Whelan’s Trad & Folk Festival in association with Smithwick’s Irish Ales presents
NO CROWS
plus support
PADRAIG JACK
Whelan’s Main Venue • Wed 14th August 2024
Also appearing at WHELAN’S TRAD & FOLK FESTIVAL:
Aug 12th: EOGHAN Ó CEANNABHÁIN
Aug 13th: JOHN DOYLE & MICK MCAULEY
Aug 15th: SEAMAS HYLAND + KEVIN MEEHAN [FREE]
Aug 16th: SINSAOL [FREE]
Aug 17th: SEAN R. MCLAUGHLIN & THE WIND-UP CROWS + BRIARS [FREE]
NO CROWS
NoCrows, a dynamic world music orchestra from Sligo’s diverse music scene, formed in 2005 via a casual session in Sligo’s famous Shoot the Crows pub, hence the curious band name. The group eventually grew into an eclectic six piece playing mostly original material which could be filed under “World Music”. With 3 members from Ireland, the other three hailing from Siberia, Switzerland and Mallorca, the band’s original material reflects the diverse individual members’ musical backgrounds, spanning Irish traditional, rumba, classical, jazz, rock, and Balkan music. NoCrows has since enthralled audiences at top European festivals such as Glastonbury, Dranouter, Sitges Live, Sligo Live, and on tour in several European countries, particularly in Anna’s native Switzerland. In 2019 NoCrows was awarded Band of the Year at renowned arts venue Zehntscheuer, Ravensburg, Germany. It wasn’t until 2022, however, that the band made their debut in France, performing at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
After six CD releases, NoCrows have recently launched their very first limited- edition vinyl album, eponymously titled NoCrows. The LP is a remastered-for- vinyl “Best Of” collection plus bonus tracks, new compositions written during the lockdown of 2020/21.
NoCrows is:
Anna Houston: Cello, Mandolin, Vocals Eddie Lee: Bass, vocals
Felip Carbonell: Guitar, vocals
Oleg Ponomarev: Violin
Ray Coen: Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals Steve Wickham: Fiddle & Vocals
PADRAIG JACK
Equally comfortable writing in two languages, Irish singer-songwriter Padraig Jack releases his next single ‘These Shores’ on May 10th, the third single to be taken from his upcoming sophomore album. Listen here
Padraig blends Irish Gaelic and English together in this haunting track which asserts a proud feeling of Irishness celebrating the Celtic ‘culture of our own’ that has been ‘strewn afar’ around the world and the distinguished position that Ireland now holds in the world after centuries of rebelling against its colonial rulers. The lyrics of ‘These Shores’ acknowledge that Ireland is not without sin and that we should perhaps at some point ‘forgive those who trespassed against us’ in order to ‘shape a new beginning’ to move forward.
Padraig Jack (O Flaithearta) was born into a musical family from the Aran Islands. His dad is the songwriter Barry Ronan and he is the nephew of the Irish poet and Aosdána member Mary O’Malley. A native of Inis Mór which has produced writers Liam O Flaithearta, Máirtín Ó Direáin and Breandán Ó hEithir, Padraig is proudly bilingual both as a conversationalist and a songwriter.
Jack’s songwriting heroes include James Taylor, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson, Enya, and Jimmy McCarthy and he seeks to develop his own songwriting style in the Irish language also. With plaudits from industry legends like Mike Scott, Sharon Shannon and Miles Hunt, and laudatory reviews from the likes of Hot Press, Padraig Jack has already made his mark on the Irish music scene.
‘These Shores’ was written and composed by Padraig Jack and features Aisling Jack Ní Fhlaithearta on backing vocals, Anthony Thistlethwaite on mandolin, Sean McKeown on uilleann pipes and whistle, Fergal Scahill on fiddle, Cathal Jack on bass, and John Reynolds on percussion. The track is produced by John Reynolds and mixed by Alex Borwick.
Padraig Jack will follow up his debut album Making Sand with his second album in October 2024.
TICKETS
€16.50 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar