Backstage with The Roving Crows

Just in time for St Patrick's Day, SoGlos.com goes backstage with one of Gloucestershire’s most popular Irish bands, The Roving Crows.

Who exactly are The Roving Crows?

We’re a gutsy Celtic fusion that plays contemporary Irish folk-rock, and we’ve been together for almost three years now.

There are five members: Paul O’Neill who is the lead singer and plays guitar and bodhran; Caitlin Barrett who plays the fiddle and is on vocals; Greg Wilson-Copp is on the trumpet and backing vocals; Joe Ball is the bass player; while Josh Balen is on drums, percussion and backing vocals.

Are you all from Ireland?

Paul is from Athy in Co. Kildare, Caitlin was born in Cheltenham and with both parents from Donegal, both Joe and Greg and born and raised in Cheltenham, and Josh is from just over the border in Worcester!

How did you all get together?

Caitlin and Paul met at a festival in Devon four years ago and have played music together ever since. Josh the drummer joined them towards the end of 2009, Joe joined as our new bass player in 2010 and Greg the trumpet player has been gigging with us from around the same time… and we haven’t looked back since.

Who are some of your influences?

Waterboys, Kila and The Levellers – who we get compared with a lot.

Recommend one album you don’t think SoGlos.com’s readers will have discovered.

Anything by Afro-Celt Sound System is excellent, and anything by Kila.

What’s your favourite venue you’ve played at in Gloucestershire?

The Strand, The Exmouth Arms, Apres, and The Brewery in Cheltenham; The Yew Tree in Conderton;the Cross Keys, and, of course, Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

How far have you come in the last few years?

We wrote our debut album which was released in January 2009. We are now working on an EP to be released in March 2011 – all original material alongside a traditional set of tunes arranged by the Crows. We are self-promoting and gigging very regularly around the UK and Ireland at arts centres and festivals – including plenty of great pubs and venues in Gloucestershire.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

When Caitlin and Paul are not making music they’re organising, managing and promoting The Roving Crows. Other than that Caitlin enjoys yoga, Paul writes plays, Joe is always making music, Greg will be building and refining his music studio, and Josh goes on holidays!

Have you ever… had a groupie stalk you?

Yes.

Thrown a TV out of a hotel window or would've liked to?

Depends on what’s on.

What advice would you give to local bands trying to make it in the industry?

Keep going, perseverance is key. Live you’re truth.

Where can SoGlos.com readers see you perform next?

At the Irish Village at The Brewery and the Cheltenham Festival celebrations at Après in Cheltenham from Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 March 2011; and also at the Cross Keys in Gloucester on Thursday 24 March 2011 and lots more!

For more information on where we’re playing after that see rovingcrows.com.

SoGlos.com
14 March 2011