The Unsolicited Dance Strings & Things

• 1 Fuaim Gathering 04:36
• 2 Jigtime 03:53
• 3 The Unsolicited Dance 03:45
• 4 My Dreams Are Not Enough 05:38
• 5 Anorak Jack 03:51
• 6 Hurtful Souls 04:16
• 7 Anywhere but Down 03:58
• 8 The Pedantic Platypus 03:07
• 9 What If 03:30
• 10 Sweet Daisy 04:15
• 11 Filter 04:12
• 12 Run from You 03:08
• Total Runtime 48:09

Info for The Unsolicited Dance

The Unsolicited Dance is the second original installment by Strings & Things. Recorded during their residency in Orlando, Florida. The band spend their free time. perfecting the album to the best of there abilities.

This is the follow-up to the Tipperary/Galway quartet Strings & Things’ 2017 debut Turbulence. It’s a further example of a band taking Irish folk-trad into the modern era with an impressive bunch of original songs and tunes to match their visionary musical approach. While informed by the past, their work gains in relevance and clout by being rooted in the present.

Sean Mongey’s banjo is fingerpickin’ good leading the instrumental opener ‘Fuaim Gathering’, named to honour the 2017 festival cancelled because of the Unsolicited Dance act, hence the album title too. It picks up the pace and rattles and hums to its merry conclusion. The sprightly ‘Jigtime’ has singer James O'Meara Ryan dominating a folksy tune with the ensemble chasing him at full pelt, but ‘My Dreams Are Not Enough’ takes it easy and slow for an emotion-laden song about lost love.

‘Anywhere But Down’ marries the exuberance of fifties rock’n’roll with a thrash-folk style so infectious you might need a jab after it, and Ryan’s neat guitar stylings on ‘Filter’ handsomely flesh out a song about a man living without a filter. Along the way you’ll find a jolly playfulness in the ‘Pedantic Platypus’ with attractive interaction between guitar and banjo.

Eoin Shelly’s percussive contributions and the solidity of Eoin Salmon’s bass (not least his flashes of brilliance on ‘What If’) underpin matters throughout, and despite having three fine singers, they don’t overdo the harmonies and opt for an effective less-is-more policy. Strings & Things are not the first to put rock, trad and folk through the musical blender, but few have done it with such effortless assurance and aplomb and a lively sense of musical variety.

Better still, there’s an energy about The Unsolicited Dance that suggests a band worth tracking down when the live music scene kicks off again.

James O'Meara Ryan, guitar, lead vocals
Eoin Shelly, percussion, vocals
Sean Mongey, banjo, mandolin
Eoin Salmon, bass
Caoimhe Maher, fiddle
Fionn Morrison, Uillen pipes, whistles

Strings & Things
are a high energy contemporary folk band from Tipperary/Galway, Ireland. Over the years they have created a unique sound mixing various genres from their backgrounds. Influences include, Trad, Folk, Pop and Rock. ​

They are currently at home in Ireland after a long stint playing at Raglan Road in Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, ended due to current affairs. ​

When at home they frequently gig in various venues and pubs around the country and sometimes go across to London.

They used the opportunity in Florida to record their upcoming album, "The Unsolicited Dance", which is due for release on June 18, 2021.

This album contains no booklet.