Bringing a unique sound to Cairde
FLOOK RETURN TO THE HAWK’S WELL THIS FRIDAY AFTER SELL-OUT PERFORMANCES DURING THE 2015 FLEADH.
IT’S over 20 years since they first got together as a group, and FLOOK have no intention of giving it up just yet.
FLOOK return to the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo as part of the Cairde Arts Festival this Friday following sold out performances at Fleadh Cheoil in 2015.
The flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weave and spin traditionally rooted tunes into the breath-taking sound of the ground-breaking band.
The group possess a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination.
“We’re together over 20 years. We started as three flutes. I suppose we chose the name because it was a fluke really in every sense of the word. It was a fluke that we all got together and it was a fluke that it worked.
“We got asked once to do a show on BBC Radio and it all really took off from there. It was never really meant to be successful, it was meant to be a bit of fun and here we are recording another new album which we’re hoping will be ready later in the year”, said John Joe Kelly
Their first release, ‘Flook! Live! in 1997 was a huge success, but it was only in 1999 when they released their debut studio album ‘Flatfish’ that they burst onto the international scene.
The group are spread out around Ireland and the United Kingdom - John Joe resides in Sligo, while other group members live in Armagh, Somerset and London.
“We took a bit of time out there for a few years because group members had children and people were tied to family and that kind of thing and it’s been good for us really. We’re in Hammersmith recording an album at the minute, the framework of it is done. We came back from Italy this week. We probably go there two or three times a year,” added John Joe.
He added: “We’ve travelled a lot around the world. We’ve been to Europe, Japan and Australia. We’ve recharged the batteries now.
“We don’t do any long tours now, except for when we go to Japan but we usually just do long weekends.”
Ed Boyd, guitarist, said: “Playing music is a great way to meet people and it’s great to be able to make people smile with music. It’s probably a different way of travelling. Some people when they go travelling they get to relax and see places but we probably arrive and don’t have much time before a gig, and we leave shortly afterward.”
Their music is hugely popular around the world, and each year they travel to Italy, where their popularity has grown over the years.
John Joe explained: “Irish music is loved all around the world. The Chieftains really paved the way for everyone. I suppose Flook isn’t really traditional music but it’s a mixture of modern, with a funky twist on trad music. We’re probably a mixture of a lot of different styles. It’s mainly jigs and reels, sort of an Anglo-Irish sound.
“It’s hard to single out just one or two gigs, we have played in some amazing venues all around the world. We have always loved travelling. We’ve been to some really prestigious venues across the world with it too.
“People probably thought we had broken up because we’d play 200+ gigs a year. But now we’re fully charged.”
Having visited the Hawk’s Well before, FLOOK are eager to get back.
“The Hawk’s Well is a fantastic venue. We played there during the Fleadh in 2015 and it sold out really quickly. We don’t get to rehearse together because none of us live near each other. It’s so nice to get to play in the town where I live,” said John Joe.
Sarah Allen, one of the flautists, added: “Sligo is a fantastic town. We might get a ten minute rehearsal before we go on stage or something but we all know each other so well so you just get on with it.”
Brian Finnegan, who hails from Armagh, said playing gigs closer to home is special.
“We are always looking forward to coming to Sligo. A gig at home is so nice to do. There’s a difference in attitude and understanding from the audience, but our audiences around the world always receive our music well. It’s universal, people can connect with it.”
Tickets to this event are €20/18conc./10u18s plus €1 Renovation Fee. Further information available online at www.hawkswell.com