The Corryvreckan Folk Band

The Corryvreckan folk band are five musicians who all live in Lechlade in the Cotswolds and enjoy performing Celtic music, both contemporary and original. Although they take their music seriously they don’t take themselves too seriously and are all about putting the fun into folk music.

Playing a wide variety of instruments and singing a lot of their own songs Corryvreckan love to engage with their audience and always enjoy a little light-hearted banter.

From humble beginnings playing music for their own entertainment and at parties Corryvreckan are now regulars at a variety of venues including pubs, folk clubs, folk festivals and special events. Originally calling themselves ‘Led Balloon’ the band are now increasingly stepping into the spotlight with new songs, a new PA system and a new passion to take their energetic style of music into new territories.

The band are now available for bookings by anyone willing to pay them and supply them with copious amounts of real ale. You can book the Corryvreckan band by calling the contact numbers on this website or via the contact tab at the top of this page.

Click HERE to book Corryvreckan>>>


About















Gallery

For the last two years The Corryvreckan Folk Band have performed at The Langdale Charity Folk Festival and they will be back again in September 2011.

Here are four video’s of the band performing in the bar of The Old Dungeon Ghyl

Stone Circles


Corryvreckan Folk Band Live at Langdale Folk Festival Sep 2010

The Foggy Dew


Corryvreckan Folk Band Live at Langdale Folk Festival Sep 2010

Raggle Taggle Gypsies


Corryvreckan Folk Band Live at Langdale Folk Festival Sep 2010

Black Tide


Corryvreckan Folk Band Live at Langdale Folk Festival Sep 2010

Watch this space …More live video’s soon….

Music

Astrid Gower – Percussion

Instruments Played: BodhranDermot O’Kane 16 inch tuneable model, 9 inch Djembe drum and 10 inch headless tambourine

Musical Inspirations: I love music of any kind from Jimi Hendrix to Katie Tunstall and from Michelle Shocked to The Pretenders. Also Santana and Fleetwood Mac.

Hobbies and Interests: Music, Music, Music, Reading, The Arts and my lovely veg patch!

Favourite place to be: That’s my secret!

Dave ‘Mad Dog’ MurphyBass Guitar

Name: Dave Murphy

Contact Number: 07801 159007

Instruments played: Electric 4 string Squires P bass, through Line 6 Lowdown 300 Combo.  Tanglewood 4 string Premier edition acoustic bass.

About me: 36ish father of three, husband of one. I have all my own hair, somebody else’s teeth and some spare flesh.

Musical Inspirations: Jack Tea Garden, Lead Belly, John Martyn,  Incredible String  Band,  J.S. Bach.

Music I enjoy listening to: All of it, especially the groove of small tyres on concrete roads and the sound of my dog drinking.

Hobbies and Interests: Life and living.

Favourite place to be: The top of a good pint of ale.

Rory ‘Rockin’ GearGuitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin

Name: Rory Gear

Contact Number: 07766 911300

E-mail Address: rorygear@aol.com

Instruments played: Electric Guitars – Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty and Patrick Eggle custom edition. Acoustic Guitars – Taylor ‘K’ Series, Schertler ‘SB’ model and Takamine 12 string. Fylde Octave Bouzouki. Eccleshall electric mandolin, Fender Acoustic mandolin and Ozark CL Edition Electro-Acoustic Mandolin.

About me: Fifty something father of four. Ex-consultant with too many Air Miles. Now penniless writer seeking commissions. Too young to die but too old to busk.

Musical Inspirations: Bob Dylan, Martin Simpson, Al Stewart, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Clannad, Steve Hackett, Bruce Springsten.

Music I enjoy listening to: Seventies Rock (Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Santana, Deep Purple, Eagles…) Fairport Convention, Runrig, Mostly Autumn, Ozric Tentacles, Spock’s Beard, Anathema, Porcupine Tree.

Hobbies and Interests: Song Writing and Creative Writing, Hill-walking and off-road cycling, Reading, Travel and Beer Festivals.

Favourite place to be: Cropredy Festival watching Fairport Convention on a warm Saturday night with a 4 pint flagon of 6X in hand.

Ken ‘Croakin’ HironsGuitar, Melodeon, Concertina

Name: Ken Hirons

Contact Number: 07771 504211

E-mail Address: khirons@tibco.com

Instruments played: Guitar: Fender Stratocaster ’62 Japan Re-issue, Schertler ‘SB’ Electro-Acoustic , Vintage Hofner President Semi Acoustic.  Squeeze Boxes: Melodeon: Hohner ‘Pokerwork’ D/G, Saltarelle Connemara II D/G, Anglo Concertina:  Lachenal 30 button C/G.

About me (paragraph description): Father of 2 + 2 ( all girls) 1 dog, 1 cat, 4 fish, Sometime researcher and teacher in Ecology and Natural Sciences, retired to IT job in Cotswolds. Enthusiastic squeezer of innocent boxes.

