The Haar - Delight in Bath

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Celtic inspiring bringing new life to familiar tunes

The Haar are a four-piece hailing from both sides of the Irish Sea. Musically, they are very much rooted in the Celtic traditions, with Molly Donnery’s voice just being something that sets them apart and instantly stops you in your tracks. But it is the band that makes the whole with Cormac Byrne (Percussion), Adam Summerhayes (Violin) and Murray Grainger (Accordion) completing the full line-up. ‘The Creggan white Hare’, an Irish Folk tune, opens the set tonight. 

Quite a lot of the songs have an intensity about them. You can almost feel the echoes from the history that many of the older songs hold. Yet, between songs, there is a lot of banter between the band members.  A lot of the banter is coming Cormac’s way tonight as he spent most of the night tuning his percussion. There seemed to be some debate as to whether this actually made a difference or whether he could just be replaced by banging on the violin.

While there maybe a hint of mischievous division between songs, when the tune kicks in they are as one. The various instruments all flowing from one to the next and with a tightness that a number of bands would envy. Though they seemed destined to have a degree of humour, their first recording together was by the shipwreck on Inis Oírr: better known probably as the Father Ted island.

Tonight we are treated to a World premiere too, the first time they have played ‘Madam I’m a Darling’ live, well, since recording it for the album anyway. An upbeat number. After being treated to another song from the new album, we are told that there is 9% decrease in the chance of being hit by lightning for those “whooping” at the gig. Apparently, a study carried out by Oxford University. I am not sure I trust the authenticity of this one. Or perhaps we all just did enough, hence still being safe.

A Haar gig really does take you on a musical journey, the whooping is very much deserved, lightning or not. We get to hear a bit more of the new album with ‘Spancil Hill’ and ‘The Galway Shawl’. Molly has this gift of taking familiar songs that have been around for decades or more, and making them sound like they had been written specifically for her to perform. Their arrangements are the perfect mix of keeping to the original while somehow almost creating  a new song at times.

Where this, making the song their own, comes into play the most is with what could almost be their party piece: ‘The Wild Rover’. The well-known semi-raucous drinking song is the version most of us know. The Haar turns it into something that bites deep into your soul. Molly’s haunting vocals and the fiddle solo pretty much rounding off a wonderful display of musicianship. They even add their own lyrics to the end, finishing as any good folk tune should - with someone dying.

This is followed by a similar, but not quite so intense, version of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and ‘Wild mountain Thyme’, again making the songs their own. After a few quite intense songs, it was time for the final song and a bit of a more light hearted send off with ‘In the town of Ballybay’, which had this packed out room all singing along to “Ring-a-ding-a-dong, ring-a-ding-a-daddy-o”. An amazing evening of absolutely amazing music, they are back on tour in April, and we strongly encourage you to get along.

Review and Photos by Jon Cooper

Check Out! the Video for 'The Wild Rover' Below...