The Hanna Sisters are set to launch their new album “About Time” at the Market Place Armagh on Wednesday 28th February. The launch will be followed by a concert at the girls home theatre in the historic city of Armagh and kickstarts their nationwide tour. When I caught up with the Hanna Sisters they were finishing their Scandinavian tour with dates in Denmark as Nuala explained:
“
We’ve been delighted with the reaction to the new songs here and can’t wait to get on the road in Ireland and guage the reaction there. Ironically we’re probably better known in Scandinavia as we’ve been touring for 6/7 years and we were a little apprehensive as this album probably marks a departure in terms of our sound. Thankfully we’ve been playing to full houses and the audience have been with us all the way.”
The Maghery based sisters have been encouraged by album sales in Denmark in particular with trade described as brisk since its launch there on 17th February. The album itself has received critical acclaim in Ireland with Hot Press magazine selecting Princes Port as their pick of the week in November and Jackie Hayden printing a very favourable review in the same publication. (see attached)
The album combines all that is best of the Hanna Sisters with outstanding vocal harmonies and excellent use of instrumentation all well produced by the Hanna Sisters and Rod Mc Vey. The sleeve notes include details of backing musicians who read like a whos who of Irish recorded music with Liam Bradley on drums, Nicky Scott on bass and Johnny Scott on guitars. Best described as a pop album the 12 track CD features their two singles released earlier this year as well as ten other tracks on which the girls share vocals. The album has a distinctively Celtic feel which is a natural consequence of the girls traditional upbringing and the instrumentation which includes fiddle and whistles.
In concert the Hanna Sisters are a real delight with those vocal harmonies much to the fore as they play many of their own compilations and songs that have influenced them over the years. This is interspersed with jigs and reels to keep the audience on their toes and the whole effect is a very enjoyable and invigorating nights entertainment. The girls good looks are of course an added bonus if not a slight distraction to the musical experience!
The Maghery based siblings have certainly matured into a force to be reckoned with in the Irish Music scene. Expect to hear a lot more about them and from them in the coming months!
The Hanna Sisters are from County Armagh and they regularly grace venues around northern Europe as well as here at home. They have a debut album called 'About Time' in production with Rod McVey, but from the tracks I've heard it'll make a crackling good pop-rock album with obvious trad nuances. 'In Time' sizzles over a solid beat, an infectious melody and some fine violin playing from Nuala Hanna. 'Hotline to your Soul' is more laid back with delicious harmonies and a gem of a chorus. 'Princes Port' ups the ante again and delivers a fine radio-friendly track. The Hanna Sisters offer us classy, intelligent pop songs, tastefully blended with their exhilarating Irish traditional musicianship, all topped off with their fine harmonies. Mainstream Irish radio needs records like this. Jackie Hayden
Hot Press magazine 15th Nov
Please find a full list of Irish tour dates below.
Earlier Press releases and Biography as well as high resolution picture are available from the Hanna Sisters website
www.thehannasisters.net
For further information please contact MNB Records on 07733 225511 or
info@hannasisters.net.
The album will be on sale in stores nationwide from the 28th Feb and from the Hanna Sisters website detailed above.