Musical Inspirations: Zeppelin, Clapton, John Kirkpatrick, Saul Rose, Squeezy Spiers, Sharon Shannon, Tim Edey,  The Swarb, Aly Bain, Richard Thompson, Albion Band,  Morris On, Demon Barbers.

Music I enjoy listening to: British and Irish Folk, Spiers and Boden, Old Swan Band, Fairport, Bellowhead, Oyster Band, Little Johnny England

Hobbies and Interests: Running, walking, sitting, drinking (Islay Single Malt ), sleeping,  making music.

Favourite place to be: Scotland or Ireland – further west the better – Co Clare, Donegal, Jura, Rhum, Western Isles.

Margaret O’DonohoeFlute

Name: Margaret O’Donohoe

Contact Number: 01367 252637

E-mail Address: mh.odonohoe@googlemail.com

Instruments played: Flute – Yamaha Flute YFL211UK

About me: I’m an IT Manager desperately trying to escape the qwerty keyboard through my music. I have one lovely daughter and half a horse and a garden that keeps getting away from me.

Musical Inspirations: Ric Sanders, Jamie Cullum, Richard Thompson, Bill Bailey, Michelle Shocked

Music I enjoy listening to: Elbow, The McCalmans, Eva Cassidy, Billy Joel, Al Jarreau, The Bad Shepherds and any thing with good lyrics and a beat (rap excepted….)

Hobbies and Interests: Horses, Literature, Music, Wildlife

Favourite place to be: Watching otters playing on the shore on the Isle of Jura.

Band

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The Corryvreckan Folk Band was formed accidentally in 2008 by local musicians living in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, after a particularly raucous party. Finding themselves booked to perform after a rather drunken and impromptu performance they discovered to their amazement that they were being referred to as a ‘band’. The rest, as they say, is history.

With Dave ‘Mad Dog’ Murphy on bass, Ken ‘Croakin’ Hirons on guitar, melodeon and concertina, and Rory ‘Rockin’ Gear on guitar, bouzouki and mandolin the newly formed band suddenly found themselves playing at parties, weddings, folk clubs and other more dubious gatherings.

As their infamy spread the band were joined first by Astrid Gower on all things percussive and then Margaret O’Donohoe on flute. Now an established five piece the band continues to play at various events, clubs and festivals while still managing to annoy their neighbours.

Playing an eclectic mixture of traditional, Irish and contemporary music that includes a multitude of unfathomable songs penned by Rory, the band are now available for bookings or general party invites.

Click HERE to book Corryvreckan>>>

Background

How we arrived at our name

A lot of people ask us where the band name ‘Corryvreckan’ came from. The answer is that the band all love Celtic music and were looking for a name that reflected a Celtic feel. After a lot of failed suggestions Dave suggested ‘Corryvreckan’ which is the name of a rather unique piece of water between the islands of Jura and Scarba in Scotland. ‘Corryvreckan’ is the name given to the world’s third largest natural whirlpool – a treacherous area of water in a beautiful location. The actual name is made up of two words – ‘Corry’ which means whirlpool and ‘Vreckan’ the name of a Viking adventurer who drowned there (which may be true or may be mythical, no-one is really sure). The legend of Corryvreckan though remains strong in this wonderful part of Argyll in Scotland and it is therefore reproduced here…

The Legend of Corryvreckan

Scandinavian Viking Prince, Vreckan, fell in love with a Princess of the Island of Jura and wished to marry her. Her father consented to the marriage, on condition that Vreckan should show his skill and courage by anchoring his boat for three days and three nights in the treacherous Corry whirlpool.

Vreckan accepted the challenge but first returned to Norway, where he had three cables made, one of hemp, one of wool and one from maidens’ hair. The women of Norway willingly cut off their hair and plaited the rope. It was believed that the purity and innocence of the maidens would give the rope enough strength to stand the strain.

Vreckan returned to Jura and anchored his boat containing just him and his dog in the Corry whirlpool. On the first night the hemp rope parted, but he survived the night. On the second night, the woollen rope also parted in the strong currents, but he survived the night again as the rope of hair held fast.

On the last night all went well until a mighty gale broke the rope. The boat was sucked under by the currents and Vreckan was drowned. His dog dragged his body ashore where he was found and buried in the ‘King’s Cave’ which is still there today.

When Vreckan’s crew finally made it home again and told of his fate, one of the young Norwegian ladies was consumed with guilt, as she was not as pure as she had made out . It had been her hair which weakened the rope and led to his death.

His Princess died of a broken heart while gazing out over what is now known as the Corryvreckan whirlpool.

Corryvreckan poem found in book of Scottish Legends

The emerald hills of Jura
Watch o’er the foaming tide
Swirling and eddying ever
Around the ships that ride
Towards the fatal vortex,
Vigilant for its prey;
Little they heed the sea-god’s boast
‘Ye shall not pass this way.

