OhAnleigh August 31, 2008

Ancestral roots and diverse musical talent blend to create lively and haunting rhythms of Irish-American culture that keep OhAnleigh audiences toes tapping and hands clapping from pubs to churches to concert halls across New England -- and on radio around the world. OhAnleighs premier CD "Of Irish Crossings Told" featuring celt classics like Black Velvet Band and four all-original piecies is playing in over 32 countries, generating rave programmer and listener reviews (review clips below). Tom Hanley, a second-generation Irishman descended of immigrants from Counties Laois and Roscommon, performed with bar rock bands since the early 1970s. When asked by a social organization to perform some Irish music at a St. Patricks Day event in 2002, he enlisted his then 12-year-old daughter Becca as his front man, counting on her ethereal soprano to evoke visions of Ireland past. For the next year, Tom and Becca performed at fairs, Irish clubs, farmers markets, and social events, while Beccas vocal depth and talents led to repeated slots in the Vermont All-State Chorus as well as performing the National Anthem at numerous large conferences and singing in choirs and as a soloist outside her OhAnleigh gigs. In early 2003, fiddler Cindy Hill joined the father-daughter team. Cindys ancestors hail from Counties Tyrone and Limerick. Her musical credentials range from school orchestra and chorus to a succession of party rock bands, and her interest in traditional Celtic music sprang from her long political activism in the Irish independence movement. Cindy brings a knowledge of Celtic mythology and legends to the band along with her multi-instrumental talents. From classic Gaelic ballads to rollicking pub songs, Irish-American tin pan alley tunes to traditional dance sets, songs of rebellion to songs of love and loss, OhAnleighs vocal talents Beccas pure soprano, Cindys smooth alto, and Toms baritone combine to create the unique OhAnleigh sound. Their vocal diversity is supported with a dazzling array of instruments including 6 and 12 string guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, bass, fiddle, tenor banjo, penny whistles, harmonica, bowed psaltery, dulcimer, autoharp, bodhrans, bones, spoons, and a whole assortment of other small percussion, much of it hand-made out of odd bits of things found in the garage to get just the right sound for a particular song. The groups playlist now numbers in the hundreds, including a hearty dose of rebel tunes and a growing list of original pieces, as Tom and Cindy compose music and lyrics to expand the Irish-American folk genre. Their performances are noted for the rapid-fire pace of their song list, as well-rehearsed instrument changes and dramatic or humourous pieces of the spoken word (Irish poetry) blend one song into the next for a non-stop set of musical energy.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of MochaMayas.