FRANKIE Gavin and the newly formed De Dannan will take to LIT’s Millenium Theatre Stage on Saturday, where they will showcase some of their new material, as well as tracks to be released on their forthcoming album, Jigs, Reels and Rock and Roll.

For many years, traditional super group De Dannan were the forerunners in the Irish traditional music world but after 33 years, 14 albums and a number of changes in the line up, the group disbanded in 2003. This July, original founding member and world famous fiddle player Frankie Gavin unleashed a new De Dannan, which he feels will reflect a De Dannan of the 21st century.
The new De Dannan line-up is led by original De Dannan member Frankie on fiddle, flutes and whistles and he will be joined by Michelle Lally on vocals, Damien Mullane on accordion, Mike Galvin on bouzouki and guitars, and Eric Cunningham on percussion, flutes and whistles.
Frankie, who himself has performed with a whole host of musical luminaries from Stéphane Grappelli to the Rolling Stones, told The Clare Champion, “This is a very exciting time in the life of De Dannan. The band has in the past been responsible for launching the careers of many of Ireland’s best known traditional performers, who are now enjoying successful solo careers. Following a period where a De Dannan unit was no longer actively performing, I believe it’s time now to write a new chapter in the De Dannan story. I have put together a team of musicians to form the new De Dannan, who are tremendously talented performers and whom I know will restore the De Dannan name and sound to its former glory. We have also at the same time developed our own approach, which will reflect a De Dannan of the 21st century.”
Asked what the new band has to offer, Frankie explains, “We’ve taken a different approach to the De Dannan sound and to some degree the music is a bit different. It still has the De Dannan sound but there are a couple of new nuances thrown in”.
He acknowledged that he is surrounded by a group of “phenomenal” musicians, who have all been inspired by past members of the group but who also have their own individual input.
“The whole team is new and young and I suppose it’s all about new blood and there’s a new and exciting sound,” he outlined.
Frankie announced that the group will be releasing a new album which features a very special guest, none other than Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. Aptly titled with this in mind, the new album is called, Jigs, Reels and Rock and Roll.
“I know Ronnie and Keith [Richards] for a good number of years and played with them at the Oakland Arena in the States and I got a couple of gigs and did recordings with them, so we’ve been pals for a long time. Ronnie had stayed with me a while back and I played him some tracks from the new album and he took a fancy to some of the tracks and said, ‘I could slip into some of those like a hand in a glove’,” Frankie reveals.
From there, the group came together with Ronnie in the recording studio and produced  Jigs, Reels and Rock and Roll. Speaking about what Ronnie gives to the new songs Frankie says, “He adds his genius magic wand to the whole thing. It fits and gels very well with what we’re doing. He’s a multifaceted musician and plays almost anything so he was able to pick up a range of instruments. This, I admit, was his first outing into the circle of music that I would play. But that being said, it’s a great stamp of approval from a rock musician of his stature.”
Frankie and the new De Dannan will be releasing the album later this month and will be touring the country and taking the tour to an international audience throughout 2010.
Their latest performance will take place at LIT Millenium Theatre, Limerick on Saturday at 8pm and bookings can be made by calling 061 322322. Frankie also appears with Tony McMahon on Sunday at 10pm in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis as part of the Ennis Trad Festival.
More information is available about the band from www.DeDannan.com.