The Molly Hicks: new MySpace site

The Molly Hicks and friends: Juliana Erkkonen, Peter Akerstrom, Ruth Dillon, John Kenny, Bernie O'Mahony, Tom Hanway

Tom Hanway reports:

The Molly Hicks have a new MySpace site with listings of their shows, band personnel, album credits, photos, a slide show, and two live videos shot at the Volvo Ocean Race in Galway. The first video is ‘Wildwood flower/Blue and lonesome’, featuring Ruth and Bernie, with Tom on baritone, and the second is ‘My little Georgia Rose’, with Tom on lead and high-lonesome harmonies from Bernie and Ruth.

The Molly Hicks begin with Galway's best-loved, original bluegrass team, top songwriter Ruth Dillon (vocals/guitar) and savvy arranger Bernie O’Mahony (vocals/guitar).

Rounding out the Molly Hicks are, in various combinations, Tom Hanway (vocals/5-string banjo), Peter Akerstrom (vocals/guitar), and Paul Johnson (bass). Ruth writes bluegrass songs, singing powerful duets with Bernie, and trios and quartets with Peter and Tom, who also adds hot original banjo tunes.

This tight vocal group is revered in Galway and far afield across Ireland for their unique delivery of traditional, original, and contemporary bluegrass songs. The Molly Hicks are a singing tour de force and put on a great live show, with everyone taking turns singing lead and harmony, doing call-and-response, in the grand traditions of American Appalachian, bluegrass, gospel, and country music.

The band is back in the studio putting the finishing touches on their new CD, The Molly Hicks, featuring contemporary and original songs by Ruth and a driving new banjo tune from Tom.

The band plays this Saturday night, 24 October, 9.30 p.m. at Mannion’s Bar for the inaugural Balla Bluegrass Festival in Co. Mayo. Follow them on MySpace for breaking news bulletins, music, blogs, videos, and get a listen to their debut recording, which will be up soon.

The Molly Hicks are now booking festivals and concerts for 2010, 2011, and 2012.