THIS band's hallmark is very much the repertoire and style of Donal Lunny's 1980, post Moving Hearts music, but modified significantly by a loud, elaborate percussion an insistent rock beat.
Whether insensitive or excessive, its dominance left no doubt that this is what the band are about. A long way this from the delicacy of Planxty, the clear melodic core of the Bothy Band. Lunny's tunes formed the bulk of the earlier part of the programme - rambling and intricate, evocative of his original Tolka Polka composition.
Maire Breatnach and Nollaig Ni Chathasaigh (fiddles) with John McSherry (uilleann pipes) were central to this, Fionn O'Loughlin on electric bass guitar and Graham Henderson on keyboards together with the maestro whipped it up to a big sound close in its impact to Bill Whelan's Riverdance material.
Strongest audience reaction was to old, familiar tunes with a beginning, a middle and an end. But guest Emer Quinn's Eurovision flavour and Jean Butler motley seemed misplaced, and not even Sharon Shannon's introduction on accordion managed to lift the show off. Yet with "special guest" Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh's Dulaman and Brid Og Ni Mhaille (fresh from a gig in Disneyland) things began to happen. Ray Fean held back somewhat on his batteries, Roy Dodds too on congas, and by the time Ritchie Buckley emerged with sax, a memorable show was launched.
Shannon came to life leading on a great reel set that included the variation packed Mouth of the Tobique and for the concluding half hour and further three encores there was simply a magnificent performance - a cap doffing credit to these top class musicians and a thrilling validation of Lunny's arrangement instinct.
