The Music of Clan Suibhne (Sweeney) – A Review

The Music of Clan Suibhne (Sweeney) – A Review By:  Carla Ives (http://GhostWriteHer.com) 

On October 1^st, I was sitting in Bogart’s Bookstore & Café in Millville, New Jersey, waiting for the music to start. Being a lover of Irish Trad (traditional) Music, I was waiting to hear Clan Suibhne (Sweeney).  I watched three somewhat ordinary-looking guys set up their instruments and the other accoutrements of their band.   Well, maybe not so ordinary, as there was a very authentic-looking Leprechaun in the center!  I saw guitars, an Irish Tenor Banjo, an electric bass fiddle, tin whistles, an Irish Bodrhán (hand drum) and lots of other musical things.  And then it was time for the show.

After some chit-chat with the audience and a brief introduction, the music began.  I came expecting a traditional Irish Band playing traditional Irish music.  Well, they’re Irish, all right, but It was a wee bit Irish and then maybe not so Irish.  And then it was a wee bit American Folk and then maybe not so much American folk.  It wasn’t quite like anything I had heard before and it was more than a wee bit original!  After the first couple of songs, I knew I was listening to something very unique, something new and something all their own.  Clan Suibhne introduced me, that night, to “Greengrass” music.  

“Greengrass” music is a mixture of the folk music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with a little American Folk and Bluegrass thrown in.  Stir that all up and add three very talented New Jersey/Irish Musicians and you have “Greengrass,” a musical style pioneered by the members of Clan Suibhne, John, James and Charlie Farrell, otherwise known as Leprechaun John, Famous Seamus and C.W. Liam.  The Sweeney name is their Mom’s, a lovely lady now 92 years of age and still going strong.  They’ll readily tell you their family history which was very interesting to this history teacher who loves anything about Ireland and Scotland.

Clan Suibhne incorporates a broad range of styles into their show.  They play the traditional songs, but with their own signature style.  If you like traditional Irish tunes, you’ll like Clan Suibhne.  They also play their own original compositions, such as The Bay View Wheelmen, a song dedicated to the biking culture that dominated New York and northern New Jersey in the early part of the 20^th century.  They’ll tell you the story.

Clan Suibhne put on a great show that night.  They sing, they tell stories and they interact with the audience throughout.  They are very definitely crowd pleasers!   We don’t get many class acts down in this end of New Jersey, but we had one that night and the audience knew it!  They tapped their feet and sang along to the songs that they knew.  For a small, intimate crowd, there was a lot of well-deserved applause at the end.  

Clan Suibhne is available for all types of occasions, including but not limited to private parties, festivals, fairs, coffeehouses, pubs, receptions and grand openings.  Believe me when I tell you that you will not be disappointed you hired them.  To get “Greengrass” music at your event, call Charlie Farrell at (719)761-7214 or email him at:  FARRE954@REGIS.EDU.

They’re coming back in a couple of months and I’m going to be there!