Who's who ?
​Lena Ullman was introduced to the five-string banjo and American old-time music as a teenager in Sweden. Living in Ireland since the late-70's, she played clawhammer style with the earlier version of The Higglers, an old-time stringband which performed throughout Ireland and Europe. She later played in Moonshine, with Frank Hall and Johnny Moynihan, and in Buffalo in the Castle with Frank, Desi Wilkinson and Mairtín O'Connor. Lena is one of the few banjoists in the world who has successfully applied the clawhammer banjo style to traditional Irish music. She has also composed original tunes and songs on the instrument, the CD of these tunes is available through Lena's website

Brendan Hearty's early years brought him under the influence of legendary Louth fiddle player Peter McArdle playing in Marks bar, Dundalk, where many of the country’s finest musicians gathered during the early seventies. He later toured with Gerry O’Connor (Fiddle) Desi Wilkinson and Johnny Moynihan playing various venues in Europe. Brendan's interest in early American traditional music led to his earlier involvement with The Higglers Jug Band, with whom he recorded two albums. Brendan is a unique singer and song writer, and fronts the Brendan Hearty Band, well known in the West of Ireland. He also performs regularly with Andrew MacNamara.

Paul Johnson started playing Bass guitar at age 16. In 1981 he played in his first band called CRY, a Dundalk band including Sharon and Jim Corr, from the famed CORRS. He took up the double bass in 1995, getting session work on Irish TV with Ronnie Drew, Eleanor Shanley and many others. He has recorded with De Danann, The Higglers, Eleanor Shanley, Brendan Hearty, John Prine, Phillip Donnelly, Tom Cussons, Ruth Dillon, Sean Tyrell and others. He has appeared on The Late Late Show with De Danann, toured with the Liam O’Connor Band, the Ragus Show, and the Mamin Cajun Band. Paul also runs his own small recording studio, recording and editing Alec Finn’s latest album Inshfree on which he plays both fretless and double bass.

Frank Hall from Indiana learned to play old-time fiddle for square dancing in his home town, Bloomington. Branching out into performing bands, he has played with The Indiana Raincrows, Easy Street Stringband, Rhythm in Shoes music and dance ensemble, and The Monks. He has recorded five albums, including one with Moonshine and another with Buffalo In The Castle, both based in Ireland. His career has included American forms of step-dancing, square dance calling, as well as an academic study of competitive Irish dancing. Having played with Lena since 2003, he joined the newer version of The Higglers in 2009. He currently resides in Kinvara, Co. Galway, where he plays with several other groups on fiddle, guitarron and double bass.Paragraph. Cliquer ici pour modifier.