In May I will be out and about playing some concerts with the Kathleen Boyle band. I’m really looking forward to playing some gigs on the accordion and also at home in Scotland.  The band line up will be Kathleen Boyle – accordion, Martin O’Neill – bodhran, Jenna Reid – fiddle and Ewan Robertson on Guitar.

Here are the dates and venues

May 21      The Polish Club, Kirkcaldy
01592 653645 doors 8pm.

May 22      The Old Brewery, Cromarty
01381 600277 doors 7.30pm

May 23     CCA, Glasgow
0141 352 4900 doors 8pm
http://cca-glasgow.com/home

So come along as see us, would love to see you there!

Kathleen

I’d thought I’d drop by and let you know what i’ve been up to recently. 2009 started at Celtic Connections with a sold out show at the Tron Theatre on Jan 23rd. This was the very first Kathleen Boyle gig here in Scotland and it’s was fantastic to have a full house in my hometown Glasgow. There were plenty of familiar faces in the audience and a few new ones too so thanks a million for coming out to see us, hope you had as much a good time as we did. The band line up was Jenna Reid (fiddle), Martin O’Neill (Bodhran), Ewan Robertson (Guitar), Heidi Talbot (Vocals) and there were a few guest surprises from Hughie Boyle (Accordion), Michelle Burke (Vocals) and Phil Cunningham (Piano). A big thanks goes out to Cammy Young on sound, Kevin Morris, Donald Shaw, Debra Salem for a great first half, everyone at the Tron Theatre and Cheryl & Jack Turner as official flower presenters!

Earlier in the week the band recorded a few sets for the BBC Alba show Horo Gheallaidh so look out for it in the near future. We will also be out on tour in May 2009 so keep an eye on the website for gigs, we’d love to see you there.

After Celtic Connections it was time to head off to America to play piano with our band Cherish the Ladies. Every January we perform as part of an Irish festival cruise in the Caribbean and this years cruise was fantastic as ever. Performers included Cherish the Ladies, Maura O’Connell, Don Stiffe, The Black Brothers, Johnny McEvoy, Tommy Sands, The Matt Cunningham Band, John Gleeson, Mike Mazur, Donny Golden and Dan Stacey. 

We called at the ports of St. Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados and San Juan. This years cruise was particularly special as I had my parents, Hughie and Kathleen with me and they had a brilliant time. Can’t wait for the next one already!

I’m now back in New York and we’re about to start our Feb tour. I’m really looking forward to Alaska next week, I’ve heard so many great reports and I can’t wait to experience it for myself. I’ll be out here in America for the next few months with the Cherish crew so if you’re anywhere near us come along to a concert, check us out on cherishtheladies.com.

That’s all now

KTx

I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be playing at Celtic Connections on Jan 23rd in the Tron Theatre at 8pm. It’s my first solo gig at the festival although I’ve performed there many times with Cherish the Ladies and Dochas. The band line up will be Kathleen Boyle – accordion, Martin O’Neill – Bodhran, Jenna Reid – fiddle, Ewan Robertson – guitar, & Heidi Talbot – vocals. We will be performing material from my new solo cd “An Cailin Rua” and I’m really looking forward to playing a concert at home in Glasgow. So come along and catch the gig we’d love to see you there!

Kathleen x

We have just finished a run of dates with our Cherish the Ladies “Irish Homecoming” show. We performed in Dayton Ohio, Wilmington North Carolina, Cerritos California and finishing up with two sold out shows in Iowa City.  We had a blast performing alongside Maura O’Connell, Jimmy Keane & Pat Broaders of Bohola, Dermot Henry, Liz Caroll and Dáithí Sproule, Dan Stacey and a fabulous troup of Irish dancers.  A big thanks goes out to all the venue staff and crew who looked after us extremely well and made us very welcome. Also a huge thanks to John Murray who as ever did a fantastic job on sound.

We will be performing more “Irish Homecoming” shows in April 2009 so keep an eye on the the tour dates for any shows near you.

We’re now starting off our Cherish the Ladies November tour which takes us all over the country and ends on November 22nd in Calicoon NY.  On Wednesday we kick started the tour with a sold out show in Okoboji, Iowa and are looking forward to the rest of the dates after the great reception we received.  So check out the tour dates and see if you can make it along to one of the shows, we’d love to see you there!

Here’s a review of our “Irish Homecoming” show in Iowa City.

By Diana Nollen
The Gazette
diana.nollen@gazettecommunications.com

IOWA CITY — “An Irish Homecoming” is part bonfire, part pep rally and a major victory for performers and audience alike.

The Celtic music and dance celebration filled The Englert Theatre with a footstompin’, hand-clapping hooley Thursday night for the first of two sold-out performances from Hancher’s relocated season.

