About the Band

General Info   |   Instruments & Members   |   OAC Fee Support   |   Releases

General Info

From a 10-day tour of the former Soviet Union to 18 shows at Dollywood's Valley Theater in the heart of Tennessee, the General Guinness Band has performed the songs and music of Ireland for over 28 years. Hundreds of concert programs and festivals, countless traditional music sessions, a number of television and radio programs, and even a guest appearance with the Chieftans have allowed the band to share their music far and wide.

Up front for the band is vocalist James O'Shea, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland. Over the years, James has collected an abundance of songs and has a song to compliment any topic. Poetic, witty, and inspired, the songs of Ireland have persisted through generations, and James sings them today with the same passion and joy as the day that they were conceived.

Providing backing vocals and a wall of instrumental music are Larry Dulin (Irish flute and tin whistles), Steve Steele (guitar and Irish bouzouki), Carol Metheny (fiddle), Sheree Green (fiddle), Tom Davis (bodhran). To further add variety, an array of "the steps" are provided by Judy Davis (dancing).

The band weaves lively ballads with fiddle tunes and step dancing to provide a quick paced program with visual as well as aural interest. Solid vocals, intricate step dancing, and riveting instrumentals provide dynamic programing for today's discerning audiences. The group presents their material in a relaxed, entertaining manner that lures and pulls the audience into the fun that the members of the group share between themselves. The Irish have a colorful oral history of stories handed down from generation to generation, and General Guinness takes great pride and pleasure in the retelling and embellishing of these stories of old.

Instruments & Members

The variety of instruments played include fiddle, tin whistles, Irish flute, guitar, bodhran (Irish drum), and Irish bouzouki. Traditional through and through -- repertoire heard no where else!

Ohio Arts Council Fee Support

Recognized for excellence in artistic quality by the Ohio Arts Council in 1990, General Guinness was selected for membership in the OAC's Presenting/Touring program. The group is currently among an exclusive group of performing artists on the Ohio Arts Council's fee support roster, OHIO ARTISTS ON TOUR.

Releases

The band's first album, TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, was released in 1988 and their second album, SHE LEFT WITH THE PIPER, was released in 1994. The band has performed live on numerous radio and television programs. STILL LEAVING, a song written and recorded by the band, was selected for an American Public Radio Special in 1994.

SWINGIN' ON THE GATE was released on GBS Records in 2000, and the band's most recent release, ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN, was released in August 2008.

Updated 04/2/12