The Hollaw on tour

'Marcus Magee & The Hollaw' will embark on a mini-European tour, kicking off in Dublin later this month.

Each stop of the 'bucket list' tour has its own backstory, and each will take its own tempo.

Lead man Marcus has always wanted to play in his wife Julie's hometown of Sorø in Denmark, and they built their tour around this dream.

“Rather than flying there we said why not have some fun and spend the week travelling?” Marcus reasons.

The Cootehill-based band will play The Workman's Club on April 16 with up-and-coming fellow Cavanites 'Even More So' supporting them, something Marcus is looking forward to as he has “never heard them live”.

“I've never met them or spoke to them but I thought it was great that a band of their age is releasing music and [Painkiller] a really good song.

“They'll bring a new energy and excitement. That's what music is about; sharing that experience with the band. It's not all about the music, it's about the whole thing.

“We'll be supporting them maybe next year,” he predicts.

Meanwhile, the show will be a “baptism of fire” for Marcus' brother Ray who has stepped up to fill-in for drummer Mark. Now living is Scotland, Ray has practiced with the band just once. The pair would have performed together growing up, when they had stables at the back of their childhood home that housed a drum kit.

“We just used to jam there, but throughout him travelling and me travelling we haven't played together in years,” he says, with the exception of Christmas time. “But there's always that connection that you don't lose. It's really nice.”

The other band members include Julie Magee Karlshoj on vocals and the shruti box, lead guitarist Daragh Slack- who also plays the banjo, Ben Folkman on bass, Ronan Brady on flute, and Rafal Szydlowski on violin.

The father of three has written two new songs which the band will debut during their tour- 'Sail to the Ocean' and 'War Father'- the latter written in light of scenes coming from Gaza and Iran. “When I wrote it I remember feeling like I'm not able to do anything, and thinking 'imagine being a father in that situation and not being able to do anything?'

“It's an apology to his family... that he's not able to be the protector, and that he's not able to shield them and on how they need help.”

The band will play the Troubadour in London, where they will be joined there by a fellow Cootehill man, and now London-based singer songwriter Brian Grogan.

That will bring an end to the “high energy” shows, with the rest “breaking it all down” to a more “intimate” and “casual” atmosphere.

Next up is the Netherlands. Upon releasing 'Mac Dee' two years ago a fan from the Netherlands, where the song was popular, reached out on Instagram to say he loved the track and the story around it. 'Mac Dee' is a tribute to the frontman’s close friend Mairead McDermott who died from cancer in 2020.

Since its release, he has been inviting them to play in his parents' bar and restaurant in Nederweert, a small town about an hour away from Maastricht.

“Again that's the experience, it's connecting with his group of friends, his family, playing a show. We'll probably play a few Cavan songs.

“That's all part of it. I think it's going to be a great connection to their culture and the people there.”

The night will also serve as a fundraiser for cancer research in the Netherlands.

“It's going to be random, we're going to be staying in his parents' place. Look! We'll see how it goes,” he laughs.

They will then make the nine-hour drive to Julie's hometown, to play an old nightclub which is now a tapas and wine bar, and also has a performance venue.

“Julie's father plays tin whistle, he's mad into Irish music,” Marcus says, adding how he will join them for a few tunes on the night, while Julie will be called on to sing in Danish.

“For us it's about trying new things,” he explains of the tour, describing how it's “easy to do the same thing” but in a new venue there's a “buzz” and “energy”.

“We don't perform that often, we've always set out to do it for fun and to enjoy it and that's why we're doing different venues.”

The tour's end will conclude their performances for a while, with Marcus planning to return his focus to writing.

Tickets for the Dublin show are now live, and a bus will be organised from Cavan for those who wish to go.