Band are drumming up support

A band with strong West Clare connections has made it to the final two of a national competition and is now looking for the public’s support to see them interviewed in the country’s best-known music magazine.
Swords drummer Ian Frawley is from Kilrush and singer Diane Anglim’s father is from Kilmihil. They are joined by Jarlath Canning in the alternative-pop trio.
Swords is one of two bands remaining in contention for the coveted exposure in Hot Press magazine.
“We are constantly looking for good opportunities as a band. Good, credible opportunities for gigs and getting our music out there. We saw the competition in Hot Press and submitted one of our tracks, Chasm. There was a judging process, completely based on the songs, and we are now down to the final two, which is open to public vote and we really need people to vote for us online once every day,” explains Cappa man Ian.
Winning the competition, Ian believes, will be a huge boost for the band’s profile.
“Hot Press is the most credible, well-recognised music publication in Ireland so that is a massive platform for us and we can build on that. I suppose it is an achievement even being identified from the number of exceptional bands around Ireland at the moment.
But this is the one of the most important competitions you could win if you are band like us,” he outlines.
Swords, named after the Morrissey album and the Leftfield song, was formed early last year when Ian and Diane met after he graduated from Dave Hingerty’s Drum Academy. Then Jarlath joined late last year and, according to Ian, “brought the band to the next level”.
Since then, Swords has gigged all over Leinster and more recently put on powerful sets at The Galleon Inn, Kilrush and Garrihy’s Bar, Moyasta.
The group has also received noteworthy reviews in The Irish Times and Hot Press magazine, which, Ian states “has led to interest from a few respected music producers in Dublin”.
“Diane and Jarlath really enjoyed both previous Clare gigs with the songwriter Mark James, so it won’t be hard to get them to come back at all. Our friends and family back around here have been an unbelievable support to us and we hope to have a mini album launch there around Christmas,” Ian reveals.
Swords was selected from hundreds of entries from all over Ireland in the Bulmers Vat House, Who’s hiding in the Undergrowth? competition and are in with a chance to win a full-page interview and photoshoot in Hot Press magazine.
To vote, log on to http://e1.ie/swords or facebook.com/swordsband. The closing date for voting is Monday, September 26 at 3.30pm.