| Dervish Back in Britain After an
absence from Britain of almost two years — during which time the band has
been touring extensively in America, and making occasional forays into Europe
and the Far East — Dervish are set to return this November for a mini-tour,
which precedes a more extended trip in the new year.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful Irish traditional
music acts ever, Dervish combine the talents of some of Ireland’s finest
musicians with a charismatic front woman.
It has been a busy year for the band which started with a trip to China
in the company of Bertie Ahern.
The dust had barely settled on that before the band then headed off on
the first of three US tours.
Formed in 1989 by Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Martin McGinley, Brian
McDonagh and Michael Holmes they recorded an album of local music which
was released under the name of The Boys of Sligo. Inspired by the project’s
success they developed this informal gathering into a working band they
called Dervish — a name chosen to represent any group of poor but spiritual
people who become enraptured by music.
In 1991, Roscommon-born singer Cathy Jordan joined the band. Her masterful
stage presence, storytelling and interaction with the audience drew people
to the music in a way few can achieve.
In 1996 the band released At the End of the Day, which firmly established
them as a major force in world music whilst winning them the Hot Press Folk
Album of the Year Award.
In the same year the band performed a series of concerts in Hong Kong
and Malaysia which opened the door to the Far Eastern market.
Dervish concert performances are rich in tone and mood ranging from high-energy
tunes played with fluidity and intuitiveness to inspiring melodies that
lift audiences from their seats.
In 1999 the new-look Dervish took to the studio, bringing with it a bigger
sound prompted by the seven-piece line up of Cathy Jordan (vocals, bodhrán,
bones), Tom Morrow (fiddle, viola), Shane Mitchell (accordion), Liam Kelly
(flute, low whistle), Séamus O’Dowd (guitars, harmonica), Michael Holmes
(bouzouki) and Brian McDonagh (mandola, mandolin). Again it looked as if
Dervish could do no wrong with the resulting album Midsummer’s Night being
voted Irish Traditional Album of the Year by many critics.
And new for 2005: A Healing Heart. Dervish were voted the Best Folk /
Traditional Act in the influential Hot Press magazine in Ireland this year.
‘Irish music fans should walk over glass to hear this band’
(Pulse Magazine-Australia)
Tour dates — November 2005:
Nov 4: Morecambe, The Platform 01524-582803
Nov 5: Sheffield, Memorial Hall 0114-278-978
Nov 6: Saltaire (near Bradford), Victoria Hall 01274 588614
Nov 7: Burnley, Mechanics Theatre 01282-664400
Nov 9: Newcastle, Tyneside Irish Centre 0191 2321356
Nov 10: London, Cecil Sharp House 01274 588614)
Nov 11: Leicester, YMCA 0116 2557066
Nov 12: Southport, Arts Centre 01704 540011
Nov 13: Manchester, Waterside Arts Centre 0161 9125616
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