Guidewires

“From Ireland to the Middle East with a whistle stop towards Breton, Guidewires sound like a modern day Bothy Band.”- The Scotsman, Jan 2010

With their high-energy performances, breathtaking arrangements and their infectious melodies, it’s no wonder that this band is being described as “The freshest sound in Irish music”. 
With four members coming from Ireland and one from Brittany, it is inevitable that their mix of music is not just Irish but also Breton, Middle Eastern, Galician and newly composed. 

Guidewires have an all-star line up with Irish music’s most famous concertina player Pádraig Rynne, Breton music’s hottest name Sylvain Barou on Flute, one of Ireland’s most recognisable names Tóla Custy on fiddle, top producer and performer Paul McSherry on guitar and one of the fastest growing stars in Irish music, Karol Lynch on Bouzouki. 

All members have had renowned fame individually within music. Their love and passion of this music has brought them together to create this unique and groundbreaking band “Guidewires”. The bands debut album "Live" was released in Sept '09 and is described by The Irish Times as " A spectacular, multicoloured debut". It was one of the best selling albums in Ireland in 2009.

April 2011 saw the release of the bands new album entitled “ll” (2). This album has really taken the band’s music to another level with amazing playing, arrangements and material chosen. In Belgium’s famous Folker magazine the album was said to “belong in the record shelves of Irish Trad connoisseurs!” Guests on the album include The Bothy Bands Triona Ni Domhnaill on vocals and keyboards, Breton’s most famous bass player – Alain Genty (Gwerz), American drummer Mike Shimmin (Millish) and Erwan Hamon (Skeduz) on Bombarde. The album blends Irish, Breton and world music together creatively and with imagination, as only Guidewires can. It’s already the fastest selling Irish album this year - showing the following this band has gained over the last few years. The bands new album has been described as “addictive” by The Irish Examiner. 

2011 festivals
Féile an Earraigh – Ireland
The Gathering Festival - Ireland
Festival Irlandays – France
Cork X Southwest – Ireland
Wimborne Folk Festival - UK
Festival De Cornuaillie - Brittany, France
Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival – Isle Of Man
Dranouter Festival - Belgium
Gig N The Bann - Ireland
Westbury Music and Arts Festival – UK
Irish Festival of Oulu – Finland
William Kennedy Piping Festival – Ireland

Previous performances at famous festivals:
Celtic Connections – Scotland
Bats Sur Mere – Brittany
Lommel Celtic Night - Belgium

"Always aware of their roots, Guidewires encapsulate both the resilience of tradition and the possibilities of experimentation and progression... These guys are at the vanguard of Ireland’s (and Brittany’s) younger breed of talented, traditional musicians and they have certainly achieved an understanding of their own unique potential" The Irish Examiner

"A delicious cocktail of various influences, solid and firm playing which leans on a perfectly mastered tradition. Here is without a doubt the best Irish band of nowadays." Philippe Cousin, Trad Magazine

"Comparisons with Danú, Nomos and even Lúnasa wouldn't be unreasonable: Guidewires could give anyone a run for their money." Irish Music Magazine