Brogues, jigs and feet flew through the air for 2 1/2 hours, led by the New York-based Cherish the Ladies and its sassy Irish whistle maven, Joanie Madden. Joining the six marvelous ladies onstage were powerhouse singer Maura O’Connell; hilarious singer/guitarist Dermot Henry; mesmerizing accordion/bouzar duo Bohola; seven champion stepdancers; and five high-stepping lasses from Claddagh Irish Dancers in Dubuque, clad in their gorgeous solo dresses.

That was nearly more talent than the Englert stage could hold. I’m sure the dancers would have liked a little more room for the flinging finale, but it was really special to experience this show in such an intimate setting. Being close enough to see Cherish’s Mirella Murray smile blissfully as she played her accordion, seated next to Bohola’s Jimmy Keane who played his accordion with his eyes closed, lost in the reverie, added an unexpected layer of enjoyment. And to see the flying footwork up close was beyond thrilling.

Throughout the show, the masterful musicianship, from jubilant jigs and rollicking reels to heart-wrenching ballads, made it hard to sit still. Several songs sparked spontaneous bursts of hand-clapping, hoots and hollers — not surprising from a region home to the lively County Johnson Irish, SaPaDaPaSos and Wylde Neptiles.

The songs just kept rolling from the tireless players. Even though the groups have separate identities and established repertoires, the most amazing thing was the way they could blend seamlessly when playing as one. They traded melodies and harmonies, stepping into the spotlight and just as easily slipping into supporting roles, offering their own spontaneous stomps and whoops after especially fiery passages.

Just as captivating were the quiet moments, when Michelle Burke wrapped her delicate, pure voice around a mournful melody or O’Connell sang of the trials Irish immigrants faced through famine and perilous seas.

O’Connell and Madden complement each other’s larger-than-life style, making saucy asides, filling the stage with theatrical exuberance. And even when O’Connell is singing the Irish blues, she has a smile on her face that lights up the room.

As wonderful as all the stepdancers are, a special nod must go to Canadian Dan Stacey, who not only dances with amazing precision, agility and vigor, but plays a mean fiddle, as well. And even when he’s seated, his shoes keep tapping out a wonderful rhythm.

Here’s a wee update of what I’ve been getting up to in the last few months. I’ve had a really busy Summer performing with Cherish the Ladies out in America and a few of my own gigs in Ireland.  I had a the pleasure of performing at the Cleveland Ohio festival in July as part of the Cherish the Ladies summer tour, we then went on to teach for a week at the Augusta Heritage week in Elkins, West Virginia.  It was a great week and was honoured to have been there teaching alongside such amazing Irish musicians.

In August I had a two gigs with the Kathleen Boyle band in Co Donegal. The first was at the Mary from Dungloe festival, a big thanks to all who stood out in the pouring rain to see us perform. I hope it was worth the drenching, I’ve never seen rain like it before!

On August 12th we had a concert in Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey, Co Donegal. We launched the album at the concert, followed by a few tunes in the infamous Hudai Beag’s in Gweedore. Thanks to all who came along to see the band and also to Ian Smith for his help in organising the gig, it was a fab night!

At the end of August I took the trip down to the All-Ireland Fleadh Ceol in Tullmaore, Co Offaly.  The rain didn’t put a dampener on the weekend as there was plenty of craic, tunes, drams and my family and I had a brilliant time staying in the camper-van for the weekend – it’s definitely the way to go to a fleadh!  On the Sunday night I performed in the Senior Ceili band competition with the St Roch’s Ceili band, we didn’t get place but had a blast anyways.

I headed back to America with Cherish at the end of August for a few gigs, two of which were our new show called “An Irish Homecoming”.  This is a concert series of Cherish the Ladies with special guests such as Maura O’Connell, Bohola, Dermot Henry and a troup of Irish Dancers, check out www.cherishtheladies.com for more details.

I have now just finished a tour of the UK with Cherish the Ladies, we played 11 gigs in 13 days in England, Scotland and Wales.  It was the bands first trip up to the Scottish Highland to perform at Blas festival, being the only Scottish member I took great pleasure in showing off the highlands to them.  I also performed at Blas with the wonderful Rachel Walker, the Gaelic singer from Spean Bridge and Ewan Robertson (guitar). Our concert on September 9th in Glenmorriston was filmed by the BBC for the new Gaelic TV channel and will be aired as part of the Blas series so look out for it.

I’m now off for 3 weeks before heading back to America with Cherish the Ladies for a really busy winter so going to enjoy the time at home catching up with friends and family.

Cheers for now

Kathleen

The first-ever graduate of the RSAMD’s Traditional Music course, this Glasgow girl has been in no hurry to release a solo album, instead touring internationally. So when it comes, the 11-track recording has a rare maturity. Her piano accordion and keyboard are everywhere searching out the essence of a tune, in the company of some of the best-known players and singers around – including singer Julie Fowlis and her late grandfather (courtesy of contemporary recording techniques when a 1953 archive tape of his fiddling is reworked with his son on piano and granddaughter on the box).

