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 contemporary Irish folk-rock band, that’s been together for a year now – with four members: Paul O’Neill who is the lead singer and plays guitar and bodhran; Caitlin Barrett who plays the fiddle and is on vocals; Marc Miletitch on double and electric bass as well as vocals; and Josh Balen on drums, all manner of percussion instruments and vocals too.

Are you all from Ireland?

Paul is from Athy in Co. Kildare, Caitlin was born in Cheltenham and with both parents from Donegal has spent much of her time there, Marc is from Paris, while Josh is born and bred just over the border in Malvern!

How did you all get together?

Caitlin and Paul met at a festival three years ago and have played music together ever since. We were joined by Marc and Josh to perform during Race Week 2009 – the reaction to the new foursome was overwhelmingly positive, and so we’ve been a full-time gigging band from then on.

How far have you come in the last year?

We’ve just recorded our first CD which is all original apart from one traditional Irish song which we have ‘funked-up’ with a few sets of traditional tunes, played with frenetic drum and bass lines to get people dancing. It is for sale through iTunes and has so far garnered a really great response.

We’ve also just performed on the main stage at the Cheltenham Folk Festival, and have toured extensively throughout the UK, Ireland and France. Our music has been featured on BBC Radio Gloucestershire – Johnny Coppin is a great supporter.

We’re also very busy writing material for our new CD that will be coming out early in 2011, so we’ve been pretty hectic!

Who are some of your main influences?

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

Recommend one album you don’t think SoGlos.com’s readers will have discovered.
Kila’s Luna Park is a sensational album.

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

A few we really like playing are Après, The Brewery, The Front Rooms, The Exmouth Arms and Cheltenham Town Hall. We would love to play Wychwood Festival next – and would love nothing more than to support The Levellers!

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

When we’re not making music we’re bored!! No, seriously, Caitlin loves walking & yoga, Paul is a playwright so will generally be doing something to do with writing & reading, Marc is a keen cyclist and Josh will generally wine and dine his beautiful girlfriend!

Have you ever… had a groupie stalk you?

Caitlin does on a regular basis, in fact!

Any claims to fame?

Paul lived in New York for 12 years where he hung out with Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne – he also written a play which is touring the UK. While Caitlin is good friends with fellow fiddle players Tommy Peoples, Martin McGinley and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

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

Persevere, and always smile on stage.

Where can SoGlos.com readers see you perform next?

We’re all over the UK, France and Ireland in the coming months – plus have our first stint in Majorca this summer. But in Gloucestershire, we are about to headline at The Brewery’s Irish Village and at the Cheltenham Race Week celebrations at Apres which will be highlights of the year.

Find details of The Roving Crows forthcoming performances in SoGlos.com’s Gloucestershire gig guide.