Sligo-based traditional Irish music band Dervish have teamed up with The Indigo Girls for their new single, Passage West, and they both play the National Concert Hall on 30 January. We asked Shane Mitchell of Dervish the BIG questions . . .
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The track was written by Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane and is the first release from a brand new Dervish album, set for release later in 2025.
The new album features contemporary Irish folk songs that have been written in recent years by Irish songwriters.
It is produced by John Reynolds (Sinéad O'Connor, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr) and is a follow up to Dervish's 2019 collaborations album, The Great Irish Songbook, which featured Imelda May, Andrea Corr, Steve Earle, Rhiannon Giddens, and David Gray. That album earned Dervish a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards.
Speaking about the Indigo Girls collaboration, Shane says: "It's been such a great privilege for Dervish to record Passage West with Indigo Girls, artists we've greatly admired for a very long time. We're really enjoying collaborating with so many iconic artists for our new album, which will be out later this year.
"Working with artists from such a wide array of genres has been such an inspiring process for us creatively, and most importantly, we're honoured to present the works of some of Ireland's best contemporary songwriters."
Amy Ray of Indigo Girls says: "I feel so fortunate to have been welcomed into the Dervish fold. Honoured and psyched to be part of the project.
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"John Reynolds has always brought us amazing opportunities to broaden our musical horizons and this is one of those precious moments! Thanks to Dervish for inviting us over the pond, we love Ireland and Scotland."
Moya Brennan of Clannad, who also features new Dervish album, will be another special guest at the NCH show. Tickets from €35 incl. booking fee are on sale here.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I was born in Sligo and I come from a musical background, my father was a fiddle player and my mother was an Irish dancer and teacher of dancing. They had a music bar in Sligo in the 1960s and this is where I heard my first music. They later moved to the country to raise my sister Fionnuala and myself. I have two teenage sons, Tiarnan and Lochrann, who I am very proud of.
With my band mates in Dervish, I have been very lucky and fortunate to be able to carve out a solid and rewarding career in the music industry for the past 36 years where I have many great friends. We have done everything a band can do, performed at all the great festivals, including three times at Glastonbury. We were made Free People of our native Sligo in 2004 and we were awarded a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. I am passionate about Irish Traditional music and feel it’s one of Ireland’s greatest natural resources, that gives a great image internationally to Ireland and it’s something than brings people together.
I also have a strong interest in festivals and in 2004 I founded the Sligo Live Festival where I co-produced shows for artists like Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow and others.
How would you describe your music?
My music is traditional Irish but I love being innovative and creating new arrangements to present traditional music. In recent years Dervish have been collaborating with a wide range of different artists which has been great for the band creatively.
Who are your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are very local from the Sligo tradition of music. I grew up listening to traditional music legends Matt Molloy, Fred Finn, Peter Horan, Seamus Tansey and Joe Burke.
I also listen to a wide variety of other music like Van Morrison, Travis, Vasen From Sweden, The Bothy Band, Planxty, First Aid Kit, Alison Krauss, to name a few. More recently I went to see Fontaines D.C. with my son and I believe they are one of the greatest bands out of Ireland in recent times, who proudly embrace their Irish roots in a sincere way which is refreshing to see.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Stockton’s Wing at The Baymount, Strandhill, Co. Sligo in the late 70s.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Traditional Music of Ireland by Joe Burke.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I am thinking these days about the late Seamus Begley whose anniversary occurs around now and thinking about his version of The Boys of Barr Na Sraide.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"See the brown ground under the green" - The Business Enterprise (My Friend John) by Those Nervous Animals (1984).
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would not be a song it would be an instrumental from The Bothy Band called The Keash Jig Set.
Where can people find your music/more information?
On all usual platforms.
Alan Corr
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