This
Album has now been deleted from the Tara Music Catalogue
"When
four of Ireland's top traditional musicians, of the calibre
of Brendan Begley (vocals, accordion), Paul O'Shaughnessy
(fiddle), Paul McGrattan (flute) and Noel O'Grady (bouzouki),
come together to form a new group you know you are in for
something very special and that's exactly what you get with
'Beginish. Their combined talents provide for a vibrant
and exciting live show of music and song."
Beginish first came together
in 1996 (under the name Samhain) with a series of performances
throughout Ireland that spawned overwhelming pubic interest
and a string of television appearances. This potent ensemble,
which gathers together in one place some of the most significant
musical talent in Ireland today, draws on the combined successes
of its members both as solo artists and as members of Ireland's
most important groups of the last 30 years. Their music
is most deeply rooted in the West Kerry and Donegal styles.
Both of these regional styles, while quite distinct from
one another, are noted for what the Irish call "swing",
an infectious lift and danceability.
Since
October 1997, Beginish has toured in Ireland, Finland, Canada,
England, and Scotland. They performed in Switzerland and
Germany with the Irish Folk Festival Tour 1999. They are
also frequent visitors to the U.S, appearing at festivals
in San Francisco, Washington, Philadelphia Irish Festival,
Cincinnati, Ohio and Raleigh, North Carolina. They've also
appeared at the Edinburgh and Copenhagen Folk Festivals
and the Queens Arts Festival in Belfast. In 2001 they were
the hit of the Milwaukee Irish Festival. Their debut CD,
Beginish, was released in February 1998.
The Band, who have recently
been joined by top guitar player Gavin Rolston have recently
finished recording their long-awaited second album. We hope
to have further details in the near future.
Buy Beginish CD online
Paul McGrattan , who comes from Dublin's northside,
has been playing flute since an early age and is now regarded
as one of the top traditional flute players in Ireland.
His first influence was the South Donegal fiddle tradition,
which he heard on his holidays in the area as a child, later
influences were his uncle Paddy Treacy, Seán Potts
and Sligo flute player John Egan. As well as a duet album
with Paul O'Shaughnessy "Within a Mile of Dublin' he has
also released a fine solo album 'The Frost is All Over'.
When not performing with the group Paul spends much of his
time teaching the next generation of flute players.
Paul O'Shaughnessy , who also comes
from Dublin's northside, spent much of his youth in Donegal
where he developed a love and talent for fiddle playing
not only from his mother, Pearl McBride but also from the
playing of Antoin MacGabhann and John Doherty. It was here
also that he met and played with musicians such as Frankie
Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh whom he later
joined, for a number of years, as a member of the group
Altan.
Brendan Begley , comes from a family
background steeped in the rich Kerry traditions of music,
song, dance and storytelling. We is highly regarded for
his skills as an accordion and melodeon player and singer
and these aspects of his artistry are well represented on
his recently released second solo album 'We Wont go Home
'Till Morning'. Brendan has recorded with 'The Chieftains'
and 'The Boys of the Lough' and has appeared on television,
radio and at live concerts throughout Europe and the USA.
Noel O'Grady , who hails from Co.
Mayo on the west coast of Ireland has long been regarded
as one of the top bouzouki players in traditional Irish
music circles. After a spell living and playing in London
he returned to his native Mayo where he has been kept busy
appearing live and in studio backing some of the genre's
top soloist including Matt Molly, Charlie Lennon Maighread
& Triona Ní Dhomhnaill as well as an appearance with
Liam O'Flynn's Given Note Band.
