- I
hired the Jolly Rogues on short notice to play at my wedding ceremony
and cocktail hour. They were able to come up with some great music for
me. They even made an old song "new" just for me for my processional.
They went above and beyond to make my special day even more spectacular
than what I had ever hoped for. I will definately have another party
some day and hire them all over again.
Maurella -- Maurella W, Topsfield, MA, 9/18/2009
- What a great
group and they were perfect for our event!! Very engaging, lively and
humerous team which kept the group engaged.
Would recommend them to anyone who likes traditional Irish music and be
ready to sing a long!! -- Kim R, Wellesley, MA, 8/20/2009
- Jim
was wonderful to communicate with leading up to my husband's party. The
whole band was a complete pleasure to work with. My family and friends
could not stop complimenting me on choosing them. Everyone, regardless
of music taste, thoroughly enjoyed them. We will definitely use them
again! -- Michelle C, New Bedford, MA, 5/1/2009
- they where fantastic!!! Everyone at the wedding love them!!!
thank you Cindy Maheu -- Cynthia M, Warwick, RI, 2/2/2008
- Absolutely
fabulous! They were very professional, contacted me with perfect timing
and just the right questions. Knew exactly what needed to be done and
provided a superb performance as well. We had a very diverse group of
guests at our wedding and they all loved the music! I highly recommend
the Jolly Rogues. -- Sarah D, West Brookfield, MA, 8/18/2007
- Super performance & look forward to using them again...
Thank you. -- Kimberly C, Wellesley, MA, 3/30/2007
- Paul was great! Thanks. -- Gary O, Bedford, NH, 1/17/2006
- The
Jolly Rogues were a delight to work with and a terrific addition to our
nautically-themed wedding reception. They arrived early and were very
flexible in working within a shifting time frame at the reception. They
played the songs we requested and got the attendees involved in their
repertoire. They are terrific! -- Jean R, Plymouth, MA, 3/5/2005
- They were fantastic. Sorry we ran out of time with them. Al and Jim were wonderful -- Bernie D, Chelmsford, MA, 6/20/2009
FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE!!!
Band taking act across the pond
By Christine McConville, Globe Staff, 2/26/2004
MTV may not be calling, but that doesn't matter to members of the local
band the Jolly Rogues, as they prepare for their first international
tour.
For 10 days this summer, the band's four members, from Wilmington,
Concord, Reading, and Westford, will be performing before dancing
crowds in England.
Just don't expect to find the group and its followers cavorting at
trendy hot spots in London after the shows. This band specializes in
tavern tunes and sea ditties from America's Colonial days.
'It's going to be great,' said Jim Murray, 56, who plays guitar and
mandolin for the Rogues, when he's not at work at an insurance company
in Wilmington.
The rest of the group includes Mike Ryan of Concord on Native American
and Irish hand drums; Paul Harty of Reading on fiddle, wind
instruments, and mandolin; and Alan Hicks of Westford on guitar.
For concerts, they dress in period clothing, and Ryan, who specializes
in Revolutionary era history, usually offers a brief history lesson
before each song.
For the past year and a half, the group has performed to growing local
crowds, while attracting fans overseas.
Thanks to the Internet, their songs were discovered by disc jockeys in
Germany,England,China and the Netherlands. The British Broadcasting
Corp. has even interviewed the band.
'It's bouncy music, and people over there like that,' Murray said.
This summer, the group will perform a concert on a field in Tewkesbury,
England, where in 1471 a pivotal battle in the War of the Roses was
fought. That field now is slated for development, and the Rogues are
paying their own way over there to help the preservation cause.
While in the United Kingdom, the group plans to perform in Billericay,
England, a small village that is the namesake for Billerica, Mass.
'We're more popular than the Beatles,' Murray joked.
The group met when they were working as volunteers at the Minute Man
National Historical Park, which memorializes key battlefields in the
Revolutionary War.
In late 2002, as park volunteers and staff were trying to figure out
new ways to spread the joys of history, someone mentioned music.
'Music was important in that time period,' said Ryan, who performs with
the Rogues when he's not working as an associate dean for student
development at Boston College.
From by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Jolly Rogues
Album: "Captain Billy's Privateers"
Year produced: 2004
Hailing
from Massachusetts--a place itself steeped in history--the Jolly Rogues
are themselves an "auditory flashback" to the music of the 18th and
19th century. On this CD, Captain Billy's Privateers, they go from one
great sea shanty to another, and truth be told, there is quite a bit of
a nautical flair going on here--which is already reflected in the title
of the CD, so it shouldn't really be a surprise!
You can tell
that these gentlemen are into history, and you don't need to look too
far for an affirmation of that fact--they are members of The Guild of
Historic Interpreters. They stay pretty true to olde times as well, and
if you see them perform you'll probably find them dressing in
three-cornered hats and knickers and using traditional instruments.
My
personal favorite is track 9, "I'm A Rover Seldom Sober." It's one of
those tunes that makes you sway with it and join in singing--Rover or
not--you'll jump on the bandwagon for this track. There is a good
selection of seafaring songs here, and it is nearly all light-hearted
and pleasant--good mood music to be sure. Fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewer: N.Ellen
Hi there, I have orderd many CD's from other country's and from many
choirs. But I never recieved a CD so quickly. From USA to Holland in 3
days? Fantastic! I'm gonna use the CD in my radioprogramm. Thanks guys
and a lot of singing pleasure. Noud Ellen,Holland Fantastic!!!!
Reviewer:Music
Forte
Here is a very talented group of Musicians who are carving out a unique
niche in local musical entertainment. The Rogues appear attired in
either 18th or 19th Century clothing or a combination of the two
periods, adding to the color and charm of the performance. Listen to
?Lark in the Clear Air?
Reviewer: Ted Busiek
Dear Mr. Murray,
I'm
writing regarding your band, The Jolly Rogues. I got your most recent
CD, 14 Miles to Boston, and I really like what you guys are doing. My
favorite tracks are Soldier's Joy / Liberty, Bonnie Charlie, Hal An Tow
and The Fox. From the looks of your website you guys are a lot more
popular than I realised, which is good because New England needs a
cultural revival band. The Maritimes have Stan Rogers. The Brittish
Isles have more than I would list, most notably Steeleye Span. Why
shouldn't this area have a popular folk band?
Folkmagazin
I'm webmaster of the German folk-portal site
folkig.de
and I write reviews for the German printmagazine "Folkmagazin",which
goes to 2000-2500 subscribers.The review that?s in the Folkmagazin.
"The
american band The Jolly Rogues are one of these bands which are
probably totally unknown in Germany. That?s a pity, because the band
shows on ?14 Miles To Boston? much enthusiasm and filigree instrument
play on irish ballads and groovy instrumentals. An album with
seriousness, much fun and a successful mix of irish-american
folk-tradition." Thomas Engert
The group released its first CD Road to Boston in 2003 their 2nd
Captain Billy's Privateers in 2004 and 14 Miles to Boston in 2006.The
group has played in England,Germany and in 2006 in China the only
American group invited to the Meet in Beijing Festival held May 1,2006.
We are the perfect group for your event and are outstanding in the
concert setting,wedding,convention or community event.
