John Wynne, John McEvoy & Brian McGrath
"Roscommon flute player John Wynne and Birmingham-born fiddler John McEvoy make sprightly, uncluttered music: filigree playing that stitches the two instruments together seamlessly.” - The Irish Times.
Following the success of their 2007
album Pride of the West, renowned duo, John Wynne (Flute) and John McEvoy
(Fiddle), are set to unveil their new album, The Dancer at the Fair. Joining
the much celebrated duet are John Doyle on guitar and mandola, Mike McCague,
bouzouki and guitar, Brian McGrath, keyboards, and Pádraic Keane on bodhrán – a
stellar line-up of accompanists. There are twelve tracks on the album and the
tune choice is spot-on, blending the old and the new in captivating medleys,
alongside straight reel, jig, and hornpipe tracks, including the playful title
track The Dancer at the Fair. As one would expect from these experienced
performers, their music is fresh and natural under both finger and bow and
executed with a crisp energy and deftness. Recorded in Malbay Studios, Co.
Clare, the clarity of sound is maintained throughout, as this celebration of
flute and fiddle wends its way with liveliness and sensitivity through each
track. Wynne and McEvoy are seasoned performers with a wealth of experience and
rich history of Collaboration, having played with a variety of groups and partners
over the years and toured extensively across Europe, the USA, and New Zealand.
As members of the acclaimed group Gatehouse their captivating performances have
garnered praise and admiration.
"We felt there was another one in
us and we’re excited about bringing our music to audiences and touring with
this new album,” says John Wynne. The Dancer at the Fair promises to be a
captivating listening experience for fans of traditional Irish music as Wynne
and McEvoy continue to inspire and delight audiences with their exceptional
talent and artistry.
Joining John Wynne and John McEvoy
in the Crosskeys will be Brian
McGrath who comes from Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, an area steeped in
traditional music. Brian’s first professional work was with Dervish. He then
joined Four Men And A Dog and played on the award-winning album Barking Mad. He
moved his career on, accompanying Noel Hill, Paul Brock and Frankie Gavin,
among others, before joining the Sean Keane Band as pianist. Brian joined De
Dannan where he stayed till the band broke up in 2003. Brian now plays with At
The Racket, and is much sought after as a session musician on piano, banjo and
mandolin. He has toured extensively, playing with all the biggest names in
Irish traditional music, including Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, John Carty, Matt
Molloy, Paul Brock, Charlie Lennon, Joe Burke, Sean Maguire, Brian Rooney,
Cathal Hayden, Joe Derrane, Arty McGlynn, Alec Finn, Alan Kelly, Dolores Keane,
Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming, Steve Cooney and Eleanor Shanley, as well as
doing extensive TV and media work.