Halifax, Nova Scotia, February , 2018
DUSTY KELEHER TO RELEASE DOUBLE LP AT THE OLD TRIANGLE
Saturday, February 24th In the Seanchaí Room
The Way to Grace b/w The Road to Conamara; songs and stories in the old style
Growing up, Dusty Keleher ‘s family was always proud of their Irish heritage. He had heard tales of his grandfather, Howard, performing at variety shows in Halifax in the 1930’s, and being called on to sing at parties, weddings, funerals; any sort of social gathering. But Dusty knew there was more to it than just that. So, when circumstance and fortune allowed him a bit of time, and a little bit of purse, he set out to uncover the history, culture, music and folkore of his roots.
Dusty is now releasing the fruits of his labour and study; a thesis, his latest recording, The Way to Grace (b/w The Road to Conamara). The album, a two-record set, pressed to vinyl and cd, is the culmination of a decade’s worth of exploration and study of Irish history, folkore and song.
The Way to Grace is a collection of originals, many inspired by his studies and travels throughout Ireland. “I spent a lot of time absorbing Irish melodies and sounds and they have distilled within me until I could call them my own,” says Keleher.
It was recorded with Charles Austin (Superfriendz, Buck 65, Old Man Luedecke, Al Tuck) at the Echo Chamber in North End Halifax and features Ellen Gibling on harp, Gina Burgess on violin, Colin Carrigan on violin, Glenn Coolen on whistles and pipes, Mark Currie on bodhrán, Benn Ross on percussion and Lukas Pearse on the bass.
The Road to Conamara is a tribute to the great Joe Heaney who was a master sean nós singer and storyteller. Sean nós (in English, “old style”) is an Irish form of acapella singing. Keleher found his way to Heaney while enrolled at the Irish Studies Department at St Mary’s University and The National University of Ireland – Galway (NUIG).
The Road to Conamara is a collection of a cappella songs and stories from the tradition, recorded at his home in the Irishtown district of Halifax one afternoon over a bottle of Jameson’s.
Keleher’s Irish roots run deep in Nova Scotia. Six generations ago his great-great-great-grandmother Mary Leahey, from Midleton, Co. Cork was on one of the few boats from the famine to make land in Halifax. Her husband Patrick, and son John, were butchers in downtown Halifax. Their shop was one block up the hill from where Dusty will release his record.
Saturday, February 24th In the Seanchaí Room at The Old Triangle
The Way to Grace b/w The Road to Conamara will be available at the show on Vinyl and CD.
For Bookings contact Dusty Keleher directly: dustykeleher@gmail.com