Limerick.com - the city of Frank McCourt & Angela's Ashes

Brúadar' -New Co.Clare Traditional Group release first CD

Brúadar a new Co. Clare based traditional group released their first cd in December of last year. The album 'Brúadar' was released on their -own label and supported by a bank loan.

Musically the quintet resembles The Bothy Band on speed with lightning fast blast of flute and uilleann pipes supported by banjo fiddle and guitars. The band comprises of Michael O'Connell (Uileann Pipes/Whistles/ etc), Karol Lynch (Banjo/Keyboards) Barra Mac Allister (Flutes/Whistles) with Josie Harrington (Vocals/Guitar) and Liam Joyce (Guitar/Fiddle/Vocals).

Distribution has been arranged for the album and local shops are selling it and the reaction was incredibly positive. I was at their launch gig in Dolan's Warehouse in December and was blown away with their ability and their music.

They play traditional music with an almost punkish arrogance and display great panache and originality in their tunes.

Vocally Josie Harrington is very promising as a singer and songwriter cross Sinead Lohan with Cathy Jordan and you have her in a nutshell. Brúadar's debut album 'Brúadar' is available from the band and they also have a website www.brúadar.f2s.com and email ceolbruadar@hotmail.com.

Peggy's Leg -Grinilla Classic Irish Rock on CD

Irish Progressive rock band Peggy's Leg at last release their 1973 classic album 'Grinilla' on cd. Fronted by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jimi Slevin and also featuring guitarist Jimmy Gibson, bassist Vincent Duffy and drummer Don Harris they recorded their one album 'Grinilla' in 1973 and released it on their own Bunch label. The album featured six original tracks 'History Tells' (Slevin), 'Think for Yourself' (Gibson), 'Variations for Huxley' (Slevin), 'Into the Nightmare' (Gibson), 'Just Another Journey' (Gibson, Slevin) and 'Sabre Dance' (Khachaturian) along with an 11 minute bonus track 'Son of Girilla' (Slevin, Harris, Gibson) recorded live in Dublin in 1974. This adds considerably to the original package and surpasses the previous album in both sound and packaging. Peggy's Leg was one of the most popular groups of their time in Ireland and packed clubs and concert halls throughout the country. Their music was an original mix of Classics, Folk and melodic hard rock featuring the guitar talents of Jimi Slevin and Jimmy Gibson.

Copies of 'Grinilla' have been fetching up to £600 on collectors markets and several low quality bootleg versions existed at one time now to conquer all this Jimi Slevin has re-mastered the original album tapes and remixed them for cd. Currently living in Germany where he runs his own studio Riteroad Studios he has seen to the remixing and re-mastering of his back catalogue. 'Grinilla' is packaged in an attractive booklet with original album artwork, lyrics and exclusive photographs and released by UK collectors label Kissing Spell Records. Kissing Spell's website is www.kissingspell.com and Jimi Slevin's website is at www.jimislevin.com