Timahoe Male Choir reveals exciting news with major performances ahead

Timahoe Male Choir in Laois who attracted the biggest crowd ever to Hazelwood Stage at Electric Picnic, have revealed exciting news that they are releasing an EP and heading to the USA.

Not only that but the choir is heading to New York St Patrick's Day parade, and has a big Christmas concert lined up in Portlaoise.

Still reeling from their incredible reception at Electric Picnic, and the warm praise of its MD Melvin Benn, the 48 strong community choir who formed less than a year ago, have a busy few months ahead.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live caught up with choirmaster Damien Bowe.

He revealed he has had to start turning away members such is their growing popularity.

“We are going strong since Electric Picnic, new people are joining us. There were a lot of enquiries to join, even from other counties but we are restricting it to hyper local residents in the Timahoe area. 

They are still meeting for rehearsals in the two pubs of Timahoe every Monday evening, a chance for many of the men to get out of the house and enjoy the social interaction.

“We took a week off after Electric Picnic, and people felt a lull. 

“The reaction of Electric Picnic was crazy. I put up a video of our last rehearsal before we went and it got 400,000 views. We have over 1,000 followers on Instagram,” he said.

Damien who himself fronts wedding band The Vows, reveals a great plan for their EP recording.

“We are recording five tracks, including a trad rock version of Lovely Laois, with permission from the writer Christy Cullen from Kilbricken. I want to give it more of an anthemic sound. The plan is to give the profits to a Laois charity, we are non profit,” he said.

The big Christmas gig will be in Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue in Portlaoise.

“We are having a Christmas spectacular, in aid of Teac Thom in Stradbally, who support male mental health. We’re calling it Electric Picnic Part Two. Tickets will be on sale soon,” he said.

The choir will be jetting off to New York in March, where they will play two gigs in very famous locations, either side of proudly walking with the Laois Association in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

“We will play in Rosie O’Grady’s pub in Manhattan on Saturday, March 16th, and then in The Playwright in Times Square on the night of St Patrick’s Day.

“The majority of the choir are going, everyone is paying for it themselves. Coming off the buzz of the picnic, when we suggested it, anyone who can go is going.  There is great excitement. We hope that any Laois people in New York can come along. 

“To walk in the parade is very special, we will be marching with our county,” Damien said.

The instant popularity of the choir is not down to musical prowess, though they are rapidly gaining that, it’s something deeper.

“It’s the good will, it’s not a serious thing, it’s just the sense of goodwill and people see it,” Damien Bowe said.