Today Jimmy & Scots Folk band releases its second album titled “Seven Irish Nights” on the Maxy Sound Label.
The album starts with a folk arrangement of the famous drinking song “All for Me Grog”, which you may have heard performed by The Dubliners or The Irish Rovers. The song tells the story of a man who looses all that matters in life because of its fondness of the Grog, an alcoholic beverage made of water and rum, introduced to the Royal Navy by Vice Admiral Edward Vernon in 1740.
The work continues with an historical anti-war tune, “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya”, dating back to early 19th century when Irish troops fought for the British East India Company. “Erin Go Bragh”, which extols the deeds and bravery of Irish rebel fighters during The Rising of Easter in 1916, is the album’s fifth track. A more cheerful mood follows with tracks as “Seven Drunken Nights” and the well-known tongue twister “Rattling Bog”.
The album includes also some slower and more romantic ballads, such as “I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day”, previously interpreted by the Pogues in a memorable 1985 version. The band’s original piece “A Stout For Breakfast” has been composed especially for this album and is in position seven. The album closes with a medley of three well-known tunes: Wellerman /Drunken Sailor/Dead Man’s Chest.
The sea shanty “Wellerman” has recently been brought back to life by Scottish singer Nathan Evans. Its title likely refers to Weller brothers, a famous British family of whaling boats builders active in the first half of the 19th century.
The Jimmy & Scots Folk band project was born in 2013, thanks to the passion for Irish culture of two friends wandering in the streets of Dublin during St. Patrick’s Day. What started as a duo later became a quartet and the band started performing all around Italy and Europe. The band live concerts are able to recall both cheerful pub atmospheres and sailing pirate ships. The band energy is contagious and the audience can't help but sing along. The band members jiggle with a plethora of instruments: Thomas Randazzo (Jimmy) is the lead singer and plays the guitar and the whistle, Adrian Justyn (Scots) plays the bouzouki, banjo, harmonica and guitar, Luca Fiorito switches from the bass and the cello to vocals, Jack Viesti gives the rhythm with its percussions, drums and bodhran, while also singing backing vocals.
When presenting “Seven Irish Nights”, the boys said:
«What fascinates us about traditional music is how it has been handed down orally through the generations, for centuries, and then in writing up to our time. It's incredible that a traditional Irish song as we know it, it is actually the result of an evolution over time, both of melody and lyrics, and how it can be enriched with every interpretation. That's the reason why we like to perform and keep alive traditional music and give our contribution to these immortal ballads. In the wake of this centuries-old imprint we decided to include in the album our first original drinkin' song entitled "A Stout for Breakfast". Thank to this project we aim to bring those traditions into today's world and make them relevant for today's audience.»
Everyone is welcome to enjoy the moments of leisure and the historical recalls of the album, thanks to the universal language of music, and why not, a friendly chat and a pint of beer at the pub.
“Seven Irish Nights” is now available on all digital platforms following this link or in physical format by directly placing an order with the band.
Track List:
1. All For Me Grog
2. Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
3. Seven Drunken Nights
4. Blackwater Side
5. Erin Go Bragh
6. A Stout For Breakfast
7. I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
8. The Rattlin' Bog
9. Wellerman/Drunken Sailor/Dead Man's Chest
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