Biography

“…bringing exciting seductive sounds to town…”

At the Racket came together in 1997 and have produced two CDs to date, At the Racket and Mirth Making Heroes. The band brings an interesting new sound to Irish music today, playing seriously joyous music which will lift hearts and dare the feet to stop dancing. While performing, the band takes its audience on a musical journey, ranging from the sounds of the Golden era of 1920’s vaudeville through to the traditional music of today. At the Racket is both a recreation of the style of a bygone era and one of the freshest “new” sounds in Irish music today. They stand alone for their style and uniqueness and are well known for their uplifting banjo/saxophone lead sound which gives that "divil-may-care-ness" to all their tunes be they jigs, reels, flings, waltzes or songs. With echoes of the pioneering Irish dance bands who recorded in the 1920s, they combine swirling saxophone and banjo with vamping piano and pulsating guitars, honeyed tones of fiddle and flute, along with a velvet voice! In essence, At the Racket is a band to fill lungs with pure oxygen and set souls ablaze making this band such a delight for live audiences!

The line up includes:

John Carty
John Carty on fiddle and banjo. John originally from London now living in Boyle is well known on the traditional circuit as recipient of TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. John also plays with Matt Molloy and Patrick Street. www.johncartymusic.com
Brian Mc Grath
Brian McGrath on piano, tenor guitar, and banjo. Brian originally from Co. Fermanagh now living in Galway has played and recorded with all the big names in Traditional music including De Dannan and Four Men and a Dog.
Séamus O'Donnell
Seamus O'Donnell on flute, saxophone and vocals. Seamus is part of the O’Donnell clan from Aclare, Co Sligo and continues their wonderful family singing tradition. He is particularly respected for his uniquely traditional style on the saxophone.
Michael Mc Cague
Michael Mc Cague on guitar. Michael is from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan, but he has been living and playing in Galway since 2001. He is highly in demand as an accompanist and has recorded on various traditional albums to date.