The Rapparees.

The Rapparees are a five piece folk band based in Belfast comprising of Gerard McNeill, Joe McKeague, Damien McErlean, Conor McCaffrey and Kevin Mawdsley. Since completing their long awaited second album, ‘Clarity’, the lads have been busy getting their music out and were described by Irish Music Magazine as 'one to watch' in 2009. Their exciting mix of contemporary self penned songs as well as traditional songs and tunes has led to rave reviews along the way. Hotpress Magazine described them as, 'a welcome surprise' and Folking.com commented that their album, ‘ "Clarity” is possessed of a great deal of spirit, and this spirit is enforced and elevated by some terrific playing'. The band has developed a growing portfolio of performances including playing at Celtic festivals in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Birmingham; the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival; the Grandvilliers Festival, France; Ballyshannon Folk Festival; Celtic Fusion Festival; Skudeneshavn Festival, Norway and the Saint-Loup Festival, Guingamp in Brittany. The Band has also played with the hugely popular Irish singer Cara Dillon at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. This will be ‘The Rapparees’ second visit to Gig’n the Bann! For more information please visit their website at: www.therapparees.com