Cream of Galway’s musicial talent gets down to Booley!

No institution in Galway has provided local musicians with as many platforms and opportunities in recent years as the Black Gate; from Amhráin and Eclectics to the Black Gate Sessions and their role in Eye on the Edge, the dedication and attention to detail that have gone into every project in the venue-cum-cultural centre is unparalleled.

And one man who has been at the centre of most of their work with the city’s arts community is David Boland, who himself performs as New Pope, and who has, once again, been instrumental in their latest collaborative endeavour – the Booley Sessions.

A series of concerts filmed in the loft space above Booley’s Outdoors Shop on Eglington St, the Booley Sessions feature twelve artists with ties to Galway. That list is comprised of Niall Teague & Padraic Joyce, Amelian, Me Auld Flower, Jossle, ⁠Bríd Kenny, Rory Ryan, New Ceremony, Jack Lee, Montessori⁠, Emma Lohan, Jack Vanderklaus and Ruth Mac.

Unsurprisingly, given Dave’s involvement with Eclectics, it is a diverse range of acts in both style and experience. For the likes of relatively fresh bands Montessori and New Ceremony, the Booley Sessions represent seminal, early public performances.

“We went for a mix of artists who have proven track records like Emma Lohan and Me Auld Flower,” Dave explains.

“They’re all local so we have more established songwriters like that, who I’ve been a fan of for a while. Then we have some younger, exciting acts like Montessori, who I had been hearing about. I caught a bit of one of their practices before, so I knew that they were going to be superb, and I think they’re one of the highlights of the series.

“New Ceremony were probably the act that I was most excited to film because I know the lads from different bands, and I know Conor, the lead singer, and his approach to performance. I knew that they would knock it out of the park.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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