- Location:
- Wilmington, Massachusetts
- Travel Radius:
- Will travel up to 3000 miles from Wilmington.
- Pay Range:
-
$1000-$10000 per event
- Member Since:
- 2004
- Primary Category:
- Celtic Band
- Additional Categories:
- Folk Duo, Folk Trio
- Genre:
- Celtic, Children's Music, Folk, Irish
- Influences:
- Tommy Makem,John Denver,Jimmy Buffet,Irish Tenors,Schooner Fare,Clancy Brothers,Stan Rogers,Chieftains,John McDermott,Liam Clancy,Kingston Trio,Peter,Paul and Mary
Group Members
- James Murray - Guitar,Mandolin
- Mike Ryan - drum
- Paul Harty - fiddle,mandolin,guitar,
- Herb Smooth - concertina,violin
- Alan Hicks - Guitar,tin whistle,banjo
Description
We do not just perform WE ENTERTAIN !!!!!
Irish and Folk Music:
The Jolly Rogues are known for their sea shanties and colonial music,ballads and drinking songs with such songs as Cape Cod Girls,All for me grog,and the Good Old Colony Days.They have appeared at Colonial Days Minuteman,National Park in Concord Ma. save Our Heritage with Jimmy Tingle and at the Old manse in Concord Ma. They have also played in Germany,England and China withe their peace through music program.They play music from the American revolution,Scottish,Irish,music on guitar,mandolin,violin,banjo,tin whistle,drum and guitar. Depending on the programs purpose and musical selection,The Rogues appear attired in either 18th or 19th (our Irsish look)Century clothing of the two periods,adding to the color and charm of the performance. Each musical selection has a prelude explanation of the songs,history,folklore and meaning. A myraid of emotions is expected by the audience.
The Rogues are carving out a unique niche in local entertainment. Why not make them a part of your experience Included among the songs are those which invite listening (instrumential), clapping and foot tapping or singing along with a solo or harmonic melody. Others may invoke a melancholy mood. Among the titles will be found Rosin the Bow,Lizzie Lindsay,The Mermaid,All for ME Grog,Maid of Amsterdam,Star of the County Down,The Parting Glass,Rattlin Bog,Boston Harbor Shanty,plus Captain Kidd,The Road to Boston,Three Jolly Coachmen,Boys from Blue Hill,Harvest Home,Irish Rover and Greenland Whale Fishery.
FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE!!!
Band taking act across the pond
By Christine McConville, Globe Staff, 2/26/2004
MTV may not be calling, but that doesn't matter to members of the local band the Jolly Rogues, as they prepare for their first international tour.
For 10 days this summer, the band's four members, from Wilmington, Concord, Reading, and Westford, will be performing before dancing crowds in England.
Just don't expect to find the group and its followers cavorting at trendy hot spots in London after the shows. This band specializes in tavern tunes and sea ditties from America's Colonial days.
'It's going to be great,' said Jim Murray, 56, who plays guitar and mandolin for the Rogues, when he's not at work at an insurance company in Wilmington.
The rest of the group includes Mike Ryan of Concord on Native American and Irish hand drums; Paul Harty of Reading on fiddle, wind instruments, and mandolin; and Alan Hicks of Westford on guitar.
For concerts, they dress in period clothing, and Ryan, who specializes in Revolutionary era history, usually offers a brief history lesson before each song.
For the past year and a half, the group has performed to growing local crowds, while attracting fans overseas.
Thanks to the Internet, their songs were discovered by disc jockeys in Germany,England,China and the Netherlands. The British Broadcasting Corp. has even interviewed the band.
'It's bouncy music, and people over there like that,' Murray said.
This summer, the group will perform a concert on a field in Tewkesbury, England, where in 1471 a pivotal battle in the War of the Roses was fought. That field now is slated for development, and the Rogues are paying their own way over there to help the preservation cause.
While in the United Kingdom, the group plans to perform in Billericay, England, a small village that is the namesake for Billerica, Mass.
'We're more popular than the Beatles,' Murray joked.
The group met when they were working as volunteers at the Minute Man National Historical Park, which memorializes key battlefields in the Revolutionary War.
In late 2002, as park volunteers and staff were trying to figure out new ways to spread the joys of history, someone mentioned music.
'Music was important in that time period,' said Ryan, who performs with the Rogues when he's not working as an associate dean for student development at Boston College.
