Local folk group Stonewall to release new CD!

16 May 2017

Local County Armagh folk group, Stonewall, are set to launch their third album entitled, 'Longing for home' at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh on 1st June.

The band have been playing together now for 10 years and their unique sound has had them in demand all over the world. They have twice performed at the St Patrick's Day celebrations in Beijing, and toured the southern states of America on no fewer than eight occasions. Last year, they opened the week long 'Tradfest' in Brussels at the European Parliament to rave reviews.

Locally they are probably better known as a successful wedding band but it is in the world of folk and trad with a Scots- Irish twist, that the group really come into their own.

Their latest C.D, and, in the group's opinion, their best to date, is made up of songs and tunes mostly from this part of the world, hence the name 'Longing for home'.

One of the tracks is 'Rathlin Island' and the CD cover features a lovely image of the island looking across from Ballintoy harbour, taken by local Portadown photographers Adam and Grace Pearson.

The group is made up of Colin Slaine, Kenny Qua, Andrew Cornett, Warren Attwell and Caitriona Traynor. And they all have differing musical backgrounds and tastes which come together to create a unique and eclectic sound.

Colin is a well-known local music teacher and church organist. Kenny, a teacher in Markethill, has his own family band, 'the Qua Family band'.  Andrew is heavily involved in gospel music and has just returned from a tour of churches in the southern states of America. Warren is a well-known local singer/songwriter who was chosen to represent the Belfast Nashville songwriters in Nashville a couple of years back and Caitriona is a fiddle player based in Dublin who has played throughout the world.

The CD features a number of great tracks written by local songwriters such as 'Belfast Love' by Finbar Magee and 'Don't call me early in the morning' by Tommy Sands. There is also a heavy influence of tunes driven by the great skills of Kenny on flutes and whistles and Colin on the accordion. And the boys' church roots are reflected in a medley of well-known southern gospel songs including 'The old account' and 'I'll fly away'.

The CD launch concert is taking place in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh and the tickets, priced £10, are available from the theatre's website or the box office on 028 37 521821.