The Corncrakes set for Lisburn gig

THE Corncrakes will be playing hits from their latest album “Ingo and the Bouncy Castle” at Island Arts Centre tonight (Friday) at 8pm.

The Corncrakes, a mixture of a vocal harmony and folk group, will play their first gig in Lisburn.

Led by their bouzouki playing singer songwriter Dave Robb, the Corncrakes formed four years ago and consist of guitarist Paul Webster and singers Meabh Cormachan and Caroline Pugh.

Dave, who used to live in Lisburn, is looking forward to his first official gig in the city. “I’ve played many unofficial gigs in Lisburn,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it very much. It’s a great venue, I’ve seen quite a few bands play before. I’m delighted to get the chance to play there.”

While they call themselves The Corncrakes, the band’s music is sweeter than the bird call. They have developed a reputation for their catchy tunes in an indie folk-rock style. Their music draws on different influences: the bouzouki and mandolin have echoes of Planxty while their tunes and vocal harmonies have been compared to Belle and Sebastian or The Seekers.

Prior to The Corncrakes, Dave had a solo career which included an appearance at the Reading Festival and a support tour with The Proclaimers. Two of the Corncrakes tracks ‘Willow Tree’ and ‘Lady Dixon’s’ have received considerable airplay on local radio throughout the UK (BBC Radio Scotland, Ulster and Wales). The band has recently played the Fiddlers Green Folk Festival, the Atlantic Sessions in Coleraine and the Belfast Nashville Festival.

Dave added: “Anyone coming along can look forward to lots of good tunes and harmony vocals.”

To book tickets, priced £10, log onto islandartscentre.com. Alternatively please contact Island Arts Centre box office on 028 92 509254.

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