Archive
David Hope and The Henchmen
The Roundy
16 Dec 2010
9:30 pm
€5
16 Dec 2010
9:30 pm
€5
Having only joined forces in the summer of 2009, David Hope & The Henchmen have very quickly managed to cause a stir with audiences all around Ireland. Assembled and fronted by the highly respected Co. Clare songwriter David Hope, The Henchmen's dynamic sound is steeped in vintage country blues, foot-stompin' American mountain folk, alt.country twang - all soaked in a distinctly Irish whiskey flavour.
David Hope has independently released two critically acclaimed records in recent years. The album 'A Picture' produced in 2007 by Terry Woods (of Steeleye Span and The Pogues) received great reviews and radioplay and was promoted with appearances on national Irish television. The 7-track EP 'Daybreak Someplace' was released in 2009. A strong vocalist and performer, David Hope has also been busy with shows across Europe including numerous appearances at festivals in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden encompassing tours with The Duke Spirit, Belgian singer Sophie Hunger and Irish folk/blues chanteuse Mary Coughlan.
David Hope & The Henchmen perform a mix of songs written by David Hope as well as the other three band members and are influenced by many styles of music; the classic rural American recordings of Lightnin' Hopkins and Hank Williams, the Traditional Irish Folk of Planxty, great songwriters like Tom Waits and Steve Earle, right up towards the contemporary Americana sounds of Calexico and Gillian Welch.
So far, David Hope & The Henchmen have gathered many new fans with appearances all over Ireland including the Clare Winter Folk Festival 2010, Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots 2010, Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival 2010, Kinsale Arts Week and Cork Folk Festival 2010.
The band are currently in the studio recording their first EP with producer Declan Sinnott to be released in March 2011.
David Hope ~ Vocals/Guitar
Eoin Jordan ~ Mandolin/Bouzouki/Guitar/Vocals
David Murphy ~ Pedal Steel/Dobro/Harmonica/Guitar/Vocals
Donal Heavey ~ Double Bass/Electric Bass
"This wild and woolly quartet have built up a mean reputation for their whisky-sozzled brand of God-fearing Roots in recent times."
Whisperin and Hollerin (UK)

