Bushplant ready to rock Johnno’s

CELTIC rockers Bushplant will headline Bushfest at Johnno’s Bar in Doora on Saturday with all proceeds donated to Irish Autism.
The cult Ennis-based band has been on the go since 1990 and this year are marking their 20th year on the road. They will be joined in the specially erected marquee at Johnno’s by Buzzmonkey’s, Kohima, Sons of Gingerbread, The Chancers, Bad Pennies and Richard Burton’s Revenge, along with several additional acts.
Song writer, singer and guitarist Gerry Molloy told The Clare Champion that the band’s style of music is influenced by several factors. 
“It’s kind of world music, trad rock. We were our own music as well,” he explained.
Bushplant have toured extensively and have a particular affiliation with France.
“We’ve done Europe and we did France 12 times, playing at all the major festivals. We’ve also played England with The Beat and The Blockheads. There were 10,000 people at it,” Gerry added.
The band also includes Mary Custy and Yvonne Casey (fiddles), John Lambe (flute), Conor Keane (accordion), Andy Palfreyman (drummer) and Joe Keane.
With the inevitable line-up changes over the years they have seen many members come and go, but the present core line-up has remained consistent for quite a while now. Their fiddler Mary Custy is a world-famous musician in her own right having several solo albums to her name and has collaborated with many other well-known Irish and international acts. Mary has toured extensively as far afield as Australia, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Yvonne Casey has also enjoyed a wide and successful career playing with the likes of Gavin Whelan, Siobhán Peoples, Harry Bradley, Davy Corry and Luka Bloom not to mention her former band The Céilí Bandits featuring Eoin O’Neill and Quentin Cooper.
Notable musicians to have passed through the ranks of Bushplant include Michele Bonamy on sax and flute and the rip-roaring Trevor Hansbury on various guitars and most of the Keane family from Ennis, at one time or another.
Amongst the well-known entertainers who have seen Bushplant perform are Sharon Shannon, Luka Bloom, Donal Lunny, The Cranberries, Eoin O’Neill, Davey Spillane, Glen Hansard, Mundy and Altan.
Bushplant’s latest album in Janus, which they recorded with Chile Records in Dublin, while they have performed for numerous charities including The Red Cross and at the Special Olympics in recent years.
They are currently working on their next album.