News Articles

From Madness To Mischief

Hard Work And Smart Moves Are The Order Of The Day For Soon To Be Supergroup Beoga. Eddie Creaney Talks To The Band About Their New Album Mischief

Halfway through their February tour of Holland and one look at the Beoga website blog reveals the extent to which this Antrim-based five piece are making the music world sit up and listen. And who’s going to argue with the Dutch? “I saw you in Hoofddorp this evening” says Anneke, “It was such a thrill.” And according to another fan “The performance you gave us was filled with spirit and enthusiasm…it was impossible to stay still in your chair!” And they are absolutely right. This is a very special ensemble. So what’s all the fuss about? Well, let’s take it back a few years.

It’s August 2002 and the then four-piece are sleeping off an energy packed session from the night before. The All-Ireland Fleadh has again thrown up many sensations, one of which follows a chance meeting between the four Northerners, who proceed to set the world to rights in what has been described as “a ferocious session” based around the twin duelling accordions of Sean Óg Graham and Damian McKee. And completing the fracas are four-times All-Ireland bodhrán champion Eamon Murray and pianist Liam Bradley. And so Beoga was born. And just like any new arrival to the family everyone gathered for a peek. In Beoga the Irish music world had gained another prodigy, a term not lightly used nor given without credit. And the pedigree? Well, let’s start with Sean Óg Graham (button accordion, guitar). The Portglenone man is one of Ireland’s most dynamic young button accordion players and has achieved numerous All-Ireland titles. He has performed with Alan Kelly’s Celtic Legends show, the Irish Harp Orchestra and the Canadian Youth Orchestra. Damian McKee (button accordion) from Dunloy, toured Ireland, Britain and America with Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann in the nineties and is frequently in demand for workshops throughout the world. Liam Bradley (piano, keyboards) from Tobermore, Co. Derry has provided accompaniment for major Irish Dancing competitions in North America and Australia. He has also produced musical arrangements for, amongst others, RTE. Eamon Murray (bodhrán, percussion) from Randalstown is a very respected bodhrán player who is always on demand, once described by Johnny McDonagh as the future of bodhrán playing. Not a bad line-up, eh?

And Since 2002 the band has fought tooth and nail touring, writing, teaching, recording and touring again with Europe and North America featuring highly on their travels. Well done lads, the hard work certainly paid off. And in September 2004 when Beoga released “A Lovely Madness”, their much-awaited debut album, it gave the music-buying public a chance to catch up with their unique blend of sounds. Recorded at Homestead Studios in Antrim I’m sure not even owner/producer Mudd Wallace had ever experienced such experimental form within an Irish traditional group. And with blues and jazz shapes being thrown all over the place the musicians proved they were comfortable with testing new waters. And boy did it work. Tunes such as Soggys, Funk and Exploding Bow are titles certainly befitting the dynamite-driven experiment that is A Lovely Madness with each set proving that these guys know what they’re doing, and then some. Anyone who hasn’t taken the plunge yet should get their mitts on the album which truly is as potent as they say…and as surreal as the four coat hangars that adorn the album cover.

From 2004 onwards more success followed for the lads in touring, television and radio after the debut album release. And no sooner had the momentum gathered pace that Beoga part two was dreamt up in the form of another album, the recently released Mischief. “We had so many ideas and couldn’t wait to get back in the studio” says Eamon Murray prior to their sixteen date tour of the Lowlands. “So much had happened in such a short space of time, especially the inclusion of acclaimed fiddler and singer Niamh Dunne.” And the Limerick lady is a smart investment for the band as she has added an extra dimension. Her fiddle work is yet another warm welcome to an already talented outfit. But it’s her vocal craft that really benefits the band. “We really missed the songs in our live shows” continues Eamon, “Especially when the modern audience expects it these days. We had heard Niamh at sessions previously and were very impressed. She has a very unique fiddle style and her voice is endearing. As a band it was a big thing to bring in another member, but with Niamh it proved to be very positive, and productive.” Indeed. And just one listen to her vocal contribution on the new Mischief album and you’ll get the point. One track in particular, A Delicate Thing, is a beautiful piece, full of meaning and sentiment, and sung gracefully by Dunne with nuances of Dolores Keane and Kate Rusby. No bad thing. Indeed the entire album is worth every penny for its twelve tracks. Again the policy of duelling accordions is the order of the day. Graham and McKee battle it out like prize-fighters, packing punches with every key change and as tight as the proverbial. Bradley and Murray are never far from the ring either and their contribution as a rhythm section is to be admired. Indeed Murray has got to be the most talented up-and-coming bodhrán player in Ireland today, and that’s against some pretty tough competition.

Mischief is definitely a coming of age for Beoga. And the band whose debut album carried the torch for experimentalists don’t look as if they are going to stop there. Eamon Murray takes it up again. “It’s a bit of a weird one. But we loved the idea from the outset. We had a chance to record with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and we grasped it with both hands. What they’ve done on the album has given the music a different edge.” Very true. There’s much more creativity involved, a musical palette on which the band have painted their artistic strokes. “We’d been so used to blending different styles into our traditional game, from Astor Piazzola jazz to New Orleans jamboree” says Murray “And all of a sudden there we were playing with one of the most respected ensembles in Europe, effectively our backing band, which gave us a whole new field of play…so we went for it!” And indeed the miracle-dust must have been sprinkled by the bucketful during recording…with the finished article already emerging as a contender for album of the year. The twelve tracks (Mischief, Kick’n The Box, Factory Girl, Jazzy Wilbur, Ryan’s Air, Dirty Work, Trolleyed, A Delicate Thing, Mickey The Pipes, Please Don’t Talk, Cu Chullain’s Despair and Another Journey) are a homage to the talented five-piece. “Now that it’s on the shelves,” says Eamon “the hard work begins. We have a very heavy tour schedule ahead of us. Sixteen dates in Holland, then a few dozen gigs in Ireland, England, Austria and Italy. In August we’ll be in the States for some Irish festivals in Milwaukee and Kansas. We’re really looking forward to it as we know we have a good fan base over there. Hopefully we can bribe a few new admirers to buy the CD too!” Somehow I don’t think that’ll be too difficult Eamon, especially with an album of that calibre. Irish fans of the group shouldn’t despair as they will be making a few Irish appearances in March and April to promote the album. You can make your way to Brysons in Magherafelt on 24th March or Roisin Dubh in Galway on 17th April to sample the sights and sounds of Beoga. Anyone wishing to purchase the Mischief album or catch up with Beoga info can log on to www.beogamusic.com.

Eddie Creaney
eddiecreaney@hotmail.com