Gráda is a traditional Irish music band founded in 2001 whose members are a mix of Irish and New Zealand musicians. Based in Dublin and Galway, Ireland, Gráda have spent much of their time touring internationally. In 2011, members of Gráda disbanded to work on individual projects. The band reformed in 2020 to play a concert in New Zealand and were joined by Tola Custy.

Musical career

The group draws from a wide range of influences, which has seen them working with Dave Hingerty ( Kíla,

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); Vyviene Long (cellist with

Damien Rice Damien George Rice (born 7 December 1973) is an Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He began his career as a member of the 1990s rock group Juniper, who were signed to Polygram Records in 1997. The band enjoyed moderate success ...

); and, as a producer, Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, The Waterboys). Further additions have included Dublin based trumpeter Bill Blackmore and percussionist Rasmus Skovmand. In 2008, it was announced Colin Farrell had decided to leave the band. He was replaced by multi-instrumentalist David Doocey. In April 2009, Alan Doherty left the band and was replaced by Stephen Doherty (no relation). Alan returned to the group in 2011.

Charts and critical reception

Gráda have received critical acclaim, with their latest album ''Natural Angle'' being voted as one of the top folk albums of 2010 in the USA by NPR / Folk Alley and the IMA music awards. Their previous album, ''Cloudy Day Navigation'' appeared multiple times in '' Irish Music's'' Top 10 charts. Gráda have received glowing reviews from ''Irish Music'', ''

Sing Out! ''Sing Out!'' was a quarterly journal of folk music and folk songs that was published from May 1950 through spring 2014. It was originally based in New York City, with a national circulation of approximately 10,000 by 1960. Background ''Sing Out ...

'', ''The Irish Times'', ''The Evening Herald'' and ''The Event Guide''."Past, Present and Future"
, ''The Event Guide'', 2002. Accessed 4 November 2007

Band members

* Andrew Laking – (

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

) * Nicola Joyce– (

bodhrán The bodhrán (, ; plural ''bodhráin'' or ''bodhráns'') is a frame drum used in Irish music ranging from in diameter, with most drums measuring . The sides of the drum are deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads or oth ...

) * Gerry Paul – (acoustic and electric

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...

bouzouki The bouzouki (, also ; el, μπουζούκι ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', from Greek ), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece. It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and ...

) * David Doocey – (

Fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, the ...

Concertina A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It consists of expanding and contracting bellows, with buttons (or keys) usually on both ends, unlike accordion buttons, which are on the front. The ...

, and

Whistle A whistle is an instrument which produces sound from a stream of gas, most commonly air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means. Whistles vary in size from a small slide whistle or nose flute type to a lar ...

s) * Alan Doherty – (

flutes The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

whistle A whistle is an instrument which produces sound from a stream of gas, most commonly air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means. Whistles vary in size from a small slide whistle or nose flute type to a lar ...

) * Stephen Doherty – (

Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedles ...

)

Former members

* Anne Marie O'Malley – vocals and bodhrán (2001–2006) * Brendan O'Sullivan – fiddle, viola, and vocals (2001–2005) * Colin Farrell – (

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, the ...

) (2006–2008)

Discography

* Off to Sardinia – 2001 (out of production) * Endeavour – 2002 * The Landing Step – 2004 * Cloudy Day Navigation – 2007 * Natural Angle – 2010 (

Compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...

)

References

External links

gradamusic.com
- the official website *
Gráda's MySpace
– official MySpace page {{DEFAULTSORT:Grada Celtic music groups Irish folk musical groups Irish-New Zealand culture World music groups