theolllam

With a name aptly deriving from the old Irish for a grand master of a skill, the olllam is a transatlantic collective of formidable talent, marrying stunning instrumental virtuosity, Irish tradition, and Detroit’s post-rock psych-sensibility. Their genre-defying compositions are lush with cyclical trance-like melodies, co-written by Belfast uilleann piper/whistle player John McSherry, his US protégé Tyler Duncan, and master-drummer Michael Shimmin, whose intricate rhythms are then underpinned in recording by the bass-playing genius of Joe Dart. Their 2012 eponymous debut album is  something of a cult classic.

the olllam has toured as a live collective augmented by additional master collaborators, including Dart’s Vulfpeck bandmates Theo Katzman and Woody Goss.  Since the recording and release of long-awaited follow-up album elllegy, which saw the olllam named as RTE Radio Best Group at 2022’s Folk Awards, the band has featured Seán O'Meara on guitar and Joe Hettinga on keys.