”Ye’ll have to steer by Scarba
If ye want East or West,
Or through the Sound of Islay;
But hearken our behest:
Ye’re not to see a sail-way
By Corryvreckan’s Flow;
And if your craft deride us
We’ll draw them down below.’

‘Hark to the voices crying
To warn ye of your fate;
The sea-birds round ye flying
Scream ‘Turn, ere ’tis too late’:
Hark to the sound that surges
In ominous refrain,
The litanies and dirges
From souls beneath the main

”There is death and woe
In this blood-stained Flow:
Let every stranger
Beware the danger
That lurks in the tide
And on either side.

”For your lives’ sake flee
This jeopardy:
By Christ his rood
And your souls’ good
Return ye hame
The way ye came.’
The shores of Corryvreckan
Are guarded sure and fast
By sentinels invisible
So long as time shall last.

They hold the fearful sea-pass
With lightning at command,
They speed death-dealing thunderbolts
On all who dare the land.
And, when the day has darkened
Into the sable night,
They flame a watch-fire signal
From either beacon height;
Bold sailors steer between them
All heedless of their doom,
And sink into the cauldron
Of Corryvreckan’s tomb.

‘Thus perish all invaders
From Erin or from Fyne;
Nor mariners nor traders
Have passed our mystic line
Since ancient law and custom
gave us that ocean mile
To watch and ward forever
The door to Mid-Argyll.’

Anon.

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Contact

Upcoming Gigs

No shows booked at the moment.

Previous Gigs

Date City Venue Country
10/09/11 Langdale, UK Langdale Charity Folk Festival United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Venue phone: Call Mik Mead on 07773 530 334.
28/05/11 Lechlade Riverside Park United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Box office: 01367252745. Address: GL7 3SB. Venue phone: 01367252745. Come and support the Corryvreckan Folk Band at Lechlade Festival
29/04/11 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277. Come and celebrate the Royal Wedding with the Corryvreckan Folk Band at the Victoria Inn at Eastleach!
17/03/11 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277. St. Patrick’s Day Irish Night
17/03/11 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277. St. Patrick’s Night Special!
26/02/11 Quenington The Keepers Arms United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed.
25/02/11 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277.
04/02/11 Lechlade The Trout Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed.
05/11/10 Lechlade, UK The Trout Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Admission: 0.00. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Address: St.John’s Bridge, Faringdon Road, Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HA. Venue phone: 01367 252 313.
15/10/10 Lechlade, UK The Trout Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Address: St.John’s Bridge, Faringdon Road, Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HA. Venue phone: 01367 252 313.
25/09/10 Southrop Private Party United Kingdom
Time: 12:00pm. The Corryvreckan Folk Band will be playing at a private party.
18/09/10 Langdale, UK Langdale Charity Folk Festival United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Box office: Call Mik Mead on 07773 530 334. Venue phone: Call Mik Mead on 07773 530 334. We run two weekend Festivals every year. The Autumn Festival will be 17th 18th 19th Sept 2010 May programme is full and artists are already booking in for Sept!
28/08/10 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 12:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277. Join The Corryvreckan Folk Band at the Eastleach Summer Fete for a fun day out for all the family
21/08/10 Quenington The Keepers Arms United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed.
24/07/10 Lechlade The Trout Inn United Kingdom
Time: 12:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. “Riverfolk TroutFest” – a great folk festival hosted at a brilliant pub on the river Thames
12/06/10 Lechlade Wedding Party (Private) United Kingdom
Time: 12:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages. Restricted to wedding invitees only
05/06/10 Fairford Fairford Food and Drink Festival United Kingdom
Time: 12:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: Town Park. open air music as part of town Festival
30/05/10 Eastleach Victoria Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Address: Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ. Venue phone: 01367 850 277. Join us for an evening of folk music with the Corryvreckan Folk Band
15/05/10 Lechlade, UK Lechlade Memorial Hall United Kingdom
Time: 7:00pm. Admission: £10.00. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Box office: Call Clare Farrell on 07795 026 521. Address: Oak Street, Lechlade, UK. GL7 3AY. Join us for an evening of Irish music and dance with the Corryvreckan Folk Band and the Clare Farrell School of Dancing – 7:00pm till late
26/04/10 Lechlade, UK The Trout Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Admission: £10.00. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Box office: 01367 252 313. Address: St.John’s Bridge, Faringdon Road, Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HA. Venue phone: 01367 252 313. Traditional and Original material –available for bookings now –01367 252745
20/03/10 Lechlade The Crown United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. Another St. Patrick’s Night Special at this popular Lechlade pub!
14/03/10 Lechlade Royal Oak Inn United Kingdom
Time: 8:00pm. Admission: FREE. Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed. A St. Patrick’s Night Special at this popular Irish themed pub!

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