The Band Who Barely Made It

The Band Who Barely Made It

by Paul McCann

 

It was the end of July and the Ardoyne Fleadh was on its way . The Fleadh committee were looking for sponsors and Murph thought it was worth a shot to put a wee band together to play at the Fleadh That’s when he started putting up sone posters around for anyone who might be interested in joining his band Bonesey And The Hip Shakers . Murph had been playing the guitar for a few years and hand written a handful of songs so it made total sense that he should start playing those so people could hear .

The Ardoyne Fleagh was the perfect venue for his band to launch their music .

Inside a week Murph had a dozen musicians who were interested in joining the band so he decided to have a trial session like a rehearsal for all the prospective band members to bring their instruments and play in a jam session down by the banks of the River Lagan .

He told them all the day and the time and place where they had to come .

As twilight kissed the sky on a warm July evening , Murph placed a welcome sign on a white sheet he hung on the iron railings along the Lagan Way where they would be having a jam session .

Welcome to Bonesey and The Hip Shakers rehearsal .

Murph waited there by the gate for the

future band members to arrive .

One by one they came with instruments over their shoulders and in their hands . There were whistles, guitars , bodhrans , accordions and fiddles . After they had been introduced Bonesey played a few of his songs for them to hear and a couple joined in and the music was sounding ok .

After a short bracket of songs it was very clear that they had a band ready for the road . It was always easy to get musicians motivated when you would mention they would have a place at a Fleadh in a weeks time then after the Fleadh they would go on the road on a wild goose tour around the festivals .

Murph was good at making g things up because as yet he had not even got a spot to play at the Ardoyne Fleadh but he knew a few people on the committee so he knew it wouldn’t be a problem to have a booking for his new band .

For the next week or two Bonesey and The Hip Shakers rehearsed in the Ardoyne Hall with the permission of the rector of Holy Cross church who sometimes wound come and listen to the band playing .

Murph also brought a few people as well to listen in to his new band .

The music they made had an original sound somewhere between Irish Trad and Celtic Rock . At times it rocked and it also clashed with a Traditional taste . It had something new to offer for young and old .

The band members soon had a

bond of friendship and everyone in the band were happy to be together and make some music for people to hear .

They had been approved to play at the Ardoyne Fleadh and now they were all ready for the show .

The first gig they did went well ,.

The local people thought they were brilliant and they were dancing in the streets .

Now and then a few people made comments like ,

“ When I first heard the lead singer I knew her voice right away “

others said ,

“ I was just standing there listening to them play and found myself standing somewhere in the middle of the road like a stray cat that almost got run over by a run away train “

“ They are just what we all need to hear . Their music feels like a breath of fresh air “

Bonsey and The Hip Shakers were definitely a new and exciting band who had emerged from the streets of Ardoyne and already had a strong following .

They were already getting invited to play at venues after the Fleadh on football pitches , school halls , in colleges and pubs . So their was an interest about

Bonesey And The Hip Shakers .

They were slowly making a name for themselves with their new sound and their dynamic wild red headed female lead vocalist Keira .

The band now had regular groupies who would gather in the huts where they rehearsed and at the gigs where the band would play .

One Saturday night as the band were playing in the one of the local clubs

Keira took the microphone and something very special was happening , as she started to sing a new song they had written . In the audience was a man from Indigo International who had heard about the band . Mr Wright was there to have a listen with the view to signing them to a four year contract with Indigo music publishing .

That night Keira’s singing was just fantastic . She had introduced a new romantic edge to her voice behind the bands original sound that no one had heard before . It was full of passion and flair that echoed all around the walls .

Bonesey And The Hip Shakers were just what Indigo music needed and anyone who heard the band would have said

exactly the same .

In that first beautiful moment when Mr Wright from Indigo spoke to Murph , the band had found a future with the offer of a four year contract with the possibility of a world stage audience .

Keira said it felt like a heartfelt embrace .

Mr Wright asked Murph about his relationship with Keira and he mentioned that they were more than just band members but the thing that Murph didn’t know was that everybody else in the band were also having a romantic relationship with Keira but none of them individually knew that . So they all loved Keira more than anyone ever realised .

There was a lot going on with the band behind the scenes and it was a receipt for disaster .

After the band were signed by Indigo

they went on the road and now were basically living together 24/7 .

It wasn’t long before things started to surface and emotions were coming under fire , It soon become clear to all the band of Keira’s hidden relationships in the band and jealousy crept in .

Arguments started and a few left the band disgruntled and upset .

Suddenly Murph had a crisis with his band . He had to find three new people who could to fit in at short notice .

On the first night with the new line up

the band came on stage but there were people in the audience who came to make trouble and within a half an hour a fight had started in the packed audience .

Everyone joined in the brawl put an end to the gig .

At the next gig the same thing happened with the crowd again causing havoc .

That night it was difficult for the band to get out with their instruments in one piece .

It was quite clear now that Bonesey and The Hop Shakers were going nowhere fast .

Dreams of the big time became more like a nightmare with friction every time they played together .

Murph who was the manager asked everyone l if they would like to go on as a band .

Keira had already left the band had a new female vocalist but she wanted to continent but wanted to do more

country songs and other members had different demands .

Murph decided to walk away for it all and called it quits .

Next summer when the Fleadh arrived to Ardoyne he had a solo spot and played a few of his songs to the locals and everyone there enjoyed the show .

The End