The Winding Stair
Encyclopedia
The Winding Stair is a musical group from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
which first played publicly in 2005. The band describe their music as folk noir. Their name is associated with the poetry of W.B. Yeats.
and Ciaran Tracey on guitar. Former vocalist Mary O'Halloran left the band amicably in 2008.
in Lisburn on August 13, 2007. They were also invited to play the Glastonbury Festival
, appearing third on the bill at the acoustic stage on June 23, 2007. That night they shared the stage with KT Tunstall
among others.
on BBC Radio 4
. They were asked to perform The Mountains of Mourne
, originally written by Percy French, for a feature on discussions surrounding the Mourne Mountains' proposed status as a national park. This was broadcast on August 29, 2007.
On 18 October 2007, BBC Radio 1
broadcast a live session from the band. The Winding Stair also made a live appearance on the Irish language
arts programme Imeall Geal on BBC Two
in 2008.
on August 5, 2007. It was produced at Doghouse Studios in Belfast by Eamonn P Keyes, previously manager and producer of the rock band The Answer
.
made a film for their song "The Meadow". It was broadcast on the third series of BBC Northern Ireland
show ATL TV.
The video adopts Davis' usual magical realist approach and it stars Lara McIvor who is notable for starring in the science fiction movie City of Ember
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
which first played publicly in 2005. The band describe their music as folk noir. Their name is associated with the poetry of W.B. Yeats.
Line-up
The group consists of Clare Galway on violin and vocals, Tom Hughes on cello and bodhránBodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
and Ciaran Tracey on guitar. Former vocalist Mary O'Halloran left the band amicably in 2008.
Performances
The band have played extensively in Ireland since 2005. This has included prestigious support slots such as Martha WainwrightMartha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
in Lisburn on August 13, 2007. They were also invited to play the Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, appearing third on the bill at the acoustic stage on June 23, 2007. That night they shared the stage with KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
among others.
TV and radio
The band were invited to perform for the Today programmeToday programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. They were asked to perform The Mountains of Mourne
The Mountains of Mourne
The lyrics to the song "The Mountains of Mourne" were written by Irish musician Percy French. It is normally sung to the traditional Irish folk tune Carrigdonn or Carrigdhoun as it is sometimes spelt. This was the same tune used by Thomas Moore for his song "Bendemeer's Stream".The song is...
, originally written by Percy French, for a feature on discussions surrounding the Mourne Mountains' proposed status as a national park. This was broadcast on August 29, 2007.
On 18 October 2007, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
broadcast a live session from the band. The Winding Stair also made a live appearance on the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
arts programme Imeall Geal on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in 2008.
Album
The band self-released an album called FinistèreFinistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
on August 5, 2007. It was produced at Doghouse Studios in Belfast by Eamonn P Keyes, previously manager and producer of the rock band The Answer
The Answer
-Music:*The Answer , a rock band from Northern Ireland*The Answer, an album by Peter Bardens*The Answer , an album by Gloria Gaynor*"The Answer" , a song by by Britney Spears*"The Answer", a song on the Bloc Party EP Banquet...
.
Video
In 2007 Brian Philip DavisBrian Philip Davis
Brian Philip Davis is a filmmaker from Northern Ireland. He graduated from the University of Ulster.He has directed a number of short films including Inside, The Poet and the Bear and Happy as Larry as well as music videos for Oppenheimer, The Winding Stair and Two Door Cinema Club...
made a film for their song "The Meadow". It was broadcast on the third series of BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
show ATL TV.
The video adopts Davis' usual magical realist approach and it stars Lara McIvor who is notable for starring in the science fiction movie City of Ember
City of Ember
City of Ember is a 2008 science fiction-fantasy film based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Jeanne DuPrau. It was directed by Gil Kenan from a screenplay by Caroline Thompson, and stars Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Bill Murray, Mackenzie Crook, Martin Landau and Tim Robbins.-Plot:In the...
.