Dabilla and the Future of Irish Traditional Music

You can hear fabulous traditional music in every corner of Ireland. Traditional instruments, playing traditional tunes that have been around for decades. But when you hear Dabilla playing live, you know you are hearing the future of trad sessions. Darragh O’He’iligh and Oisin Dillon have found their groove using traditional instruments to augment traditional tunes and to cover popular ones. I mean, they really know how to grip a crowd.

Darragh O’He’iligh and Oisin Dillon are Dabilla.

These two longtime trad musicians not only believe in the power of trad music, they celebrate it’s elements in writing originals, and in covering crowd-pleasing popular music. But it is always bent toward true Irish basics. And they trade off solos between the uillean pipes, guitar and singing.

And they walk the walk in urging others to follow suit in their own communities around Ireland; to stay traditional, yet push the boundaries. And just like other creatives like hearing ‘Over the Rainbow’ on a ukelele, or the beatles on a bag pipe, it works.

Darragh on whistle

Darragh plays the uilliean pipes and whistle and often plays melodies and takes the lead. Oisin adds balance to the mix with his strong guitar playing and his voice. And while Darragh will be the first to tell you he doesn’t ever sing., he is not shy about revving up the crowd, getting them involved and proudly showing his love of what he does.

In many trad sessions, the players drift in and join the group. The musicians blend their sounds and stick to set chor structures and those listening are an audience. But with Dabilla, the audience is drawn in and becomes a part of celebration of sound.

Darragh on uilleann pipes

Their first CD, Bru’, is available now. You’ll hear their music and their story, in this episode of Erin’s Isle.