Rising Mayo band hitting the high notes on Spotify
A band formed by three Mayo childhood friends are preparing for the next stage of their musical careers following the successful release of their ballad, Eden, on Spotify.
Banbha, comprising vocalist Shane Friel, songwriter John Murray and multi-instrumentalist Tommy O’Hora have already impressed world famous musical stars such as Hans Zimmer, Fontaines D.C. and Billy Eilish.
Shane, John and Tommy knew each from their schooldays in Castlebar but it is only in recent years that they banded together as a musical combo.
It all began for them at impromptu post Christmas sessions in one of their favourite haunts, Tolsters’ Bar, Castlebar.
At one of those jam sessions the lads met up with members of the Fontaines D.C. group, Tom Coll and Conor Deegan who are both from Castlebar.
“It just grew from there,” explains Shane Friel.
He added: “There’s a session in Tolsters every Christmas. If Tom and Conor are around from London on their Christmas break they call in. The music and craic is always mighty."
Fontaines D.C., a chart topping Irish post-punk band, aren’t the only musical royalty that the Banbha trio have rubbed shoulders with.
Shane and John, who are friendly with one of the Hans Zimmer band members, were invited to perform at the group’s after party following a recent gig at the 3 Arena.
And he also got the thumbs up from the family of American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish when he joined her family at a recent session in famous Dublin watering hole, O’Donoghues of Merrion Row.
John Murray, a noted composer and musician, had almost given up on music but his dwindling interest was revived when he got together with Shane and Tommy.
He said: “I had kinda left music and I told the lads I have some songs written that are just sitting there if you want to record them. That’s how it started."
The band’s debut single, Eden, an introspective indie folk ballad, is out now on Spotify and is receiving rave reviews.
Now the intrepid threesome are hoping to land a live gig at one of the large Dublin venues.
“We’re hoping to build our profile," explained Shane.
“We’re going to give it a go. There’s no problem if it doesn’t happen. Music is our passion. At the moment we’re just having fun, enjoying the weekly rehearsals and doing a bit of gigging locally."