The Wild Rover is a sailors' song, known in most of the places where seafarers from these isles gathered. But I can guarantee you've never heard it done like this before!
In today's episode I'm with The Haar, shortly before the release of their new album Where Old Ghosts Meet. We chat about this song, described as being like a handshake for sailors meeting in far away places, and why they chose to add a new verse.
They also talk about their approach to traditional music, and improvising in a style in which a whole host of musical backgrounds and traditions meet. What could be more fitting for such a well travelled song?
The Haar are:
Adam Summerhayes – fiddle
Murray Grainger – accordion and vibrandoneon
Cormac Byrne – bodhrán
Molly Donnery – vocal
You can find their website at http://thehaar.ie/
The episode includes excerpts of the following songs, all from their forthcoming album:
You can buy the album at https://thehaar.bandcamp.com/ and I would heartily recommend it.