Lúnasa is a traditional Irish music group, named after Lughnasadh, an ancient harvest festival. They tour and perform internationally, and have recorded a number of albums of both traditional and contemporary Irish instrumental music.
History Lúnasa was founded in 1997 when Sean Smyth, John McSherry and Steve Cooney teamed up to tour Smyth's solo album, The Blue Fiddle. They called in Mike McGoldrick, a friend of McSherry's, and toured as a four-piece. As the band was taking off, Cooney bowed out.
In the meantime, Smyth was touring in Scandinavia with the rhythmical duo Donogh Hennessy and Trevor Hutchinson, and recruited them to join the band."Lúnasa The Merry Sisters of Fate". The Irish Music Review, by Geoff Wallis, reprinted from FRoots Magazine. Calling themselves Lúnasa, they began performing and touring; the first album, Lúnasa, was recorded while the group was on tour in 1998 and released to critical acclaim."Lúnasa brings traditional Irish tunes to Cumberland". Susan McDonald / Providence Journal, Feb 23, 2017
McGoldrick and McSherry were becoming increasingly busy with other projects and left the band. Kevin Crawford then joined the band and various other pipers stepped in for McSherry. McSherry and McGoldrick were again called upon to record the second album, Otherworld. It was after this album that piper Cillian Vallely joined the band."Festival Review Mighty music parts the clouds in Maryland" by Earle Hitchner, Irishecho.com
In 1999, the group signed a three-year contract with Green Linnet Records, and that October released their second album, Otherworld. In December 2000, they appeared on A Thistle and Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh. In 2002, their highly acclaimed album The Merry Sisters of Fate was released; this was followed by 2003's Redwood, which was released late due to a feud with the label. Ultimately the band terminated their contract.
In 2004, Lúnasa signed up with Compass Records and recorded The Kinnitty Sessions before a live audience in Kinnitty Castle, County Offaly. That same year, Donogh Hennessy left the group, being replaced by Tim Edey and Paul Meehan who each played half the tracks on the album Sé. Tim Edey left shortly after, and Paul Meehan became the band's guitarist.
In 2008, the band released a compilation album, Lúnasa: The Story So Far, with representative recordings from the band's first eleven years."Lúnasa: The Story So Far". The Green Man Review"Strong roots" The Irish Times, Mar 28, 2008, by SIOBHAN LONG
Released in April 2010, the band's following album, Lá Nua, was the first release on the band's own record label, Lúnasa Records."Lúnasa". The Irish Times, May 28, 2010, by SIOBHAN LONG That same month, the band also performed on the Natalie Merchant album Leave Your Sleep. Meehan left the group in late 2011 and was replaced by Ed Boyd.
In 2018, the band released the album CAS which features guest vocalists Natalie Merchant, Daoirí Farrell, Tim O'Brien, Eric Bibb, and Mary Chapin Carpenter."Lúnasa hits the road after first album in 7 years". Albuquerque Journal, by Adrian Gomez, 18 February 2018
The group has toured and performed in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Line-up
Current members Seán Smyth – Fiddle, whistles Kevin Crawford – Flutes, whistles Trevor Hutchinson – Double bass Cillian Vallely – Uilleann pipes, whistles Ed Boyd – Guitar Colin Farrell – Fiddle, whistles Patrick Doocey – Guitar
Former members Tim Edey – guitar Donogh Hennessy – guitar Michael McGoldrick – Uilleann pipes, flute, whistle John McSherry – Uilleann pipes Paul Meehan – Guitar, bouzouki, mandolin
Discography
Studio albums
Lúnasa (1998) Otherworld (1999) The Merry Sisters of Fate (2001) Redwood (2003) The Kinnitty Sessions (2004) Sé (2006) Lá Nua (2010) CAS (2018)
Live albums Lúnasa with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (2013) Live in Kyoto (2024)
Compilation albums The Rough Guide to Irish Music (1996) The Story So Far... (2008) The Leitrim Equation featuring Lúnasa (2009) (features Lúnasa and other Irish musicians)
References
External links
lunasamusic.com – the official website.