Remember ‘Nu-folk’? As the likes of Mumford & Sons found
themselves headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, it seemed that every
indie leaning musician out there was ditching the guitars, growing a beard, buying
a waist coat, stomping round the haystacks and getting to grips with the banjo.
As with any musical fashion, that wave eventually broke.
Even Mumford & Sons reinvented themselves as a rather boring stadium rock band
and charity shops noticed an increase in waistcoat donations.
So, when a group comes along that could have quite easily
fitted into that indie-folk gang back in 2009 you might give a little shudder.
But don’t. Because Limerick three-piece Kingfishr make powerfully brilliant
songs, and that’s what’s important, irrespective of genre, fashion or
prejudice.
Kingfishr consist of Edmond Keogh, Eoghan McGrath and Eoin
Fitzgibbon and they embrace Ireland’s love of traditional music that is passed
down from generation to generation (banjo player McGrath is part of the
National Folk Orchestra of Ireland). However, the band add the sort of muscle
that rock fans will enjoy – their songs well up with the sort of punch the air
euphoria that someone like Bruce Springsteen achieves.
This is best heard on the third and most recent song they’ve
released – Heart In The Water, which is full of moving and sky scraping weight .
Of the song the band say: “Resentment is a powerful emotion. Looking back at
all the things you could have had had or done, and realising you won’t get
those moments back is hard to take. Heart In The Water is about learning from
paths not taken.”
Listen to Kingfishr below and once again celebrate the
banjo.
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