Gráda

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gráda
Background = group_or_band
Country = IRL
Instrument = Flute, whistle, fiddle, double bass, bodhrán, guitar, bouzouki
Genre = Irish folk, Celtic
Years_active = 2001-present
Label = Compass Records
URL = http://gradamusic.com
Current_members = Alan Doherty, Andrew Laking, Nicola Joyce, Gerry Paul, Colin Farrell
Past_members = Anne Marie O'Malley, Brendan O'Sullivan

Gráda is a traditional Irish music band.

Gráda are based in Dublin and Galway, Ireland, where they began playing together in 2001. The group draws from a wide range of influences, which has seen them working with Dave Hingerty (ex Frames drummer, now working a lot with Josh Ritter); Vyviene Long (cellist with Damien Rice); and, as a producer, Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, The Waterboys). Further additions have included Dublin based trumpeter Bill Blackmore and percussionist Rasmus Skovmand.

Gráda spend much of their time touring internationally. In 2006, Gráda played in 16 different countries, touring places like Hong Kong, America, Denmark, etc... This earned them great praise as it showed their determination to succeed.

Prior to joining Gráda, band member Colin Farrell played extensively in both Europe and the United States, and recorded with the band Flook while flautist Alan Doherty was invited to record the solo flute passages for Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy".

Gráda have received critical acclaim, with their latest album "Cloudy Day Navigation" appearing multiple times in "Irish Music's" Top 10 charts. [http://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/charts/] Gráda have received glowing reviews from "Irish Music", [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews7.htm] "Sing Out!", [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews6.htm] "The Irish Times", [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews5.htm] [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews2.htm] "The Evening Herald" [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews4.htm] and "The Event Guide". [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews3.htm] [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews1.htm]

Band members

* Alan Doherty (flutes, whistles, vocals)
* Andrew Laking (double bass, vocals)
* Nicola Joyce (vocals, bodhrán)
* Gerry Paul (acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, vocals)
* [http://gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/colin.htm Colin Farrell] (fiddle, vocals)

Former members

* Anne Marie O'Malley - vocals and bodhrán
* Brendan O'Sullivan - fiddle, viola, and vocals

Discography

* Off to Sardinia - 2001 (out of production)
* Endeavour - 2002
* The Landing Step - 2004
* Cloudy Day Navigation - 2007

External links

* [http://gradamusic.com/ gradamusic.com] - the official website
*
* [http://www.myspace.com/gradamusic Gráda's MySpace] - the official MySpace page

References

*Irish Music Magazine. [http://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/charts/ "Charts"] , "Irish Music". Accessed November 42007.
*Margeson, B. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews7.htm "Trading Up with Grada"] , Irish Music, 2006. Accessed November 42007.
*Weir, R. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews6.htm "Gráda Endeavour"] , "Sing Out!", 2005. Accessed November 42007.
*Long, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews5.htm "Gráda The Landing Step"] , "Irish Times", 2004. Accessed November 42007.
*Long, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews2.htm "Grada Endeavour"] , "Irish Times", 2002. Accessed November 42007.
*McQuaid, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews4.htm "Trad's Ring-o stars"] , "The Evening Herald", 2004. Accessed November 42007.
*Mahoney, P. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews3.htm "Gráda Endeavour"] , "The Event Guide", 2004. Accessed November 42007.
* [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews1.htm "Past, Present and Future"] , "The Event Guide", 2002. Accessed November 42007.