Performance(s):
Friday, February 22, 2008: 8:00 p.m.
From the Great Wall of China to packed auditoriums in the Holy Land and more recently being the first Irish band to perform at the greatest music festival in the
world, "Rock in Rio" on front of an estimate audience of two hundred and forty thousand people, Dervish have come a long way in seventeen years.
Formed in 1989 by a group of five musicians, Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Martin Mc Ginley, Brian Mc Donagh and Michael Holmes who came together to
record an album of local music which was released as The Boys of Sligo.Inspired by the project they decided to develop this informal gathering (which
gathered weekly to play sessions in local pubs) into a working band under the name Dervish which was chosen as it related to any group of spiritual people
who become enraptured by music.
Over the following two years Dervish honed their craft as a formative band. In 1991, Roscommon born singer Cathy Jordan and all Ireland champion fiddle player
Shane Mc Aleer joined the band giving them the right balance to produce the first Dervish album Harmony Hill which was released in 1992. It wasn¹t long
before the impact of that album became apparent, winning widespread critical acclaim and the album was described by many
as “a landmark Irish traditional album”.The impact of the recording was immediate. Its artistry, musicianship and maturity won outstanding praise from the
media placing Dervish to the forefront of the bands working on traditional Irish music. Substantial TV and radio exposure for the band and the album
began to open all kind of doors. Dervish soon became one of the most sought after acts on the live music circuit worldwide and have continued to remain so
over the years.
This demand led to the band touring continuously throughout 1993 and performing at all the major folk festivals. The enormous work load and the constant
touring made it difficult for the band to work in the studio, but the following year their keenly awaited second album was released. Playing with Fire was
released in 1994, and so again, began the band¹s worldwide travels to satisfy the demand created by both albums.The high expectations for the recording were
not only met, but also surpassed. Reviewers and critics alike lauded praise for Playing with Fire confirming Dervish status as the pre-eminent Irish
traditional band. The album reached number 1 in the Irish Folk Music Charts and World/Roots music charts internationally and stayed on top for several months.
With their reputation firmly established, Dervish now set their sights on the American market, signing a deal with the New York-based Company Kells Music.
The release of their two albums in the USA saw the demand for the band take off in dramatic terms. Performances at highly regarded festivals such as Wolf Trap
and the Milwaukee Irish festival projected Dervish into a new sphere of operation on a worldwide scale. Appearances at festivals such as City Stages in Birmingham,
Alabama saw Dervish bring Irish music far beyond the Irish/American music circuit in the US. Recognition for the band¹s achievements followed with nominations
and awards in a variety of traditional/Folk music polls including two in the IRMAs in Ireland.
In 1996 Dervish released At the End of the Day, which firmly established the band as a major force in world music, winning them the Hot Press
Folk Album of the Year Award. In the same year the band performed a series of shows in Hong Kong and Malaysia which opened the door to the Far
Eastern market. Since then Dervish have been a ground breaking force within Irish music bringing the Roots of Irish music to almost all continents
Dervish concert performances are a myriad of tones and moods ranging from high energy tunes, played with fluidity and intuitiveness, to beautifully measured
songs, from charming lyrics of life and love, to inspiring melodies that lift audiences from their seats. All the elements are drawn together by Cathy Jordan¹s
masterful stage-presence. Her stories to the songs and her interaction with the audience draws people into the music in a way very few performers can achieve.
All this can be found in their fourth album Live in Palma. As the name implies, it¹s a live recording of a scintillating performance in front of a captivated
audience at Palma de Majorca's Theatre Principal in April 1997. This double album has been hailed by critics as one of the best live traditional recordings of our
time. It furnishes the listener with an opportunity to savour the atmosphere (music, melodies and witty banter) which only a live recording can provide and
Dervish have done it both masterfully and effortlessly: the decision to record just made a few hours before going on stage and a performance such that a minimal
amount of studio time was required to put the finishing touches to a virtually flawless concert. It worked a dream; the power of Dervish in concert was captured
and Live in Palma was released to rave reviews by the international media.The same year the readers of Irish Music Magazine awarded Dervish
Best Overall Trad/Folk Band of the Year.
1998 was another grueling year for the group. It started with a six-week coast to coast sell out tour of the USA and a first ever-Irish tour which enjoyed considerable
success. That year also saw slight reshuffle of the group with Shane McAleer taking a career break. Luckily, a formidable replacement was found in Sligo¹s own
Séamus O¹Dowd –a musician of high standing with a distinct Sligo style fiddle playing and incomparable guitar playing- further adding to the talents of the group.
Just before the end of the year, the addition of fiddle player Tom Morrow -a native of Co. Leitrim and another All Ireland Champion complete the present line up of
the band.
In 1999 the new look Dervish took to the studio, bringing with it a bigger sound prompted by the seven-piece line up Cathy Jordan (vocals, bodhrán, bones),
Tom Morrow (fiddle, viola), Shane Mitchell accordion), Liam Kelly (flute, low whistle), Séamus O¹Dowd (guitars, harmonica), Michael Holmes (bouzouki) and
Brian Mc Donagh (mandola, mandolin). Again it looked as if Dervish could do no wrong with the resulting album Midsummer¹s Night being voted
Irish Trad Album of the Year by many publications.
To celebrate ten years together, Dervish released Decade in March 2001. Decade is a compilation of some of the finest tracks from their five
highly acclaimed albums of Irish traditional music recorded over the last ten years.
Around this period great innovation was happening in the Dervish rehearsal room and on stage which led to the release of Spirit. This was without a
doubt an album that gave a new focus to the arrangement and production of the band's sound. This album had what was described as having, a firmly
Roots feel but contemporary in its nature. The instrumentals were fresh in their arrangements and the songs has a new gloss in their production. Spirit
confirmed Dervish as being a band with a musical mission in terms of the bands approach to the arrangement and production of traditional Irish music.
In this year Dervish had their proudest moment to date when Sligo City Council bestowed the FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH OF SLIGO ON THE BAND.
This award was for their international artistic achievements and their dedication and promotion of their local heritage
In Early 2006 The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mr Bertie Ahern invited Dervish to accompany (almost the entire Irish Government) on the countries biggest
ever trade mission which was to China. Dervish performed to a gathering from the Chinese government on this trip further confirming the band as a national jewel
of Ireland. In 2006 the band also released an album from their rapidly expanding back catalog.This was an album that featured slower material recorded over
the years. A Healing Heart was released and showed the softer side of Dervish.
It's now nearly 18 years since first coming together and with four of the original members still at the helm, Dervish are more in demand than ever. Their
colorful career has taken them to every corner of the globe and has seen them share centre stage with such names as James Brown, The Buena Vista
Social Club, Oasis, Sting, REM, Beck and many more.
Dervish are one of the most respected acts of modern time in World/Roots music worldwide. Their musical genius and innovative approach will ensure that they
will be always be a leading force in Irish music bringing the world the joy and excitement and fun that is, traditional Irish music
Tickets on sale now. For more information about Dervish, check out
their website at www.dervish.ie. Or watch the video clip by Dervish.
Cost:
$28
Flex: $27
Seniors: $25
Buffalo State faculty/staff: $25
Student Rush: $15 (cash only), available one hour prior to show only with valid student ID.
SEE THREE OR MORE AND SAVE!
Buy any three or more Great Performers shows for
only $27 each.
