Still racing of adrenaline from her solo performance at the 20/20 photographic exhibition, Amy McGarrigle will join her band-mates at the Empire Music Hall, Belfast, for the launch of their E.P. ‘What I Remember’.

The band, Boathouse, were formed in 2006 and through progressively gigging, their music as gotten better and fanbase, bigger. The EP contains 5 tracks of the highest quality music, my favourite track changes with each time I see them play.

1. Tinderbox West
2. It Was A River
3. The Johnny & Ruth Story
4. Don’t Knock
5. What I Remember

I asked drummer Keir Hurley how it feels to finally release this long awaited CD.

“Finally having the recordings completed is great. I think after ‘Trail of Ghosts’ [the first E.P. recorded in 2006], a lot of time was put in by the guys writing new songs; it was a real transition point for them. Then Amy McGarrigle and I joined and a lot of time was put into rehearsing the songs; we’ve pretty much been out on the road ever since.

I guess all of us have been conscious of how we wanted to approach this recording too. ‘Trail of Ghosts’ didn’t leave a lot of room for trial and error, but thankfully(!) Pete [Producer at Blueroom Studios] was great to work with; he was very open to experimentation. Recording is such a cathartic process, once you have that CD in your hands, it just brings to mind all these thoughts of the work and effort you’ve put into it and now, finally, you have something to show for it, something you can all be proud of.”

On the band’s plans for the Summer Keir said:

“Lots and lots of plans for the summer! In general we’ll be promoting the forthcoming E.P. ‘What I Remember’ out on Tiny Tuba Records and gigging as much as possible across the length and breadth of the North and South, maybe even a few gigs in England/Scotland.”

Like Keiran (lead guitarist), and myself, Keir also believes that seafood doesn’t belong on a pizza! So no anchoves in this band! (Watch the short promo video, complete with the band’s antics and crazy-talk from the recording studio)

“I should know, I badger-faced man came to me in my dreams and told me so. He also gave me a rather sexy muffin. I woke up after that. What was the question?!”

The E.P. launch is Thursday 29th May as part of Gifted in the Empire Music Hall, support comes from Serpentine Smile, Bunkbed and Skruff.

Listen to Tinderbox West below

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Tagged: Belfast, Gigs, Music, Northern Ireland | no comments »