Ireland’s current ease and contentment with itself is reflected in much of the anodyne and unchallenging music on daytime radio. In an increasingly homogenised society the rough edges are being smoothed away. Praise be, then, for The Rye, whose trad with a twist might help shake us out of our ‘semi-d’ stupor.

Lead vocalist Kevin Melly formed the band just over two years ago.
“I just started looking at every angle, from music shops to putting in ads, anything at all, just looking for musicians,” says the affable Donegal man.

Alan Walsh, The Rye’s guitarist and banjo player,was the first to join the fold. Alan, who was introduced to Kevin as a piano player, explains ....