The Lads of Laois is Robert and James Harvey’s first duet album on flute, banjo, mandolin and tin whistle on a set of sixteen new tracks accompanied by Caoimhín Ó Fearghail on guitar, Ryan Molloy on Piano and Niall Preston on bodhrán. The album showcases music from County Laois and its environs, combining tunes by composers Sean Ryan, John Brady, James Harvey, Jerry O’Sullivan, Robert Gleeson, Joe Keegan among others, with tunes from older publications of traditional music since the 1780s.
The project was inspired by lockdown projects for Laois County Council and Comhaltas which led to Robert and James reflecting on the lesser-known repertoire from their homeplace, resulting in an introspective selection of tunes that showcases the beauty of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The CD was recorded at Roundwood House in July 2023 produced by Laoise O’Brien and engineered by Grammy Award winner Ben Rawlins.
