Album Launch – ‘Carlos, Sweeny & McCartin’

“Carlos, Sweeny & McCartin”

Carlos Sweeney McCartin is a no nonsense recording of Fiddle and Flute accompanied by guitar.

This album of Jigs and Reels is uncompromising in its direct reflection of traditional Irish music as played in sessions in the north west of Ireland today. There are no token tracks of reflective airs or senselessly obscure exhibition pieces.

Having met for a tune on a winters evening in Cryan’s Teach Ceoil in Carrick-on-Shannon, it was immediately apparent that this trio had a compatibility both musically an personally. A decision was made there and then to record. Another meeting in ‘The Haunted Room’ above Cryan’s front bar saw this album arranged and rehearsed.

An integral part of the sound and shape of this album is the contribution of the recording engineer, Dave Sheridan at Souround Sound Bud Studios. Not only did he provide the tools and venue to get the best from the instruments, his easy manor, and good humour got the best out of the players too. When it came to arranging, his advice was so indispensable that he quickly fell into the roll of co-producer. The album was mixed exquisitely by Donagh Hennessey and polished and buffed with the addition of George McAdam on banjo, John Joe Kelly on Bodhran and Donal Lunny on Bouzouki and Bodhran.

The choice of tunes, settings and arrangements have an assured consistency. The influence of musicians like Matt Molloy, Cathal Hayden, Frankie Gavin and Noel Hill as well as bands like Planxty, The Bothy Band, Dervish and Lúnasa is comfortable common ground for these men.

Carlos Sweeney McCartin is energetic and rambunctious, unbridled and unapologetic.

Dylan Carlos – Fiddle
Dylan comes from a very musical family in Co Roscommon. Having grown up in the home of flute playing, Dylan took the road less travelled for a Rossie and took up the fiddle, but is still heavily influenced by the music in his local area. A member of the Knocknashee Ceili Band, He also performs and teaches regularly at festivals and workshops around the country and abroad, having played at festivals in England and France in recent months.

Cein Sweeney – Flute
Cein Sweeney is from killeshandra co Cavan a small town in west Cavan with a proud reputation of solid Irish music, Cein has toured many places such as Spain American and across the uk with many groups, Cein also won the all Ireland senior flute competition in 2015. Cein has taught music across the whole of Ireland at various workshops, festivals and fleadh cheoils

John McCartin – Guitar
John comes from Newtowngore County Leitrim. Starting out as a fiddle payer, his interest in accompaniment brought him to the guitar. He holds a First Class Honours Master of Arts Degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance. He is a member of the supergroup Garadice and regularly plays and records with some of Irelands best known musicians.