Entertainment

Gatehouse to make an entrance at Belfast's Cultúlrann McAdam Ó Fiaich

With songs in Irish and English and a musical style that trumpets the north Connaught tradition, Roscommon group Gatehouse are a welcome addition to Belfast's concert calendar this weekend

Roscommon band Gatehouse play Belfast's Cultúlrann McAdam Ó Fiaich on Saturday May 27
Roscommon band Gatehouse play Belfast's Cultúlrann McAdam Ó Fiaich on Saturday May 27 Roscommon band Gatehouse play Belfast's Cultúlrann McAdam Ó Fiaich on Saturday May 27

ROSCOMMON is coming to Belfast this weekend as the wonderful Gatehouse make their way to Cultúlrann McAdam Ó Fiaich for what promises to be one of the gigs of the year.

The band got their name when they were out doing some publicity shots, explains flute player John Wynn.

“We had a photo shoot and we had some photos taken at the Gatehouse of Rockingham estate,” he says. Rockingham House is a remarkable castle, built on the instruction of William the Conqueror, near Boyle in Co Roscommon.

“The Gatehouse Maid is also the name of a good tune so we thought it would be nice to call the band Gatehouse.”

Tús Nua is the title of the band’s new album anchored by John (Wynne) and John McEvoy who first came together in 2007 for the recording of Pride Of The West, a critically acclaimed duet album.

The Wynne John has become established as one of the leading players and tutors of the north Connaught flute style and recorded and toured with Providence as well as releasing two acclaimed solo CDs while the McEvoy John is a renowned fiddler and noteworthy composer who is particularly drawn to the fiddle playing of the Sligo masters.

He has played with many groups including Flynn’s Men, Bakerswell and Kelp and released his long-awaited second solo album imaginitively entitled Traditional Fiddle Music back in 2012.

The Wynne/McEvoy partnership goes back a long while.

“Myself and John McEvoy really enjoy playing together and have performed at many festivals and events over the years,” says Wynne. “In the last couple of years we thought about expanding and developing our sound so we decided to put the group together. We didn't have to look too far because in addition to myself and John, we had John's wife Jacinta on guitar and concertina. Jacinta is equally adept on guitar, concertina and piano and is also a sought after accompanist and arranger.”

When it came to a singer for the group, John says: “We asked a young singer called Rachel Garvey to join us. She is fairly new to the scene and impressed us any time we heard her perform. She is also from Roscommon and is an All-Ireland winner in both Irish and English song, and recently appeared on an album called Alone by the Wildwood, which features songs from Roscommon.

Gatehouse are still developing their repertoire according to John but they will continue to focus primarily on the fiddle/flute repertoire of north Connaught.

But what makes this style so attractive, I ask him?

“The Roscommon style would fit in the the musical style of north Connacht,” he explains. “There a great lift, flow and rhythm to the music. Reels and jigs are the most commonly played tunes. There is great joy and heart in the musical style, I think.”

But haven’t local styles seemed to be endangered since way back when Michael Coleman records started coming back to Ireland? Why is it important to keep those styles alive?

“It's important because they represent the identity of the area,” says John. “They are rich and interesting and if you didn't have the local styles the music could become very bland and all sound the same. It's great fun to explore the local styles, whether it's Sligo, Kerry, Donegal or wherever. It all adds so much character to the music."

As well as the music, the band also have songs in both Irish and English, perhaps unsurprising as Roscommon was home to Douglas Hyde, first president of Ireland and a founder of the Gaelic League.

The album kicks off with An Spailpín Fánach, an 18th-century song that tells the story of a landless farm labourer, or spailpín, as he traverses the countryside looking for work following eviction from the family home.

Gatehouse believe that it is so important to have songs in Irish and in English in their repoertoire.

“We feel it’s very important. Rachel Garvey has a great grasp of sean nós singing particularly the Connamara sean nós tradition, so we felt it was important to reflect that. It's lovely to work with those songs and to come up with arrangements for them.

“The songs, in Irish and in English, focus again on local material. We would like to showcase the compositions of local composers like Josie McDermott, Turlough O'Carolan, Larry Redican and indeed John McEvoy. The focus is primarily on the quality of the tunes and songs and we are happy to present them in a traditional fashion as opposed to being under pressure to compromise and change the music to suit a broader audience.”

O’Carolan was brought up in Roscommon but of course was influenced by all kinds of music. Does John see O’Carolan as a role model?

“Yes,” is the unequivocal reply. “O'Carolan was hugely influential to the musicians in north Roscommon Sligo and Leitrim. He spent his last years in Ballyfarnon on the Roscommon/Sligo border and is buried there.

“To this day that area is known as O'Carolan country. His tunes and style of music has had a huge influence on us all and we play a lot of his compositions.”

There are 14 tracks on the album; the material is from Roscommon and north Connacht but there are other influences, from the Ulster song tradition, the Clare tradition and some Scottish influences.

Guest musicians on the record are Cyril O'Donoghue (bouzouki), Séamus O'Kane (bodhrán) and Dónal O'Connor (keyboards/harpsichord). It was recorded in Dónal O'Connor's RedBox studio in Belfast – but why come all the way to Belfast to record Tús Nua?

“Well, we knew Donal O'Connor for years and we’d heard about his good work and reputation,” explains John. “The studio was recommended to us and we just contacted Donal. It turned out to be a great decision as everything worked out so well and Donal was so professional and contributed hugely to the recording. We got used to the three-hour drive also.”

And what does the future hold for Gatehouse? Like any band, their main ambition is to keep gigging.

“We've some nice concerts lined up around Ireland and in London before the end of the year. There’s at least one trip to America next year and a possible trip to New Zealand in two years' time. We hope also to record a new album in the next year or so.”

:: Gatehouse are playing at Culturlann McAdam Ó Fiaich tomorrow night.