious Johnny Foxs Show (Friday nights) and Johnny Foxs bar (Thursday nights).
WHISKEY STILL est en ce moment l'un des groupes de ballades les plus excitants à Dublin.EN SAVOIR +
CELTIC WONDERS Whiskey Still + Celtic Desire Un spectacle irlandais plein de magie, de poésie, de musique et de danse EN SAVOIR +
Management & Booking Bernard Maillard Tel 00 33 388684738 [email protected]
Soirée cabaret irlandais Spectacle irlandais avec musiques, danses traditionnelles et cuisine irlandaise EN SAVOIR +.
Whiskey Still est en ce moment l'un des groupes de ballades les plus excitants à Dublin se produisant régulièrement devant des salles combles à travers l'Europe. Après quelques changements dans la formation, ils sont ensembles depuis plus de 6 ans,Brendan Leeson (banjo 5 cordes et chant) en étant le fondateur. Les racines musicales de Brendan remontent à l'époque des "Weavers" et des "Quare Fellas" dans les années 60. Plus tard, dans les années 70, il forme "The Buskers" avec Paul Furey et Davey Arthur et tourne aux USA et en Europe. Dans les années 80, on le retrouve menant "Rakish Paddy" à l'époque réputé comme le meilleur groupe de ballade de Dublin. Aujourd'hui Brendan mène Whiskey Still à travers une diversité de ballades, pleines d'humour, contemplatives, et parfois ironiques et mystiques.Paddy Leonard (guitare et chant) a commencé sa carrière avec les "Smugglers" en 1982, qu'il quitta 2 ans plus tard pour former "Coopers Trade". Il commence alors à jouer avec "Simplicity" qui devient très populaire à Dublin. Apprécié du public l'excellente voix de Paddy et ses plaisanteries colorées, font de lui le leader naturel de Whiskey Still.Paul Holohan (basse et chant) est également un bon pianiste et un excellent compositeur. Sa carrière remonte également aux années 60. Il fut membre des "Byelaws" groupe pop régulièrement en tête des hit parade et qui avaient le même management que les "Dubliners". Après les "Byelaws" Paul tourne au Canada et aux USA avec son propre groupe "Lola and the Gipsies". La fin des années 70 voit Paul revenir à Dublin et jouer de l'accordéon avec de nombreux groupes locaux avant de rejoindre Whiskey Still jouant de la même basse Rickenbacker que Paul Mc Cartney !Sarah Lang (violon et chant) a commencé à jouer dans le groupe "Vagabond" à l'age de 15 ans ! Sarah a depuis enregistré un album de musique traditionnelle irlandaise avec Pat Fitzpatrick et commencé à enregistrer une version de "Song for Ireland" pour la Temple Inn Company. Elle a souvent joué avec le groupe de Rock Celtic de Dublin "Bag of the Laughs" et bien qu'âgée d'une vingtaine d'années seulement, Sarah joue et chante de la musique traditionnelle, des ballades et du bluegrass, avec l'expérience d'un musicien chevronné !(Background By ni-photos.JMCWD.com)
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