|
Sean Kelly, originally from Derry City, Ireland, came to NZ in 1990 after a six year stint in London playing with an originals rock band, Partisan. His first musical venture in NZ was an originals band called Rat Race Choir. They played several times at The Gluepot before the day the music died. Financially it was a dead duck and a few of the musos in the band needed music to pay, so it was all over by mid 1992.
It was round about this time that Auckland got its first Irish Bar; Kitty O Briens down by Victoria Park, that's where it all began for Sean on the Irish music front as he returned to his natural musical roots. Along with the drummer, Peter Reed and guitarist Eddie Malone, both from Rat Race Choir, Roisin Dubh came into being. They were soon joined by Mathew Thompson on bass guitar and Finlay Smith on fiddle. Roisin Dubh were easily the most successful of all the Celtic/Irish bands around at the time.
They played practically non stop until 1996 with residences at Kitty O Briens, The Blarney Stone and Biddy Mulligans (Hamilton). It was mid 1996 when Sean realised that he was missing out on time with his daughter Rose born back in 1994 that he decided it as time to take a bit of time off. Two years went by without another thought of music, then in 1998 the ball started rolling again and has continued to roll to this day. It was pub legend Micky Martin that called Sean back then to fill in a vacant spot left by a musician for a gig at Murphy's Irish Bar. That resulted in a year long stint with The Knickertinkers, a three piece band that also included mandolin player Chris Allen. |
 |
| |
|
Sean Kelly on the Bohron |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
About a week before St Patricks Day, 1999 Sean got a call from the newly opened Muddy Farmer to put together something for their marquee gig on St Pats Day as the band they had booked had got a better offer.Having had a call from Bazza Caitcheon, whom Sean had never met, to say that he was available for music in Auckland, he was rung back to say he had a gig. He got hold of his bass player mate Glyn Frewin. Sean roped in Finlay Smith on fiddle again and Paul Crowther having told Sean on several occasions that he was keen to get involved also got the call. It was St Patricks Day 1999 and The Celtic Flyers did their first gig together and it was a beauty. With the exception of Finlay Smith who was replaced on fiddle by the outstanding Julie Grace, The Celtic Flyers remain today as one of NZs' top Irish bands. Sean also plays a two piece with Bazza Caitcheon 'Dodgy & the Bastard' and a three piece 'Sean Kelly & Friends' with Julie Grace and Eddie Malone from the early Roisin Dubh days.
Not having done a lot of recording with the exception of a 200 tape run with Roisin Dubh, Sean decided in 2004 that it was time to capture on CD where he was musically both then and in the past. Most of the recording was done at Seans house in Pakuranga. With Paul Crowthers audio engineering skills it was as good if not better for Sean than any recording studio in NZ. The 2004 recording principally features Sean, Bazza Caitcheon and Julie Grace with assistance from any other musician that would come along. The recordings are notable for their non commercial, no bass and no drums approach. The CD also features an early Roisin Dubh track and three tracks recorded again by Paul Crowther of The Mushroom Playhouse. The Mushroom Playhouse were a project band that only played live once but recorded several great tracks in Seans basement at his former home in Mt Albert. Sean did vocals and whistles, Paul Crowther also did drums, Dave Hartley on bass and Derek Motley on guitars. On one of the songs Jono Lonie joined them on uillean pipes. Sean is most proud of these recordings hence three tracks have made it on to 'See the Light'. |
| |
Bazza Caitcheon |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Sean Kelly & Friends toured The North Island of NZ, promoting the CD in the lead up to St Patricks Day, 2005. As well as playing at night, Sean also raised sponsorship for his 'Irish music in schools programme'. Free concerts were organised in low decile schools in which Sean Kelly & Friends performed a one hour concert. It was a great success with feedback from the kids and the teachers, overwhelming. The Celtic Flyers also were the main act to perform in New Plymouth for the post British and Irish Lions match concert. New Plymouth shut down a main street, erected a marquee and The Celtic Flyers played till 3am on both the 7th and 8th of June. Several of The Barmy Army press releases gave special mention to the New Plymouth leg as being the best organised and the best entertainment. Sean Kelly & Friends-See the light also got a rave review from Tim Page in the 100th issue of New Zealand Musician magazine the April/May 2005 edition-P25 |
|
| s |
|
The Celtic Flyers |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
