The Whileaways latest single ‘Toss the Bobbin’ is taken from their forthcoming album, 'In All Honesty', 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.
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 also been heaped upon the band.
‘Toss the Bobbin’ imagines the story of four Irish 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 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 song writing 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!
The Whileaways play Belfast’s Duncairn Arts Centre on 2nd of July. A full list of Irish tour dates and ‘In All Honesty’ pre-order details can be found at thewhilawaysmusic.com