the olllam
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the olllam

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2012
Band Rock Celtic

Calendar

Music

Press


"The Irish Times"

“… the result is described by them as Neo-Acoustic Celtic Post-Rock. I’d describe it a little differently – it’s f***in’ deadly!” -


"Irish Music Magazine"

"If Lúnasa set the gold standard for traditional acoustic music, these guys are bucking for platinum. The word ollam is old Irish for a master musician, and there are three master musicians here." -


"Irish News"

“. . . each track a journey through an ever-changing landscape that takes us through rock, jazz, traditional music and the proverbial je ne sais quoi.” -


"The Irish Examiner"

"It's a groovy, mystic rock sound that is your go-to Celtic music for people who think they don't like Celtic music." -


"The Boston Irish Reporter"

"The result is a layer cake of traditional and contemporary concepts and styles: whistles and pipes in dynamic, neo-trad runs, jazz-funk keyboard riffs and fills, breezy acoustic guitar solos, and brisk percussive backing." -


"The Scottish Herald"

“With Ollam the real diversity goes on underneath the superb, brilliantly synchronised double whistle lines of John McSherry and Tyler Duncan. Their drummer, Michael Shimmin and bass guitarist Joe Dart play with apparently telepathic understanding, putting out now crisp, precision punctuation, now a loose, Caribbean feel, now serious heavyosity as Rhodes electric piano offers moody colours and an amplified acoustic guitar chops, picks and thrashes" -


"The Irish Times"

“Their music is exciting, confounding and astounding. Style, mastery, melody and groove – the olllam’s gig is going to be hard to beat.” -


"FolkWorld"

"They create a musical vortex which seems to summon powers from beyond the perception of mere mortals. I'm not saying The Olllam commands magical or demonic powers: but if I happened to have such powers, this is the sort of music I'd want to create." -


Discography

"elllegy" - 2021
"the olllam" - 2012

Photos

Bio

The olllam were formed in 2012 as a collaboration between Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), legendary Belfast piper John McSherry  (Lunasa, At First Light, Ulaid), fellow piper/whistler and grammy-nominated producer Tyler Duncan (Carly Rae Jepsen, Scary Pockets, Theo Katzman), Michael Shimmin (May Erlewine, Joshua Davis), and Joe Dart (Vulfpeck).  The resulting debut album, now considered a cult-classic and winner of the 2012 Indie Acoustic Music Award for Best Instrumental Album, is lush with trance-like melodies, stunning instrumental virtuosity and a magical marriage of tradition and technology, finding the listener somewhere between Radiohead and Planxty.  Since their first album’s release, the band’s inventive musical compositions have been earning them sold out shows across Ireland.  Their newest album, "elllegy" was released in May, 2022.

Band Members