Island Music Club presents
Tír na nÓg (Leo O’Kelly & Sonny Condell)
Special Guest Fia Rua
Sat May 19th, Doors: 9pm ADM : €15
Minogue’s Bar (Backroom)
Tulla, Co Clare
Info : 086-8599957
web: http://www.claregigs.com
http://www.tirnanog-progfolk.com/
Tír na nÓg, the duo formed by Leo O’Kelly & Sonny Condell in Dublin in early 1970, caused somewhat of a sensation, both on the folk and rock scenes, almost as soon as they stepped off the boat train from Ireland. Within two weeks they had signed a deal with Chrysalis Records and, by the summer, they had established themselves in the London clubs, with their impromptu appearances and beautiful original songs, typically featuring intricate acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing.
They immediately started touring Britain and Europe with Jethro Tull and Procol Harum before releasing their first album, entitled simply, Tír na nÓg. The album was Melody Maker album of the month. They gathered followers of every musical persuasion from their appearances with bands as disparate as Hawkwind, The Who, Fairport Convention and Roxy Music, while at the same time headlining their own college and club gigs.
Their music, which is often described as progressive folk, was championed by John Peel, resulting in many Peel sessions in the early 70s. Two further studio albums, A Tear and a Smile and Strong in the Sun followed on through to 1974, after which they returned to Ireland to go their separate ways.
In 1985 they got back together again, whilst still pursuing their individual musical careers.
Tír na nÓg continue to tour regularly including many recent tours of the U.K. in fact they recently released a live album called “Live at Sirius”.
Tír Na nÓg Biography
Leo and Sonny arrived unannounced and with not even a place to stay in London on a sunny Saturday morning in May 1970, having saved £30 each, which they’d estimated would last them a month!… By the end of that day they had secured a two night weekend residency at The Bell on Petticoat Lane, a floor to sleep on (long term!) in Ealing, and a free demo recording sesssion in Soho which would secure them a contract with Chrysalis Records two weeks later!… A good days work!…
By October they were playing The Royal Albert hall with Jethro Tull and Procol Harum as part of a British and European tour. They had in the meantime built up a very strong roots following on the London Folk Club scene with their timeless songs, close harmonies and engaging, between song banter, while Chrysalis organised the bigger concert and college tours around Britain and abroad. As well as headlining Tír na nÓg gigs(with some interesting support acts including Richard and Linda Thompson,Supertramp,and Jasper Carott!)the pair found themselves gigging with some of their own heroes. Tours and concerts included gigging with The Who, Cat Stevens, T.Rex, Roxy Music, Elton John, The Velvet Underground and Hawkwind, to mention a very few. At one point Al Stewart, though quite a star himself, applied to join the band!
Their first album “Tír na nÓg” was produced by the the legendary folk producer, Bill Leader. This achieved Melody Maker Album of The Month on it’s release in 1971. Many radio sessions with the late,wonderful,John Peel followed, along with with Bob Harris and Kid Jensen shows… and even the great Alan Freeman was a self proclaimed fan.
Two more albums, A Tear and a Smile, and Strong in The Sun followed, along with incessant touring, till Leo and Sonny decided they were depleted and exhausted, having barely had time to unpack the suitcases they had hauled to England that day in May four years earlier! Their dream needed protection… They returned to their native Ireland having bid their brief goodbyes to managers, agents record companies, publishers, publicists, and for the time being, to each other.
As well as his solo performances and those with new musician friends, Leo worked for a while as house producer for EMI Ireland and Polydor Records, a pursuit which had fascinated him with since working with illustrious producers like Bill leader and Matthew Fisher. Wanderlust Wanderlust kicked in again, and he spent much of the late 70s and 80s living and working abroad, with his bases in Amsterdam and London.
Leo plays mostly solo and with his long time friend, bassist Garvan Gallagher, treating his dark songs with echoing soundscapes, and, increasingly lately, with Sonny in some glorious Tír na nÓg performances. Three more Tír na nÓg albums have been salvaged, savaged and scavenged from various vaults, the most recent release being “Spotlight”, BBC sessions and concerts with John Peel and Bob Harris.
Sonny Condell became the driving force behind innovative Irish band Scullion and this along with a steady output of solo albums continues to be one of the outstanding songwriters this country has produced.
Prompted by invititations for Tír na nÓg to play Folk Festivals in Holland, Italy, UK and Hong Kong, and spurred by their rapturous receptions there, Sonny and Leo have been playing together far more frequently lately, including some Irish performances. The phrases used to describe their wonderful shows unfailingly include the words “chemistry” and “magic”. Indeed it is impossible for these words not to spring to mind and lips of all who witness the near telepathetic communication and other worldly spell that Sonny and Leo weave when they combine forces as the legendary Tír na nÓg!.