Roisin & The Beards
Born in Dublin in 1984, Roisin Ni Leathlobhair was raised on an eclectic musical diet. According to Roisin both of her parents had an impact on her musical taste from an early age “I always remember my parents constantly playing records and dancing and singing about the house. Dad was really into The Beatles and Neil Young,Rory Gallagher and Joni Mitchell where as my Mum was more into Abba, Joan Armatrading,Billy Joel and Elton John.”
Roisin started taking guitar lessons at the age of 12.
Personal highlights of her teenage years, musically, include performing with the Loreto College (Mullingar) Senior Choir in Aras an Uachtaran in 2003.
She began performing her own music publicly at the Open Mic Sessions in UCD in 2003 and subsequentially at Spotlight in The Stables Mullingar. These showcase events led to Roisin opening for many other indie acts in Dublin and Mullngar. In 2003 - 2004 these included The Aftermath (then called Cronin),Sean Needham,Nina Hynes,Ollie Cole,Alphastates and The Guggenheim Grotto.
In late 2004 Roisin formed the band Oubliette with Conor Mc Cauley (Arrow In The Sky) and Daniel O’Brien (formerly of The Watchmen).Oubliette highlights include a support slot with Alphastates in The Stables,Mullingar in August 2005 and two gigs in Hughes,Mullingar (now Halifax) with local acts Triega and Cronin (now The Aftermath). Local journalist Ronan Casey wrote in the summer of 2005 that the band were an “impressive local outfit” and an “exciting prospect”. Oubliette recorded a two track demo in 2005 entitled The Last Leaf.The band split soon after. They remain in close contact,however,and occasionally still collaborate with each other on various projects.
Roisin then spent the year living in Leipzig studying at the university there and writing many songs some of which will appear on her debut album.
On April 26th 2008 Roisin released her Debut E.P. - Maps Buried In Pockets which is now sold out.
Roisin is currently working with a newly formed band - Roisin and The Beards. The live line up is as follows; Danny Lambert: percussion. Joe Browne: bass. Roisin:lead vox/guitar. Daniel Dowling will be joining the band next month for the forseeable future on guitar and backing Vox.
A newly recorded version of their song ‘Travels’ (recorded by Andrew Rooney at Red Lab Studios) received a promotional release in the UK and Ireland in November 2008 on a 10 track white label compilation.
Right now Roisin and The Beards are working with producer Jason Carroll of Driftwood Recordings and are preparing for the release of their song Meet Me At The Central Bank as a single on 16.09.09.