The Bothy Band is THE band that breathed new life into traditional Irish music in the 70s. Considered a must-have band in the field, their success was as dazzling as it was brief, with just 4 years of existence…
It all began in 1974, when the band was formed on a radio show directed by Tony MacMahon. Seven musicians were invited to perform an improvised live show, including :
The chemistry was immediately apparent, and it wasn’t long before the seven musicians agreed to meet once a week to play together (even though some of them live several hundred kilometers apart!).
The band quickly developed and found its sound… But a few months before recording their first album in 1975, Paddy Glackin decided to leave the band, and was eventually replaced by Tommy People.
The release of their first album was an unexpected and unexpected success, propelling them to the forefront of the Irish music scene. The band’s concerts and TV appearances were then multiplied… Their mastery of traditional instruments such as the fiddle, uilleann pipe and bodhràn has won them critical acclaim.
In 1976, they released their second album, Old Hag You Have Killed Me, which was a resounding success. But the group finds it hard to live with such success. Always astonished by the public’s response, they had not prepared themselves for a career as professional musicians. Their success seems to be getting out of hand…
After the departure of Tommy People, finally replaced by Kevin Burke in May 1976, they finally decided to go their separate ways after just 4 years of existence, to the complete incomprehension of the public.
Everyone then tries their luck in other musical projects, like Matt Molloy with the Chieftains…
The group only reformed exceptionally in 2007, for a concert in memory of Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, who had died a year earlier…
Despite their short career, the Bothy Band profoundly revolutionized traditional Irish music. They are still considered one of the greatest bands of their kind.
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