You an purchase the CD from my online shop here.

I was delighted to be invited as Archie Fisher’s live studio guest on Thursday night for this weeks program of Traveling Folk on BBC Radio Scotland. I preformed 3 sets from the new album “An Cailin Rua” and was accompanied by the fantastic Ali Hutton on guitar. We had a wee chat with Archie and discovered that he is releasing his own album this week so look out for it! Thanks to Richard Bull and all at BBC for looking after us we had a great time. If you missed the program you can hear it again on Saturday night or online at www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland.

All the best

Kathleen

Hi Folks

I’m delighted to say that An Cailin Rua (the red haired girl) will be officially released today and will be available to buy in music shops and on the internet. 

I did a wee interview last night for Moray Firth Radio with John Mathieson which will be broadcast on Thursday night on his All Scottish program from 7 - 10pm so tune in and have a wee listen if you’re in the area.

That’s all for now

Kathleen

Kathleen Boyle plays the accordion with a masterful, understated ease. Ornamentations flow effortlessly and never trip over each other, maintaining the integrity of the melody, whilst still sounding punchy and dynamic. The first set of tunes, “Barney’s,” is testament to this from the outset, with Kathleen’s accordion skipping fluently through the melodies, underscored by the bold double bass of Duncan Lyle and the nimble flute and fiddle of Kevin O’Neill and Jenna Reid.

Kathleen demonstrates utmost restraint on “Goodnight Manny,” an affectionate, emotive air, composed as a tribute to her late uncle, and again on the album closer, “Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó.” It is on tunes like this, where Kathleen plays the accordion with such aching beauty and subtlety, transcending the mechanics of the instrument and conveying raw, honest sentiment as if it were her own voice, singing out to you — it is extraordinarily moving.

The shrewd inclusion of two songs featuring guest vocals from Julie Fowlis and Heidi Talbot make for a pleasant diversion. Julie contributes her unmistakeable, crisp and relentlessly beautiful vocals on the title track, “An Cailín Rua” (The Red Haired Girl), a Donegal love song translated into Scottish Gaelic, with perfectly unassuming and sensitive piano and accordion accompaniment from Kathleen — this makes for three heavenly minutes! Kathleen plays with equal sensitivity on a tender interpretation of “The Banks of Red Roses,” featuring Heidi Talbot’s delightfully unpretentious singing.

One of the most touching moments on the album is “The Moving Clouds,” composed by Kathleen’s late grandfather, Neillidh Boyle, a renowned fiddler from County Donegal. This is a real family affair that finds Kathleen’s father joining in on piano with Kathleen’s accordion, playing together alongside a 1953 archive recording of Neillidh Boyle’s fiddle, recorded by Peter Kennedy for the BBC. It’s a real treat to hear three generations of a family united in musical harmony, and one is sure that Neillidh would be proud to hear his musical legacy being continued so caringly.

Martin O’Neill has done a great job on the production of An Cailín Rua, with a faithful representation of Kathleen’s musical agility, and just the right mix of accompanying musicians — supporting but never detracting. This is a superb album, with so much to enjoy.

Written by Mike Wilson

15/06/08

www.folking.com/reviews

May started off with a wee tour in UK with Cherish the Ladies. The girls came over for 4 gigs, Stockport, Ulverston, Big Whistle Weekend in Bury and finished off in Glasgow. I’m delighted the new lead singer of the Cherish the Ladies is Michelle Burke from Cork. I’ve know Michelle for a few years now and will be looking forward to working lots more with her now she’s joined the band. I also played at the Big Whistle with Dochas as well as Cherish then Ladies. A big thanks to Phil and all the team for looking after us, we had a lovely weekend.

Just back from the Orkney folk festival with Dochas. We had a total blast over the weekend and would like to thank all at the Orkney folk festival for looking after us so well. A big thanks also to Jeana Leslie for the loan of a jack lead for the keyboard!

I had Sunday night off as the rest of the band went home on the ferry earlier that day and really enjoyed the final concert, every act at the festival played two numbers and it was great to see all the other acts in action as often at festivals you don’t get to see everyone play.  One particular highlight for me was catching Crooked Still and Solas in concert. They were both on great form playing storming sets over the weekend!

On Sunday afternoon a football game took place between the visiting artists and the local bands/festival helpers. We got beat 4-2 but we put up a great fight. Especially Karine Polwart who was in goals for us. Afterwards Maireread Green (from the Anna Massie band) and I were presented with joint player of the match award, a kettle - apparently it’s a bit of a tradition at the festival!

This was my first visit to Orkney and I will definitely be back, the hospitality was fantastic and the weather was superb. Go and visit if you get the chance!

Kathleen