Folklorama attracts performers from back home

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/08/2015 (3933 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Luck of the Irish and love brought the O’Hanlon’s Horsebox band to Winnipeg from Ireland for a second straight year at Folklorama.

The five-man O’Hanlon’s Horsebox, a collection of 20-something rollicking rovers from Ireland’s County Armagh, play traditional Irish folk music or, well… let’s let them tell it.

“It’s traditional Irish folk music with a kick in the arse!” said Ross McKernan, 24, a vocalist and banjo player, laughing.

“The Manitoba people made us want to come back. They talk about Friendly Manitoba and it’s true. The people are lovely, everyone’s accommodating and everyone goes out of their way to look after us and make us feel welcome. It’s lovely to see another country, but it’s really the people that make it.”

One special person has made a big difference for McKernan. Three years ago, McKernan met Laura Lazarenko of Winnipeg in Ireland and the two have been together ever since in a long-distance relationship.

With their love connection came the Folklorama connection and the band performed at the 2014 event. They loved their experience so much, they came back.

The band, together for four years, also includes vocalist and band leader Michéal O’Hanlon, 26; guitar player and vocalist Fintan Woods, 26, bull fiddle player Declan McBride, 24 and mandolin player Sean Lynn, 23. They recently released a CD called Songs and Stories of the Border, named so since the group members live near the border of north and south Ireland.

And, as Canadians would have to ask, what’s a horsebox?

“Hey horsebox” is a term of endearment in a greeting among friends, meaning “how are you, buddy?” Canadians would might put that as, “How’s it goin’, eh?”

O’Hanlon’s Horsebox is one of at least three Folklorama pavilions that have brought in entertainment from their cultural homelands for the second week, which opened on Sunday.

In the Africa/Caribbean Pavilion, much-loved limbo dancer and fire eater Prince Jo Jo of Ocho Rios is back once again.

The Russian Pavilion brought in Oleg Bernov of the internationally acclaimed Red Elvises band. Bernov plays the bass balalaika, a giant triangle-shaped guitar-like instrument that is native to Russia and is a key piece and much-loved instrument in traditional Russian music.

“He is playing really traditional Russian music but in a modern style,” said Ekaterina Bobrova, a volunteer and media co-ordinator with the Russian Pavilion. “It’s really full of energy but he is very careful to stay with the traditional type of this music, and that why it’s so interesting and we know our visitors will like this.”

Irish Pavilion volunteer and media co-ordinator Danielle Savage said the “audiences went crazy” for the O’Hanlon’s Horsebox last year and more of the same is expected this year.

“Everyone had so much fun, we fell in love with them and they fell in love with us,” Savage said. “They were here at 2:30 in the morning setting up! And Ross helped us write the show this year.”

She said the band brings something special for guests at the pavilion.

“I think it’s just the authenticity of their music and the authenticity of the experience having them here,” Savage said. “If we can’t take everyone on a plane to Ireland to see what it’s like in an Irish pub or a true Irish Céilidh (folk dance), then this is the next best thing.”

Happily for the couple, McKernan has moved to Winnipeg to be with Lazarenko. Though O’Hanlon has moved to Winnipeg also, the group’s members joked that love will keep the O’Hanlon’s Horsebox together.

“When you love something, you have to let it go. That’s how we feel about them (Ross and Michéal),” said McBride, to howls of laughter from the entire band.

The O’Hanlon’s Horsebox will play together again back in their Irish home at Christmas.

With the luck of the Irish, maybe they’ll back at Folklorama next year.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca