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Dervish
Biography
Dervish is one of Ireland's most exciting tradition-rooted bands. With its combination of virtuosic instrumentation, high-energy arrangements and the ultra-sweet vocals of Cathy Jordan, Dervish continues to weave its own path in Ireland's great musical heritage. Although the group formally came together in 1988, the roots of Dervish trace back much further. Flute and tin whistle player Liam Kelly and accordion player Shane Mitchell first collaborated at the age of seven and nine, respectively. Within three years, the duo was playing regularly at a pub owned by Kelly's father. During high school, the two musicians formed a band called Pointin. Although the group placed first in a contest at the Ballyshannon Folk Festival and appeared on popular Irish television program The Late Late Show, the group failed to record. While attending college in Sligo, Kelly and Mitchell performed with a rock band called Who Says What. The band also included Michael Holmes, a bass player and songwriter who later added guitar and bouzouki to the band's sound. A turning point in Dervish's history came when Kelly, Mitchell and Holmes were joined by mandola and mandolin player Brian McDonagh, a founding member of Oisian.
Selected Discography
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