WATCH: Laois lads' new trad hits all right notes

Laois musicians James and Robert Harvey - The Harvey Brothers have just launched their new album 'The Lads of Laois'.

The siblings, who hail from Roundwood near Mountrath, were joined on June 28 at Bloomhq in Mountrath by fellow musicians Caoimhin Ó Fearghail, Ryan Molloy and Niall Preston as well as family and friends to launch their first duet album.

Featuring flute, banjo, mandolin and tin whistle, the Harveys were joined in the set of sixteen new tracks by Caoimhín on guitar, Ryan piano and Niall on bodhrán.

The album showcases music from Laois and its environs, combining tunes by composers Sean Ryan, John Brady, James Harvey, Jerry O’Sullivan, Robert Gleeson, Joe Keegan among others, with tunes from older publications of traditional music since the 1780s.

The project was inspired by lockdown projects for Laois County Council and Comhaltas which led to Robert and James reflecting on the lesser-known repertoire from their homeplace, resulting in an introspective selection of tunes that showcases the beauty of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The CD was recorded at Roundwood House in July 2023 produced by Laoise O’Brien and engineered by Grammy Award winner Ben Rawlins.

The album is produced by Laoise O'Brien: Music Producer and Ben Rawlins Jiggery Pokery Productions and was recorded at Roundwood House.

A video for the new record was made by Laois native Naoise Kettle at The Rock of Dunamaise and The Poets Cottage in Camross. It features the second track on the new record Arderin/Heywood Wake/The Jig of Clonmore.

The CD is available to pre-order now at www.theharveybrothers.ie and https://theharveybrothers.bandcamp.com/.../the-lads-of-laois