The Molly Hicks at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, 17 Feb. 2012

Thanks to Ruth Dillon for this news:

The Molly Hicks, featuring Ruth Dillon (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Bernie O’Mahony (vocals, banjolele), together with Peter Akerstrom (vocals, guitar), Geoff Ward (mandolin), Juliana Erkonen (fiddle), and Paul O'Driscoll (double bass), will host the big annual bluegrass gig at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, this Friday night, 17 February (tickets online).

As well as producing quite possibly the finest and most authentic-sounding blend of bluegrass/folk music in Ireland today, the Molly Hicks possess a trump card in the heart-achingly beautiful voices of lead singers Ruth and Bernie, described by Siobhan Long of the Irish Times as '... a thing of great beauty... their voices communing with the seamlessness of Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss'.

This tight vocal and instrumental six-piece group is revered in Galway, and having toured across Ireland, Britain, and USA, are noted for their uncanny delivery of traditional and contemporary bluegrass songs. The Molly Hicks are a harmony tour de force, with everyone taking turns singing lead and harmony, doing call and response.

In addition to their wide repertoire of traditional songs and fiddle tunes, Ruth continues to write original songs for the band in a true bluegrass style.

Peter burns up the guitar with amazing speed and accuracy, Geoff and Juliana play sizzling American tunes and licks, driven by Paul’s unmistakable bass sound, and all underpinned by the sister-like singing of Bernie and Ruth. Sometimes tending towards intimate and traditional, while other times very tempo-driven and quite funky, the Molly Hicks always deliver illuminating and spontaneous live shows, and they never fail to leave their audience engaged and wanting more.

The band is currently in the process of recording a new CD, which they plan to launch in the summer of 2012.