Shindig House Band to wrap up summer in Letterkenny

If you’re out and about in Letterkenny this weekend, be sure to swing by the Cottage Bar on Saturday night as local favourites Shindig House Band will be performing. It promises to be yet another great show with proceedings expected to get underway at about 10pm.

This is a band with a most special and lively style that will undoubtedly provide the perfect way to round off the summer before the reality of September kicks in.

There are not many groups around that can create the perfect blend of electronic, pop-rock, and saxophone tunes that come together so well and it’s this unique approach that sets them apart from the rest.

Earlier this week, Daniel McGarrigle also known as ‘DJ Dano’ - spoke to us about what the punters can expect from their upcoming show.

“It’s our first time back in the Cottage for a while because we’re all so busy. The stars have aligned for this weekend and we’re really looking forward to it. I like to think that we’re a fun party band who are a bit turbo-charged. We play songs that people would know but. At the same time, not the ones that would be in the usual repertoire of other pub bands,” Dan explained.

“We tend to go for 1980s and 1990s alternative hits. This can range from cover versions of songs by the likes of Pulp, Daft Punk, and the Chemical Brothers. We like to play to a high-energy level which gets people moving and dancing and having a bit of craic really,” he added.

By his own admission, Dano believes that because the band’s members are often tied up with their day jobs and other such responsibilities, the group only performs live quite sparingly; sometimes leading to gigs being weeks, if not months, apart.

And yet their shared devotion to each other’s creativity and their common love of music seems to keep their bonds tied together. One could argue that because their live performances are so spread out, this leads to a greater sense of anticipation and excitement among their faithful following.

In some ways, this leads to an all-around greater atmosphere and energy at their shows. They hit and then quickly fade back into the wilderness for another while and this adds to their mystique.

“We think it’s gonna be a big show on Saturday. It’s the end of the summer and I suppose it’s a kind of last hurray for everyone, so we’re hoping for a big crowd and a good night’s fun on the night,” Dano added.

History of the Group
While the Shindig group has risen to great prominence over the last few years, there’s still a most interesting history to the group that stretches back to well over a decade ago.

In 2010, they formed with three of the current group - Daniel, Fionn Robinson (lead/rhythm guitar), and Orlaith Gilchrest (saxophone) - and they were accompanied at the time by Stephen Neary and Cian Ronayne; both of whom also grew up here in Letterkenny.

“We came about because I had bought a drum machine. It has a very specific sound that gets used a lot in hip-hop and dance music production. That sort of shaped our original sound. We played a couple of gigs like the Crash Cabaret, McGinley’s Bar, and a few places in Ramelton,” he said.

Sadly, this was also the era of a severe economic downturn. Young people migrating out of Donegal, in the hope of securing more stable employment, became commonplace. For four of the five founding members of the Shindig House Band, this was a factor that they had to face.

“The band dissolved for a long time once I moved to Canada and some of the group headed off to Dublin. Fionn was the only remaining member left in Donegal, but we had often talked about getting the band together for a long time. It was a bit of a daydream but we always felt that we brought something a little bit different,” Daniel said.

Following Dano’s return home from North America, talk of reforming the band was mainly confined to ifs, buts, and maybes for a long time.

During the Covid pandemic of the early 2020s, the fire seemed to reignite.

Fionn and Dano kept contact and made plans to return to playing once the pandemic was over. Together, they agreed to overhaul their playlist and go for a completely new approach while still maintaining the same spirit and energy that they had originally started with.

Having moved to Dublin, Stephen, and Cian were unable to rejoin, however, Orlaith would later return while the group also unearthed the talents of Peader Coll (bass guitar).

“A multi-talented musician on many instruments who can turn his hand to anything,” Dano proclaimed. The new-look group was ready to begin again with a new sound and sense of purpose.

“When we started back again, we were without Orlaith for a while. We were delighted that she came back on board because she’s an amazing saxophone player as well as an amazing singer. She was an integral part of the band away back at the start too, so we got better and stronger when she rejoined,” Dano said.

The band is possibly most renowned for their appearances at the Cottage Bar on the Letterkenny Main Street. As Dano explained, however, they recently got to take their show to the European mainland earlier this year.

“We’d performed at Culture Night here in the town, which was great, but we were off to Germany straight after. That was a great trip and I think it gave us a taste of the rock and roll lifestyle of traveling abroad,” he told fondly.

This Weekend
It could be a while before they gig in their hometown of Letterkenny again, so get along to it this weekend if you can. Highly recommended!

Dano will also be DJing a vinyl set at the Glebe House Gallery on Sunday afternoon (3pm start), but this highly talented four-piece are not to be missed on Saturday night at the Cottage.