Black Velvet Band

• Maria Doyle - vocals
• Kieran Kennedy - guitar
• Liam Murphy - guitar
• Shay Fitzgerald - bass
• Dave Horner - drums

Bio:

Formed in Dublin in 1987 by singer Maria Doyle (later Maria Doyle-Kennedy, ex Hothouse Flowers) and her husband, songwriter Kieran Kennedy (ex Impact, Earthquake, Romeo Butcher, 1990) with Shay Fitzgerald (bass) and Dave Horner (drum). The Black Velvet Band mixed rock and folk with a bit of country and traditional influences, not unlike Hothouse Flowers but with more of a rock leaning rather than soul. They were also vaguely comparable to The Waterboys. They were signed to Mother Records in Ireland and WEA/Elektra worldwide.

Their main problem was too many good songs and not enough great ones. They made two minor albums. The second is easily the better of the two and can be picked up cheap these days. It's well worth checking out. Guitarist Liam Murphy, from Cork, left after the first LP.

By 1991 Maria Doyle-Kennedy's acting career was taking off (including The Commitments in 1991) and touring had to accomodate her acting commitments. The band split sometime in the mid-90s as Maria's acting career continued to flourish. In the late 90s she began to record solo albums (with husband Kieran) and contines to perform live to this day.

Ray Fean plays drums on one track on the second album 'King of Myself'. Dave Clarke (ex Blue In Heaven, Blue Angels) also played with the band at some point. The band continued to record into the '90s.

side one:
When Justice Came
As You Go Down
Old Man Stone
We Called It
Walking Down River Road

side two:
Strange Ways
Let It Flow
Seven More Times
The Way That We Are
Domino
We Plough the Fields

side one:
King of Myself
Lullaby
A Ship Called Jubilee
I Like You Better (When You're Down)
Give You Everything

side one:
Rebel Radio Waltz
Son of a Preacher Man
Star
Dancing to a Standstill
Keeps on Spinning

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