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Mad Dog Mcrea are a Celtic Folk-Rock band based in Plymouth, Devon UK. Their numerous musical influences include Irish Folk, Punk, Rock, Irish & Scottish traditional, Eastern European, Disney, Country & Bluegrass.
Fronted by singer/guitarist (Michael Mathieson), the band combine a unique blend of raw energy and kaleidoscopic orchestration with instruments such as Fiddle (Olivia Dunn), Whistles (Daniel Crimp), Bass (Graham Anderson) & Drums (Rupert Hewitt).
Originally formed in 1995 as a street busking band, they performed in many cities & towns across England & Europe. After a long stint of busking in Holland and the addition of a drummer, they metamorphosed into a gigging band.
On return to the UK they recorded their first self-financed album ‘Drink Stink & Be Merry’ which is a collection of original songs written by various members of the band. From there they soared to incredible notoriety in the pub, club and festival circuit around the South-West of England gathering a large and loyal following in their wake.
After a two-year break the band regrouped in 2000 and went on to record their second self financed album ‘Away With The Fairies’ which was a collection of their favourite cover songs and Irish instrumentals at the time. With many memorable anthems and kicking instrumentals under their hats they spent the next few years touring extensively in Ireland, England, Europe, USA and a 6-month residency in Thailand.
Back on home turf, 2005 saw them briefly signed to Cough Records in Devon and they went on to record their third album ‘Sophisticated Hat Manoeuvres’. This original album drew on the varying musical influences within the band and an interesting mix of Irish, English folk, Eastern European, Pop, Reggae and Country is evident.
Firm favourites and occasional headliners on the English and Irish festival circuits, the band continue to gain a large and loyal following wherever they go. Their regular sell-out club and pub residencies continue to attract young and old.
With their increasingly lively, spontaneous and uniquely orchestrated performances the band are acclaimed, not only for their music but for the off stage chaos and antics that seems to surround them.
One such story, which has become local folklore in Donegal, Ireland saw the Mad Dogs, under the influence of the local moonshine returning from a festival in the dead of night on their newly refurbished and very plush tour bus. Confused and very lost they decided to park their large bus off-road on a nearby beach. Parking very close to the water's edge they continued to party inside the bus until the little hours blissfully unaware of the rapidly rising Atlantic tide. The bus began to sink in the sand as the ocean quickly engulfed the inside of the bus. Realising their predicament the band proceeded to vacate the bus and swim to safety. As the bus disappeared under the Atlantic waves the drenched and dazed band could only look on as their equipment and instruments sunk into the depths of Davy Jones’ locker. All was lost that night except a vague memory of the incident, the hats on their heads and The Music.
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