Galway button accordion player, Gerry Hanley, will launch his highly anticipated debut solo album, In the Middle of It, at Monroe’s Live on Friday, August 22, from 7:30pm.
A lifelong musician rooted in Galway’s trad scene, the album was recorded over a year and a half with some of the country’s finest traditional players.
“There are 12 tracks of reels, jigs, hornpipes, slow airs, very much in the Galway style,” Hanley says.
The album is a dedication to his mother, from east Galway, and his father, from the west: “This album is dedicated to their memory. They gave us everything. I never knew life without the sound of an accordion.”
Hanley performed widely throughout his youth and early adulthood, recording as far back as 1975 in Windmill Lane Studios and later with the Roudledum Band in the 1980s. This solo album is a first, and reflects his personal and musical journey and stays true to the way he learned and loved music.
In the Middle of It was produced by pianist and composer Carl Hession. The acclaimed accompanist and arranger brings his signature touch to the recording, alongside contributions from Maureen Fahy on fiddle and Eimear Coughlan on harp.
Looking ahead to the Galway launch at Monroe’s Live this August, he says: “It is daunting in some ways, but exciting. I have shared a musical journey with many of the people involved in this project. I hope this album captures the spirit of the music I grew up with, and I am looking forward to a good night in Monroe's.”
Visit www.gerryhanleymusic.com or www.monroes.ie for more.
