Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens soar in Shetland

Tom Hanway reports:

27 April - 1 May – Carmel and the lads played eight shows – no two the same – at the 26th Shetland Folk Festival. The band played songs from Runaway and tried out fresh material that they plan to record in Nashville this fall. The audience feedback was tremendous and gave the band new energy and focus for the future. A songwriting partnership and new friendships were forged: Tim O’Brien joined the band for their last show – just on fiddle – kicking off Bill Monroe’s 'Uncle Pen' and staying up for the entire set. The crowd went absolutely bonkers and cut a hole in the rug down to the bare wood. The Ravens were shown a cracking good time by the lovely, lovely people of Shetland, who, by the way, run an impeccably organised, super-fan-friendly festival. Carmel and the band sold a flock of CDs, signed autographs, made radio and TV appearances, and even found time for a wee bit of sight-seeing and a band photo session. Shetland Folk was a real eye-opener, and on the ferry back to Aberdeen, Tim O’Brien and Danny Sheerin sat down, clung to their chairs and whiskeys, and wrote a song on stormy high seas. Carmel sang her heart out and smiled for Ireland. Meanwhile, at least one member of the band drank for Ireland and got *banjo'd*, but managed not to fall overboard (or get pushed). The Ravens will bring in their Shetland experience when they record their second album with producer Bil VornDick in Nashville, one week prior to their IBMA World of Bluegrass appearance, as EBMA’s #1 European Bluegrass Band. Tim O’Brien will be joining the band in the recording studio to sing on 'The only way to never hurt', composed 2 May 2006 (Tim O’Brien/Danny Sheerin). Carmel and all the Ravens thank the Shetland Folk Festival organisers, their hosts, Neville and Maureen Davis, the friendly volunteers, and all the people of Shetland for making them feel so welcome and at home. The Shetland Folk Festival did the Ravens proud. It was a big, big honour.

Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens