The Whileaways
THE WHILEAWAYS
Release ‘Toss The Bobbin’ taken from their new album ‘In All Honesty’ due out 3rd June
The Whileaways release their latest single ‘Toss the Bobbin’ on April 29th, taken from their forthcoming album which will be released in June. This evocative song tells the story of the eighteenth century lacemaking women of Headford in County Galway, where The Whileaways are based and where Nicola grew up.
‘Toss the Bobbin’ imagines the story of four of these women, who survived poverty and famine through bobbin lacemaking, and pieces together the little detail that exists of their lives. It tells of their resilience and the sisterhood that existed between them in the toughest of times as they turned their hands to this intricate work: lace made by the poor and worn only by the rich.
The Whileaways performed ‘Toss the Bobbin’ with the RTE Concert Orchestra for the Strings Attached series, but have since recorded this beautifully poignant version for their new album.
The Whileaways are Noelie McDonnell, Noriana Kennedy and Nicola Joyce, three accomplished singers who came to know each other while on the session circuit in Galway in 2012. Since then they have released three critically acclaimed albums, toured all over the world, and been nominated for Best Group and Best Album in the RTÉ Folk Awards. Praise from international press has been heaped upon the band with The Irish Echo calling their sound ‘perfected simplicity’, and Hot Press saying that the trio ‘stake their claim to being among the finest singers in the country’.
The band are renowned for their live performances, whether that’s touring their own material, or their much-lauded show Bird On The Wire, a collaboration with Pauline Scanlon which featured a ten-piece band including strings, and explored the songs of songwriting icon Leonard Cohen. It was performed to sold-out audiences in Ireland in 2019 and 2021.
The Whileaways can’t wait to get out on the road in support of their forthcoming album In All Honesty. The band trialled many of the songs at their ‘Live from Home’ online gigs during lockdown. Now they get to do it in person!
See The Whileaways live;
Saturday 4 June Ballyglunin Railway Station, Tuam Galway
Friday 17 June Campbell’s Tavern, Headford, Galway
Wednesday 22 June The Green Room, Dingle, Kerry
Saturday 25 June Town Hall Theatre, Westport, Co. Mayo
Friday 1 July The Workman’s Club, Dublin
Saturday 2 July Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast
Thursday 21 July Murray’s Hotel, Inishbofin, Co. Galway
Thursday 8 September Raheen Woods Hotel, Clonmel World Music Series
Saturday 17 September Clifden Arts Festival, Co. Galway