We Banjo 3
{{EngvarB|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = We Banjo 3
| image = WeBanjo3Live.jpg
| caption = We Banjo 3
| image_size = 220
| alias =
| origin = Galway, Ireland
| genre = Celtgrass, Irish traditional, bluegrass
| years_active = 2011–2023
| label = Sonas Recording
| website = [http://www.webanjo3.com www.webanjo3.com]
| current_members = Enda Scahill
Martin Howley
David Howley
Fergal Scahill
}}
We Banjo 3 was a band from Galway, Ireland that played a blend of traditional Irish, old time, and bluegrass music they called Celtgrass. The band was composed of two sets of brothers, Enda Scahill and Fergal Scahill and Martin and David Howley. Earle Hitchner, music writer for The Wall Street Journal, described their playing as a "freshness and finesse bordering on the magical,"{{cite web | url=https://archive.today/20130806151408/http://www.musicnetwork.ie/events/details/we_banjo_3_international_concerts/ | title=We Banjo 3 International Concerts - Music Network }} and LiveIreland proclaiming them "the hottest group in Irish music."{{cite web|url= http://liveireland.com/we-banjo-3/|title= We Banjo 3 'String Theory'|work= liveireland|date= 21 July 2016|accessdate=22 July 2016}} Their debut album Roots of the Banjo Tree was released in 2012 and was named "Traditional Music Album of the Year" by The Irish Times.{{Cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/entertainment/we-banjo-3-to-perform-three-times-during-irishfest/article_e7d279de-fb8a-11e2-b7b9-0019bb2963f4.html|title=We Banjo 3 to perform three times during Irishfest|first=Caleb|last=Brown|website=La Crosse Tribune|date=4 August 2013 }} This was followed by the release of Gather the Good in 2014. Siobhan Long, music critic for the Irish Times, wrote "We Banjo 3 are a musical Betty Ford Clinic, almost singlehandedly rehabilitating the much maligned banjo in 4 short years." In 2016 the band released their fourth album String Theory which debuted at Number One on the Billboard Charts.
The band
The band's line-up is;
- Enda Scahill – Banjo, Mandolin, Tenor Guitar
- Martin Howley – Banjo, Mandolin, Tenor Guitar
- David Howley – Banjo, Vocals, Guitar
- Fergal Scahill – Fiddle, Guitar, Bodhrán
The members of the band have been highly successful in the competitive music field with Martin winning seven All Ireland titles on the banjo and Enda capturing the award four times. Fergal and David have likewise been honoured earning All Ireland titles on the banjo, fiddle, bodhrán and guitar.{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicnetwork.ie/artists/details/we_banjo_3/ |title=We Banjo 3 - Music Network |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119233534/http://www.musicnetwork.ie/artists/details/we_banjo_3/ |url-status=dead }} They are often joined on stage by Martin's wife Kiana June Weber.
In 2016 the band was selected to play for President Barack Obama and Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the annual "Friends of Ireland" luncheon held in Washington, DC around Saint Patrick's Day. President Obama praised the band's show calling it, "Great music. Incredible performance."{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/stage-invasion-when-obama-got-up-with-banjo-band-34547605.html|title=Stage invasion when Obama got up with banjo band|website=independent|date=17 March 2016 }}
In 2017 Fergal embarked on a challenge to record a tune a day for the entire year. His recordings, posted Facebook, instagram (@fergalscahillmusic) and YouTube have become popular worldwide with some videos obtaining over 100,000 views.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/videos/entertainment/watch-a-fiddle-a-day-galway-musician-gains-international-recognition-for-incredible-tunes-35586206.html|title=WATCH: A fiddle a day - Galway musician gains international recognition for incredible tunes|website=independent}}
Discography
File:WB3 Backstage.jpg, Chicago.]]
Roots of the Banjo Tree (2012) – Tony Lawless of Tradconnect writes, "A banjo inspired album has never sounded so good, so pleasing to the ear or so inventive in its approach."{{Cite web|url=https://tradconnect.com/profiles/blogs/album-review-we-banjo-3-roots-of-the-banjo-tree|title=Album Review - We Banjo 3 / Roots of the Banjo Tree|first1=2012 at 9:30|last1=Posted by Tradconnect Reviews on September 15|first2=View|last2=Blog|website=tradconnect.com}}
Gather the Good (2014) – Awarded the Irish American News Vocal/Instrumental Album of the Year, "Their blend of Irish and Americana is perfection, cutting edge, and educational at the same time. Marvelous stuff from a group that still stops us dead in our tracks."{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5374:top-tir-awards-2015&catid=86:regional-news&Itemid=50 |title=Top TIR Traditional Irish Music Awards 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-date=20 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120003300/http://www.irishamericannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5374:top-tir-awards-2015&catid=86:regional-news&Itemid=50 |url-status=dead }}
Live in Galway (2015) – The Irish Times writes, “When you've forged such a great reputation on the back of your live performances, it makes sense to try to capture that elusive zeitgeist in full flight. We Banjo 3 have done just that with this recording” adding that "the richness of (David's) tone and sophistication of his phrasing are still show-stoppers".{{cite news|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/we-banjo-3-live-in-galway-album-review-1.2245993 |title= We Banjo 3: Live in Galway |newspaper=The Irish Times |accessdate=15 June 2015}}
String Theory (2016) – In a review by the Irish Times, "their fourth album, sees them hurtle into the wide blue yonder with a kit bag of exceptional tunes and a propulsive wit that tickles at the perimeter of many of their sets."{{cite news|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-of-the-day-we-banjo-3-s-string-theory-finger-pickin-good-1.2729534|title= Album of the Day – We Banjo 3's String Theory: finger-pickin' good|newspaper=The Irish Times |accessdate=22 July 2016}} The album was ranked Number One on the Billboard World Charts when it was released.{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/artist/7258570/we-banjo-3/|title= We Banjo 3|publisher=Billboard Charts |accessdate=11 August 2016}}
Haven (2018) –Kathy Stockbridge, music writer for NYS Music, describes Haven as “Celtgrass music that brings heartfelt message to listeners.”{{cite web|url= https://nysmusic.com/2018/07/18/hearing-aide-we-banjo-3-haven/|title= Hearing Aide: We Banjo 3 'Haven'=The Irish Times | date=18 July 2018 |accessdate=27 July 2018}} In August 2018 the album reached the top of the Billboard charts for bluegrass music.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.webanjo3.com/ We Banjo 3 (Official Website)]
- [http://www.endascahill.com/ Enda Scahill (Official Website)]
- [https://www.fergalscahill.ie/ Fergal Scahill Music (Official Website)]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Irish Celtic music groups