New trad-rock fusion from Iron Mountain

Instrumental rock and Irish traditional music might sound like they belong in two different worlds, but both genres meet in the exciting sound of Iron Mountain.

The Limerick based quintet will make their Irish debut with a show in Monroe’s Live on Friday next, February 6. The band members are Damien Mullane on guitar, Matt Bashford on uilleann pipes, low whistle and flute, Ronan Ryan on flute, Stephen Hughes on bass and Ray Murphy on drums.

Ray explains how the project got off the ground. “Basically, we’re a group of friends who meet each other in a local called Costello’s for a few drinks,” he says. “We knew each other from playing in different bands and different set-ups. We said ‘how about trying this out and having an old jam?’ We got into a room and started messing round with stuff and things went from there really.”

Iron Mountain are inspired by experimental trad bands such as Planxty and instrumental, guitar-driven rock bands like Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor. All the lads are experienced players, but this band sees them getting out of their comfort zone.

“I think it came out of a bit of hunger to try something different,” Ray says. “It was an idea a couple of us had to see what we could do with. We thought it would be well worth exploring, pulling those instruments together.”

For more, see this week’s Connacht Tribune