the olllam

“… the result is described by them as Neo-Acoustic Celtic Post-Rock. I’d describe it a little differently – it’s f***in’ deadly!” -

"If Lúnasa set the gold standard for traditional acoustic music, these guys are bucking for platinum. The word ollam is old Irish for a master musician, and there are three master musicians here." -

“. . . each track a journey through an ever-changing landscape that takes us through rock, jazz, traditional music and the proverbial je ne sais quoi.” -

"It's a groovy, mystic rock sound that is your go-to Celtic music for people who think they don't like Celtic music." -

"The result is a layer cake of traditional and contemporary concepts and styles: whistles and pipes in dynamic, neo-trad runs, jazz-funk keyboard riffs and fills, breezy acoustic guitar solos, and brisk percussive backing." -

“With Ollam the real diversity goes on underneath the superb, brilliantly synchronised double whistle lines of John McSherry and Tyler Duncan. Their drummer, Michael Shimmin and bass guitarist Joe Dart play with apparently telepathic understanding, putting out now crisp, precision punctuation, now a loose, Caribbean feel, now serious heavyosity as Rhodes electric piano offers moody colours and an amplified acoustic guitar chops, picks and thrashes" -

“Their music is exciting, confounding and astounding. Style, mastery, melody and groove – the olllam’s gig is going to be hard to beat.” -

"They create a musical vortex which seems to summon powers from beyond the perception of mere mortals. I'm not saying The Olllam commands magical or demonic powers: but if I happened to have such powers, this is the sort of music I'd want to create." -