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"Emerging Jazz band Grand storm Electric Picnic's Trailer Park stage."

- HOTPRESS - Electric Picnic 2016

"GRAND were an unexpected delight!!."

- Knockanstockan Music Festival 2016

"Grand blew me away with their
brand of gypsy infused folk rock"

- Scrobarnach Independent Music Festival 2016

From the mean streets of Drawda

About Grand

Lonely Road - Official Video

About Us

"GRAND, described as a melting pot of influence ranging from Blues to Ska, Reggae, Swing and on toward Punk, Gypsy Folk and Irish folk (or 'skappalacian' music as we like to call it). Taking influence from Tom Waits, Pokey LaFarge, Django Reinhardt & Cab Calloway. GRAND deliver pounding groove & rhythm with a weave of intricate lead & vocal melody, coming together in a pouch tobacco & bourbon like harmony."

Biography

Described as a melting pot of influence ranging from Blues to Ska, Reggae, Swing and on toward Punk, Gypsy Folk and Irish folk (or 'skappalacian' music as we like to call it). The group was conceived through a shared love of these types of music; however our original music is our way of taking these older styles and using them to create something new.

Polyphonic melodies are our cup of tea and every member of the band can take the lead while also playing his or her part in creating the wall of sound. .

Philip (Phily) Kermode provides the main vocals, whilst every other member of the band sings (but mostly roars) backing vocals. Peter Barnett (Double Bass) Daniel McEvoy (Snare & Percussion) & John Hand (Cajon) AKA The Night Train drive the group forward with pounding groove & rhythm. Robin Matthews (Banjo) & Síle Jinx Ryan (Fiddle) add a twist of folk to the group, switching between chords and melody just as seamlessly as they switch from traditional to more modern styles. On the top of it all sits the screaming/rasping trumpet of Kiefer Wilton, providing the main riffage in place of the typical rock-band lead guitar.

Having gigged extensively in the Ireland on the festival circuit of 2015/2016, which consisted of Vantastival, Body & Soul, Knockanstockan, Scrobarnach, Electric Picnic and recently returning from the UK, we pride ourselves in making audiences move their limbs, tighten their facial muscles and get loose!!!

Tipped by Hotpress magazine as "one to watch", GRAND have recently completed their second studio effort entitled "The Thrill of the Chase" , due to be released by late autumn. Looking to the future we recommend you keep an eye out for a show near you!!!


Irish Festival appearances

Vantastival 2015, Body & Soul 2015, Electric Picnic 2015, Barn Dance 2016, Vantastival 2016, Body & Soul 2016, Knockanstockan 2016, Scrobarnach 2016, Electric Picnic 2016, Lúnasa 2016



"This seven piece band are quickly becoming one of the up-and-coming Jazz bands to watch!"

- Hotpress - September 2016

Check out some of

OUR MUSIC



Grand, Grand Band Drogheda - Buy Album Image

"A really good time sound and another of my highlights of the festival"

Mick McQuaid - Scrobarnach Independent Music Festival 2016

"GRAND deliver pounding groove & rhythm with a weave of intricate lead & vocal melody...

Unknown Genius - 2016

...coming together in a pouch tobacco & bourbon like harmony."

Unknown Genius - 2016

What The Man has to say...

REVIEWS

 

Electric Picnic 2016
"Emerging Jazz band Grand storm Electric Picnic's Trailer Park stage"

This seven piece band are quickly becoming one of the up-and-coming Jazz bands to watch!
The young band have been busy wowing crowds this summer at festivals such as Knockanstockan and their performance today at EP continued their successful streak.
One of the smaller stages, The Trailer Park was bursting at the seams with Grand's growing entourage. The band can only be described as joyful from the outset with their gypsy infused Jazz taking you back to vintage Prohibition times.
They refuse to be pigeon-holed into a genre. Just when you thought you had grasped their style, they dropped in a slick Mexican trombone in 'The Thrill of the Chase', and suddenly you found yourself dancing the salsa and waiting for Zorro to drop in. Then songs like 'Move Me' and 'Haunted House' brought the house down with a hootenanny so intense that it would have put old King Louie from The Jungle Book to shame.

You may not be familiar with Grand yet, but you might be hearing a lot about them shortly. We challenge you to find a band more infectious than this genre bending Jazz band."

Hotpress Magazine 2016

 

"Grand blew me away with their brand of gypsy infused folk rock, they also had a touch of American old time, blue grass elements and Dixie jazz about them too.
The seven piece group from Drogheda had a steady growing audience pulled in by the trumpet and trombone playing of Kiefer Wilton who was the shining star of the group and his charm could be heard from all around the arena.
I hope they show up at Electric Picnic, a really good time sound and another of my highlights of the festival."

Mick McQuaid - Scrobarnach Independent Music Festival 2016

 

"GRAND were an unexpected delight setting The Animal Barn venue alight with a jazz set equal to the best of the genre! Their searing trumpet crescendos, smooth jazz vocals and plucky double bass were undeniable, taking their audience into an ecstatic hootenanny"

Hotpress - Knockanstockan Music Festival 2016

 

Upcoming Gigs

Come party with us at these fine establishments

APRIL

Saturday 1st April, the Spirit Store, Dundalk.
GRAND - LIVE @ The Spirit Store

Friday 7th April, Nelliefreds, Dingle.
GRAND - LIVE @ Nelliefreds

Saturday 8th April, Crane Lane, Cork
GRAND - LIVE @ Crane Lane

Sunday 9th April, The Workmans, Dublin
GRAND - LIVE @ The Workmans Club

Saturday 15th April, the Spirit Store, Dundalk,
>GRAND - LIVE @ The Spirit Store

Friday 21st April, McPhails, Drogheda (Support for Mongrel State)
GRAND - LIVE @ McPhails w/ Mongrel State

Saturday 22nd April, Garbos, Castlebar.
GRAND - LIVE @ Garbos

MAY

12th-14th May, Craggy Island Festival, Iniseer.
GRAND - LIVE @ Craggy Island

JUNE

2nd-4th June, Vantastival, Beaulieu, Co. Louth (TBC)

23rd-25th June, Body and Soul Festival, Ballinlough Castle (TBC)

Get In Touch

Contact Us

For bookings and general chit-chat please take a minute to fill out our handy contact form.

If you'd rather the human touch, you can contact Robin on 085-1456753 or simply email us directly at info@grandbandlads.ie

Send Message

"They set the venue alight with a Jazz set to equal the best of the genre."

Hotpress Magazine - 2016

"...taking their audience into an ecstatic hootenanny."

Hotpress Magazine - 2016