LEAHY

JUNO-WINNING FAMILY BAND, DELIVERS HIGH-ENERGY CELTIC-FOLK ROCKS PERFORMANCES

LEAHY is a Canadian powerhouse of dynamic musicians and songwriters from one family, known for thrilling audiences with their musicianship, passionate vocals, and step-dancing. Accomplished multi-instrumentalists, their high-energy live performance reveals the special chemistry between the band members through their instruments, melodies and layered harmonies. Crossing genres, LEAHY combines vocals, piano, fiddle, button accordion, drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars with contemporary influences that pushes their sound to the edge of folk-rock, always infused by the family’s traditional music roots.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

If you think you know what the music of Canadian band Leahy sounds like, it’s time to think again.

Their latest album Good Water brings the five women members of the group – Leahy sisters Julie, Erin, Maria, Siobheann, and Denise – freshly to the fore, in singing and especially songwriting, along with brother Frank on drums, and introduces the newest addition to the band, Xavier, son of Frank, on accordion. 

As the songs on Good Water took shape, a new edge to the band’s sound began to emerge with the addition of electric guitars which spurred them on to explore the outer edges of their traditional/Celtic/folk/roots musical origins, pushing well beyond that footing.  This trajectory led the band to work under the sharp, exacting hand of Grammy-winning Canadian producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Rush, Smashing Pumpkins, Afro Celt Sound System), who brought an additional new intensity to the sonic palette. The result is a wide-ranging collection of songs that newly ignite the many musical influences that motivate the band members – from rock to choral, country to classical, and beyond.

As an example, the first single and title track, “Good Water,” is an entirely contemporary song of hope; a timely message to a generation of “people called to be together” in a world stricken by anxiety, turmoil, and uncertainty. Although it expresses a universal sentiment, it’s as  relevant a song as you’ll hear in 2020. With “Good Water,” Leahy have caught the eternal in the commonplace, and captured a feeling we can all recognize now, across the globe.

“Little Moon” offers another excellent example of Leahy’s progressive sensibilities as they bring their roots-based instrumental prowess into modern-day focus. Co-written by siblings Erin and Angus Leahy “Little Moon” was originally arranged for piano and violin.  With the addition of electric guitar (played on the album by Canadian rock guitarist, Nick Johnston), the ensuing and passionate duet between violin and electric guitar highlights the exquisite features that make both of these the “first instruments” in their respective orbits – Celtic roots on one hand, and rock ‘n’ roll on the other.

Besides the two gorgeous versions of the title track, the second track on the album, “Tears,” is an epic, melodic pop song that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Celine Dion album – but with rockin’ electric guitar – that invites the release of the kind of emotions that can “mend what’s broken, melt what’s frozen.”

Over the course of their notable career, Leahy has deservedly secured a place as one of Canada’s most highly regarded musical groups. Their emergence on the Canadian music scene in the late 1990s introduced audiences to the original Leahy sound from which the band’s extraordinarily brilliant fiddles, passionate vocals, and exquisite harmonies were launched to mainstream music listeners. Their reputation as excellent musicians, multi-instrumentalists, singers, and songwriters was (and continues to be) exponentially enhanced by Leahy’s stunning, high-energy live performances. It’s hard to imagine that anybody who’s seen Leahy play live would ever forget it.

And what a career it’s been. Their 1997 eponymous album, Leahy, seized the public’s attention, and extensive touring (much of it as the opening act for Shania Twain) boosted the band to double-platinum sales in Canada. The album also sold impressively in the U.S. (where it reached No. 4 on the Billboard World Music chart), the U.K., and Europe. Leahy earned three Canadian JUNO Awards, for Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group in 1997, and Best Country Group or Duo the following year. Lakefield (2001) was Leahy’s second release, followed up in 2004 by In All Things. To date, Leahy have sold more than 500,000 albums worldwide. They’ve been featured in three PBS television specials – Leahy Live in Concert, Gael Force (with the Chieftains), and Leahy Live from Gatineau, Quebec – and are the subject of a 1985 Academy Award-winning documentary, The Leahys: Music Most of All.

Leahy are incredibly diverse, an 11-strong (with six in the current “core” touring band), multi-generational ensemble that encompasses the young and experienced; men and women; and mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, and brothers. Their eclectic music combines elements of the aforementioned folk, traditional, Celtic, and roots music within contemporary arrangements – influenced by classical, pop and rock music – into a progressive sound of their own. For Leahy there are no boundaries as they continue to evolve – the band’s genuine love of such a diverse range of music fuels their uncompromising creativity. Refusing to be bound to the conventions of any one genre, defying easy definition, they’ve forged a truly unique reputation.