Exciting Invigorating Virtuosic Irish anD Americana Banjo MusiC anD song
“Count yourself among the fortunate. You are about to hear something new, something fresh, something daring, something that befits the bright, flamboyant spirit of the banjo itself” Paul F Wells, Director Emeritus, The Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University
“The wondrous weave of Enda Scahill’s banjo with those of brothers Martin and David Howley, along with the trio’s other tight-knit instrumentation and David’s uniquely expressive vocals, makes We Banjo 3’s Roots of the Banjo Tree one of the most impressive debut recordings in several years. These three ultra-talented Irish performers deliver hallowed musical traditions from Ireland and America with a freshness and finesse bordering on magical.” Earle Hitchner, Music Writer, The Wall Street Journal
"Roots of the Banjo Tree is filled with absolutely virtuosic banjo playing. Scahill and the Howleys are technically sophisticated and stylistically adventuresome in a way rarely heard in Irish music...... the final tune bursts in with an intricate neotrad arrangement that features some seriously pyrotechnic playing" Daniel Neely, The Irish Echo
“We Banjo 3’s attention to detail is a joy to unfurl with each succesive listen…..with David Howley’s charismatic vocals effortlessly hammocking the entire affair. CD of the Week” Siobhan Long, The Irish Times
“Stunning stuff from the guys that have sown the seeds of a new and innovative era in banjo music…..pure listening pleasure” Eileen McCabe, Irish Music Magazine
"This CD will hopefully one day be considered on a par (in folk music terms) with say the first time you heard Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention" Pete Fyfe, UkFolkMusic.co.uk
“I was blown away by the wonderful mix of Irish, Bluegrass and OldTimey music these guys put out” Jack Baker, Irish American News
+1 Award-winning quartet We Banjo 3 from Galway, Ireland combine Irish Music with Old- Time American and Bluegrass influences to reveal the banjo’s rich legacy and roots. When this band of brothers take flight in a wave of virtuosity, verve and joie-de-vivre, feet tap and pulses race.
Enda & Fergal Scahill and Martin & David Howley are among the most celebrated and distinguished young musicians in Ireland today.
Featuring banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals and percussion We Banjo 3 make a bold and extraordinary musical statement. Creativity, sensitivity and passion are present in full measure and Irish music is at the heart of what they play.
Collectively, WeBanjo3 have been at the forefront of Irish banjo and fiddle for 2 decades. Their competitive success is unrivalled, Martin holding 7 All Ireland titles, Enda with 4, while Fergal and David hold All Ireland titles on Banjo, Fiddle, Bodhran and Guitar.
Enda has recorded and performed with The Chieftains, Frankie Gavin, Stockton’s Wing, Grammy-winner Ricky Skaggs and “Instrumental Band of the Decade” The Brock McGuire Band. Fergal has performed with David Munnelly, Martin O’Connor and Kevin Crawford and has toured the world with Ragus and Celtic Legends. Martin was the very first Irish banjo player to perfom at the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville and David is fast building a reputation for his deep, muscular singing.
We Banjo 3 play with swing and soul, effortlessly combining the best of Irish and Bluegrass banjo music and song, mining the rich vein of the American Old Time tradition and thoroughly reinventing the banjo band sound. Modern rhythms, traditional melodies, virtuosic technique and innovative arrangements of music and song add up to an incredible feast of banjo and mandolin music – guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get your feet tapping.
We Banjo 3 have released their debut album Roots of the Banjo Tree to critical acclaim
Notable Performances
Milwaukee Irish Fest
“Two sets of brothers in perfect musical harmony. In all our years, we have never seen a stunning opening like this by a traditional group” Bill Margeson, LiveIreland.com
Launch of EU Presidency Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia
We Banjo 3 performed in February 2013 at the prestigious ORF RadioKulturhaus here in Vienna.
With wonderful musicianship and a fresh and invigorating sound, We Banjo 3 were excellent ambassadors for Irish culture and traditional music. It was a fantastic performance which received a hugely enthusiastic reaction from our Austrian and international audience. Furthermore, We Banjo 3 were extremely professional to deal with. I wish them every success and would be delighted to see them performing in Austria again in the future.
James Brennan Ambassador of Ireland to Austria
Standard Chartered Annual Clients’ Dinner
Standard Chartered Bank's aircraft leasing subsidiary, Pembroke Capital, hosts an important client dinner every year to coincide with a significant aviation industry conference held at the end of each January. Our guests include senior representatives of airlines, banks and manufacturers from diverse geographies ranging from the Americas through Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
This year We Banjo 3 provided the after dinner entertainment and captured the hearts, ears and imagination of our guests with a series of virtuoso performances, adapted to the make up of the audience.
The feedback from our overseas guests was unanimously and spontaneously positive.
The musical performance was excellent and I have no hesitation in recommending We Banjo.
Garry Burke Global Head, Structured Finance Standard Chartered Bank
Contact detaiLs www.webanjo3.com
Enda Scahill 27 Cloch Ard Old Rahoon Road Galway Ireland [email protected] www.endascahill.com Cell: +353.87.6860231 Home: +353.91.583590
Martin Howley Gortroe Ardrahan Co. Galway Ireland [email protected] Cell: +353.87.6695731
Fergal Scahill Cell: +353877979930 [email protected]
David Howley Cell: +353876158316 [email protected] www.webanjo3.com www.myspace.com/webanjo3 www.youtube.com/endascahill