Ciaran Lavery (Vocals, Harmonica) ~ Stephen Kerr (Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica) ~ Mo Lavery (Lead Guitar) ~ Stephen McGurk (Drums) ~ Dee McAlinden (Bass) ~ Chris Molloy (Keys/guitar) ~ Laura Kerr (Fiddle)
Influences
The Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Ryan Adams, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Felice Brothers, Old Black Willy, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin,
Captain Kennedy serve up a blend of bluesy, harmony filled, semi-acoustic rock and roll. The 7-piece band have firmly established their position on the Irish music scene with a number of impressive gigs in high profile venues across the country, including a sold-out Mandela Hall.
Other gigs, including support slots for highly rated Cambridge-based outfit “The Broken Family Band”, and appearances at Belfest and GIFTED @ The Empire, have helped Captain Kennedy build up a solid and loyal fan base.
2006 saw the release of Captain Kennedy’s debut EP “Sweetest Friend” which has received excellent feedback from the press and regular airplay on local radio stations. A video for Sweetest Friend, produced by Manchini.co.uk was released in summer 2007 and caused quite a stir on various internet sites.
The band recently reached the semi-final of Deis Roc on TV station TG4, featuring 16 of the best unsigned acts in Ireland.
The band were also recently featured on BBC Radio Ulster's ATL programme as their "Product of Northern Ireland" which highlights some of the best up and coming talent on these shores.
With another EP planned for release and further gigs scheduled throughout the next few months, expect to hear a lot more from Captain Kennedy in 2008
What the Press have said…
The Irish News: “Sweetest Friend walks a fine line between pop balladry and indie soul and would be playing on daytime radio stations right now if there was any justice in the world.”
BBC Across the Line: “When you’ve got the Americana sound as polished as these guys do, it’s no surprise it goes down as well as a Mississippi Mud Pie!”
Alternative Ulster: “Sweet, simple, Dylan-influenced songs about drinking and the minutiae of life”
Americana-UK: “I was so impressed with ‘Sweetest Friend’ that I played it on my radio programme this morning before I’d got round to reviewing the EP for this site. 8/10”
Sounds XP: “If you’re into anthemic, bluesy rock then you’ll be hard pressed to find much better than this.”
You can buy copies of the new EP from:
Discs ~ Lurgan
Backbeat ~ Belfast or
bruisedfruitpromotions.com
Or email captainkennedyinfo@hotmail.co.uk and we'll post one out.
New video for Sweetest Friend!
Gig Archive ~13th June, The Ceili House, Lurgan ~12th April, The Bunker @ Lavery's ~20th March, The Ceili House, Lurgan ~14th March, Common Grounds, Belfast ~10th Mar, Queens University, Belfast ~23rd Feb, The Ceili House, Lurgan ~16th Feb, The Woodville, Lurgan ~31st Jan, BBC, Acoustic Session ~ 29th Jan, Auntie Annies, Belfast ~18th Jan, The Ceili House, Lurgan, ~ 21st ..he Ceili House, Lurgan ~3rd Dec, Queens Students Union ~ 5th Oct, The Rotterdam ~ Sep 27th, GIFTED @ The Empire ~ Aug 18th The Ceili House, Lurgan ~ July 27th Gasyard Feile, Derry ~ Jun 22nd The Ceili House ~
Mar 23rd The Woodville, Lurgan ~ Mar 7th The Ceili House, Lurgan ~
Feb 16th The Front Page ~
Feb 10th The Bunker @ Lavery's, Belfast ~
Feb 2nd The Ceili House, Lurgan ~
Dec 27th The Courthouse, Lurgan ~
Dec 8th The Courthouse, Lurgan ~
Nov 28th The Empire as part of BELFEST 2006 ~
Nov 27th The Mandella Hall with The Waiting Room ~
Nov 25th The Empire, with the Broken Family Band, ~
Nov 16th The Pavillion, Belfast ~
Nov 7 06 Auntie Annies, Belfast ~
Oct 19 06 The Railway Bar, Lurgan ~
Aug 31 06 The Empire Music Hall, Belfast ~
Sep 01 06 Lurgan Celtic Social Club ~
Aug 18 06 Cheers Bar, Lurgan ~
Aug 05 06 West Armagh Festival ~
Apr 07 06 The Ceili House Bar, Lurgan ~
Feb 23rd 06 GIFTED at the Empire, Belfast ~
Feb 02 '06 Sandinos, Derry ~
Jan 20 '06 Cheers Bar, Lurgan ~
Dec 09 '05 The Derryhirk Inn, Aghagallon ~
Dec 01 '05 The Speakeasy Bar, Queens Students Union ~
Nov 11 '05 The Menagerie, Belfast ~
Nov 03 '05 The Bunker, Lavery's, Belfast ~
Oct 28 '05 The Ceili House Bar, Lurgan ~
Oct 22 '05 Duke of York, Belfast ~
Oct 15 '05 The Attic, Glasgow ~
Sept 23 '05 Cheers Bar, Lurgan ~
Sept 06 '05 The Menagerie, Belfast ~
Aug 30 '05 "Up the Attic", Auntie Annies, Belfast ~
Aug 20 '05 The Pavillion, Belfast ~
Aug 19 '05 Cheers Bar, Lurgan ~
Aug 12 '05 The Ceili House Bar ~
July 18 '05 INF Warrenpoint ~
Alright laura and lads! Hows it goin? Thanks a million for the add. Flat Lake is gonna be class this year - lots of amazing music and much more. Hope to see you there!! Are you playin in belfast much?
Yeah that sounds awesome, we'd defiantly be up for it. We're already pretty tight musicians, like we've all been playing years.
Whenever you guys feel like getting a gig together and we feel were really up for it, give us a shout! Or we'll give you a shout and we'll work something out.
HEY THERE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I BET THAT SHOW IN DUBLIN WILL BE A RIGHT KNEES UP!!! WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP HERE, AND DO STAY IN TOUCH.
Hey, thanks very much for your comment. "Ryan Adams-esque" is certainly a word where I come from. I'm afraind "Brian Adams-esque" is also a word but that doesn't matter. If you could make it out to Front Page that would be great. Perhaps we could organise something together in Belfast. If you can recommend any venues that would be really helpful too. Cheers from Canada! Dave
El Capitan on - On TG4 TUESDAY 25TH March- Deis Roc Final! - PLEASE VOTE!!
TG4's battle of the bands programme Deis Roc has finally come to an end with the final featuring El Capitan due to be broadcast Tues 25th March @ 11pm.
The band have progressed to final and need as many votes as you can spare to WIN!! Also the band are the only remaining Northern Irish band left!!!
(Please note that the voting lines only open at 11.30pm to 11.50pm so its absolutley vital to vote often!!)
Voting for El Capitan on Deis Roc is very simple...
just text 'EL CAPITAN' to 53500 (ROI) or 83222 (UK & NI).
Again remember that the voting lines only open for 20 minutes between 11.30pm to 11.50pm
hey guys whats happenin? really great sounds!were in newery here and have an acoustic night every friday nigh if ya's fancy a wee gig, dead chilled like!
