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Welcome to the Bog Wanderers Homepage
Who are the Bog's?
A ceili band is one that plays for Irish country dancing and the Bog Wanderers are one of the top ceili bands on the east coast of the US. Jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and slides are their mainstay with the added attraction of superb vocals by banjo-player, Betsy O’Malley.
For the last ten years, the Bog Wanderers have been the house band for the monthly ceili [traditional Irish country dance] sponsored by the O’Neill Malcom branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE). The Dublin-based “Irish Musicians Association” ceili is held monthly in Fairfax, VA and always attracts a great group of Irish dance enthusiasts, both new and experienced.
At the turn of the century, the Bog Wanderers performed at the North American convention of the CCE alongside the legendary Shaskeen Ceili Band from Co. Galway, Ireland to great acclaim from the dancers on the floor and the musicians in the Shaskeen band as well.
“…an Irish traditional “Ceili” band famous throughout the bogs of the East for its spirited jigs, reels, hornpipes and some superb singing; Ceili (kay’lee) is a Gaelic word whose meaning comes from the tradition of the friendly visit, so much a part of Irish culture…”
-Bluemont Concert Series
The Bog Wanderers have just unleashed their first CD “Here’s to You.” It's a fabulous collection of tunes and songs both traditional and original. Available at:
http://www.fallingmountain.com/bws.html
The band members include:
Betsy O’Malley, tenor banjo, tin whistle and vocals
Joe Dezarn, fiddle, remarks
Danny Flynn, button accordion and piano accordion
Tabby Finch, piano, harp, hammered dulcimer
Jesse Winch, drums, bodhran, percussion, mandola, guitar and harmonica
Here's what the Washington post had to say about the CD:
The Washington Post
Friday, December 31, 2004; Page WE06
THE BOG WANDERERS "Here's to You"
Falling Mountain Music
As many local fans of Irish country dancing know, the Bog Wanderers
celebrate the Irish diaspora with the vitality of a first-rate ceili
band. Jigs, slides, reels, hornpipes, polkas and evocative ballads make
up the group's trans-Atlantic repertoire and help make its nearly
75-minute debut CD, "Here's to You," a treat to hear from start to
finish.
Of course, more important is the band's lineup. It's a seasoned cast
featuring vocalist-banjoist Betsy O'Malley, accordionist Danny Flynn,
fiddler Joe DeZarn and multi-instrumentalists Jesse Winch (bodhran,
mandola, guitar, harmonica and percussion) and Tabby Finch (piano, harp
and hammered dulcimer.) The group's versatility produces some colorfully
woven and textured arrangements that enhance an unusually broad
assortment of traditional and contemporary tunes. Highlights? Here's a
short list: the opening medley of "Slides," brightly orchestrated by
accordion, banjo, fiddle and piano; Liz Carroll's "Dancing Tables," the
first tune in another medley enlivened by DeZarn's darting fiddle; "The
Columbia Seven" and "The North Trenton," two Flynn-penned waltzes
equipped with soulful, elegantly revolving melodies; "The Shoemaker's
Daughter" -- the first in a set of tunes composed by Ed Reavy, it's a
dancing duel of sorts for fiddle and banjo; Si Kahn's "Aragon Mill," one
of several ballads that feature O'Malley's affecting soprano.
Picking favorites isn't easy, though. Not when you're listening to a
recording as consistently enjoyable as this one.
-- Mike Joyce
Where to purchase our CD on the WEB? It's at www.fallingmountain.com
Click Here for CD
To learn our tunes go to the Bog Survival Kit Website
Thanks Regan Wick for Producing!
squeeze dot box at comcast.net
