The Haar: Chapel Arts Centre
27th March 2026
LIVE REVIEWS- BATH
Jon Cooper, Photos: Steve Owen
The Haar are a four piece hailing from both sides of the Irish Sea. Musically they are very much rooted in the Celtic traditions, with Molly Donnery’s voice just being something that sets them apart and instantly stops you in your tracks. But it is the band that make the whole with Cormac Byrne on percussion, Adam Summerhayes on violin and Murray Grainger on accordion completing the full line up. ‘The Creggan White Hare’ an Irish Folk Tune.
Quite a lot of the songs have a intensity about them, you can almost feel the waves from the history a lot of the older songs hold. Yet, between songs, there is a lot of banter between the band members, giving a break between the songs, A lot of the banter coming Cormac’s way tonight as he spent most the night tuning his percussion, there seemed to be some debate as to whether this actually made a difference, or whether he could just be replaced by banging on the violin.
While there maybe a hint of mischievous division between songs, when the tune kicks in they are as one, the various instruments all flowing from one to the next and with a tightness that a number of bands would envy. Though they seemed destined to have a degree of humour, their first recording together was by the shipwreck on Inis Oírr, better known probably as the Father Ted island.
Tonight we are treated to a world premier too, the first time they have played ‘Madam I’m a Darling’ live, well since recording it for the album anyway. An upbeat number. After being treated to another song from the new album we are told that there is 9% decrease in the chance of being hit by lightening for those “whooping” at the gig, apparently carried out by Oxford University, I am not sure I trust the source of this one. Or perhaps we all just did enough, hence still being safe.
A Haar gig really does take you on a musical journey, the whooping is very much deserved, lightening or not. We get to hear a bit more of the new album with ‘Spancil Hill’ and ‘The Galway Shawl’, Molly has this amazing way of taking this songs that have been around for decades or more and making them sound like they written specifically for her to perform. Their arrangements are the perfect mix of keeping to the original while somehow almost creating a new song at times.
Where this, making the song their own, comes into play the most is what could almost be their party piece ‘The Wild Rover’. The well known semi raucous drinking song is the version most know, this turns it into something that hits deep into your soul, Molly’s vocals haunting and the fiddle solo pretty much rounding off a wonderful display of musicianship. They even add their own lyrics to the end, ending as ay good folk tune should, with someone dying.
This is followed by a similar, but not quite so intense, version of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’, again making the songs their own. After a few quite intense songs it was time for the final songs and a bit of more light hearted send off with ‘In The Town of Ballybay’ which had this packed out room all singing along to “Ring-a-ding-a-dong, ring-a-ding-a-daddy-o”. An amazing evening of absolutely amazing music, they are back on tour in April and we strongly encourage you to get along,