From by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Jolly Rogues
Album: "Captain Billy's Privateers"
Year produced: 2004
Hailing from Massachusetts--a place itself steeped in history--the Jolly Rogues are themselves an "auditory flashback" to the music of the 18th and 19th century. On this CD, Captain Billy's Privateers, they go from one great sea shanty to another, and truth be told, there is quite a bit of a nautical flair going on here--which is already reflected in the title of the CD, so it shouldn't really be a surprise!
You can tell that these gentlemen are into history, and you don't need to look too far for an affirmation of that fact--they are members of The Guild of Historic Interpreters. They stay pretty true to olde times as well, and if you see them perform you'll probably find them dressing in three-cornered hats and knickers and using traditional instruments.
My personal favorite is track 9, "I'm A Rover Seldom Sober." It's one of those tunes that makes you sway with it and join in singing--Rover or not--you'll jump on the bandwagon for this track. There is a good selection of seafaring songs here, and it is nearly all light-hearted and pleasant--good mood music to be sure.
Fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewer: N.Ellen
Hi there, I have orderd many CD's from other country's and from many choirs. But I never recieved a CD so quickly. From USA to Holland in 3 days? Fantastic! I'm gonna use the CD in my radioprogramm. Thanks guys and a lot of singing pleasure. Noud Ellen,Holland Fantastic!!!!
Reviewer:Music Forte
Here is a very talented group of Musicians who are carving out a unique niche in local musical entertainment. The Rogues appear attired in either 18th or 19th Century clothing or a combination of the two periods, adding to the color and charm of the performance. Listen to ?Lark in the Clear Air?
Reviewer: Ted Busiek
Dear Mr. Murray,
I'm writing regarding your band, The Jolly Rogues. I got your most recent CD, 14 Miles to Boston, and I really like what you guys are doing. My favorite tracks are Soldier's Joy / Liberty, Bonnie Charlie, Hal An Tow and The Fox. From the looks of your website you guys are a lot more popular than I realised, which is good because New England needs a cultural revival band. The Maritimes have Stan Rogers. The Brittish Isles have more than I would list, most notably Steeleye Span. Why shouldn't this area have a popular folk band?
Folkmagazin
I'm webmaster of the German folk-portal site folkig.de
and I write reviews for the German printmagazine "Folkmagazin",which goes to 2000-2500 subscribers.The review that?s in the Folkmagazin.
"The american band The Jolly Rogues are one of these bands which are probably totally unknown in Germany. That?s a pity, because the band shows on ?14 Miles To Boston? much enthusiasm and filigree instrument play on irish ballads and groovy instrumentals. An album with seriousness, much fun and a successful mix of irish-american folk-tradition."
Thomas Engert
The group released its first CD Road to Boston in 2003 their 2nd Captain Billy's Privateers in 2004 and 14 Miles to Boston in 2006.The group has played in England,Germany and in 2006 in China the only American group invited to the Meet in Beijing Festival held May 1,2006. We are the perfect group for your event and are outstanding in the concert setting,wedding,convention or community event.
Song List
Available For:
Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Casinos, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fraternity Functions, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, Jingles, Movie Soundtracks, Picnic, Private Parties, Resorts, Restaurants, Reunions, Showers, Ski Lodges, Sorority Function, Studio Session, Temples, TV Soundtracks, Weddings
Feedback
- Jim was wonderful to communicate with leading up to my husband's party. The whole band was a complete pleasure to work with. My family and friends could not stop complimenting me on choosing them. Everyone, regardless of music taste, thoroughly enjoyed them.
We will definitely use them again! -- Michelle C, New Bedford, MA, 5/1/2009
- they where fantastic!!! Everyone at the wedding love them!!!
thank you Cindy Maheu -- Cynthia M, Warwick, RI, 2/2/2008
- Absolutely fabulous! They were very professional, contacted me with perfect timing and just the right questions. Knew exactly what needed to be done and provided a superb performance as well. We had a very diverse group of guests at our wedding and they all loved the music! I highly recommend the Jolly Rogues. -- Sarah D, West Brookfield, MA, 8/18/2007
- Super performance & look forward to using them again...
Thank you. -- Kimberly C, Wellesley, MA, 3/30/2007
- Paul was great! Thanks. -- Gary O, Bedford, NH, 1/17/2006
- The Jolly Rogues were a delight to work with and a terrific addition to our nautically-themed wedding reception. They arrived early and were very flexible in working within a shifting time frame at the reception. They played the songs we requested and got the attendees involved in their repertoire. They are terrific! -- Jean R, Plymouth, MA, 3/5/2005
- They were fantastic. Sorry we ran out of time with them. Al and Jim were wonderful -- Bernie D, Chelmsford, MA, 6/20/2009
Click here for more feedback