Moonshine

Johnny Moynihan of Sweeney's Men, Planxty, DeDanann, the Fleadh Cowboys: vocals and accordion, mandola, mandolin, fiddle and more.

Lena Ullman of the Higglers Jug Band: vocals and five-string banjo

Frank Hall of the Monks, Easy Street Stringband, Rhythm In Shoes: vocals, fiddle, guitar

Old-timey dance music from the southern Appalachian region of America, some say the errant son and daughter of Irish music, ranges in style from sensitive waltzes to nervy breakdowns, all safely musical. Wild and edgy, backbeat and funky, bluesy and ballady, the child is also father and mother to country and rock. It's roots music, the spud and the bog carrot, butter fried and salted.

Frank Hall began to learn the art of the bow, playing for square dances in southern Indiana in the early 1970s. He journeyed with various old-time bands and dance troupes, occasionally dabbling in traditional Irish and Mexican fiddle styles. He has been coming regularly to Ireland since 1991, when he first met and played with Johnny and Lena. In addition to fiddle he plays stand-up bass and writes the odd tune.

Lena Ullman's playing and singing has been widely appreciated around the country since the founding of the Higglers Jug Band in the 1980s. Introduced to the 5-string banjo and American music at age 15, she has since become a masterful player of old-timey tunes and 'high lonesome' songs. As an innovator Lena has adapted the quintessentially American 'clawhammer and frailing' on banjo to various styles including traditional Irish dance music, and can often be found in sessions around East Clare. She has also written a number of gorgeous tunes.

Johnny Moynihan, singer, songster, instrumental innovator, itinerant minstrel, hardly needs introduction as he has made a towering reputation in Irish traditional and folk music circles, further enhanced by occasions and stories of his lingual wit. In this combo, Johnny indulges his fondness for American traditional music while adding his own stamp, and another instrument to another tradition, in this case, the box to old-timey music.