IT has been a six years since music legends Scullion toured and played in Limerick. Scullion evolved out of a musical side project in the late 70s. The musicians Sonny Condell, Philip King and Greg Boland signed with Mulligan Records, expanded to a four piece and recorded their debut album in Windmill Lane Studios with producer PJ Curtis.
The rest is Irish musical history – playing the Lisdoonvarna Folk Festival in Co. Clare, support tours with John Martyn, a second album ‘Balance and Control’ (1981, produced by John Martyn) on the then newly established Warner Bros. (Ireland) label. ‘The White Side of Night’ (produced by Nicky Ryan) and Spin featured radio favourite ‘Carol’.
2012, Scullion released their first album of new material in 27 years. ‘Long Wave’ was recorded by Ruairí O’Flaherty in his cabin studio in Killarney.
Their music is a catalogue of Irish anthems, ‘Down In the City’, ‘Eyelids into Snow’ and ‘John the Baptist’. Their brand of folk/Americana/rock is inventive, rhythmic, original and undeniably Irish.
The trio have followed different interests in the intervening years. Philip King created the TV series ‘Other Voices’ which has expanded to an annual festival with recordings happening in Dingle, Belfast and beyond. The Other Voices brand also hosts a stage at Electric Picnic. Philip’s revered radio show ‘The South Wind Blows’ is broadcast on Saturday nights from a studio, “the most westerly tip of the Dingle peninsula.”
Today, the all too rare live appearances sell out quickly. Sonny Condell is the creative core and inspiration for Scullion and reforms the trio when he feels the time is right.
“The band never stopped, we just have some periods of intense rest!
Philip is a successful filmmaker and broadcaster, and I have my own band and recording career, Robbie plays music the world over, so we come together when the time is right for us.”
Scullion play Dolan’s this Saturday April 28.
