Desert Aces

Between gigs at the Kilkenny Roots Festival 2018

Desert Aces play a mix of Americana n' Roots, Country Rock n' Blues standards along with a solid mix of original compositions. With two albums recorded already and a third in the works the band are veterans of Ireland's Rhythm n Roots scene. They began as a Bluegrass band in 2007 but evolved into a full on Americana Country Rock and Blues band with a bluegrass heart.  They mix an acoustic sound and beautiful harmony singing with the rhythm and twang of full on Blues and Rock.

Who is in the band?

Over the years the band has been a movable feast of musicians. At the core of the group are the Kehoe Brothers, Mike Kehoe (bass/vocals) and Barry Kehoe (guitar/vocals). They have been playing with Barry's wife Lucie Kehoe (vocals) and Hugh McCabe (piano/keyboards) for the last two years and have recently been joined by two more excellent musicians Jonathan Bolger (lead Guitar) and Peter McKeon (Percussion)

Where did the band name come from?

One hot summers day brothers Mike and Barry Kehoe stood in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park at the shrine dedicated to the memory of Gram Parsons. It was on or near this location that Gram had been cremated. As they stood at the base of a great sandstone boulder scribbled with messages of hope and loss, the silence was torn apart by a silver fighter jet as it buzzed the brothers and flew away across the clear blue sky. They stood there in awe and appreciation of the memory of one of country music's lost and lamented sons and knew that they had a mission to fulfill. They took the name inspired by the desert test pilots and went forth to form a Country Rhythm and Roots sensation.

Albums

Desert Aces in 2018 with Dave McCune at Ventry Recording Studios

In 2007 they produced their first album of Bluegrass, Old Time and Rhythm n' Roots tunes with Pete McGuire (Banjo/Vocals) Darren Hurley (Mandolin) and Camille Champarnaud (Fiddle) called: "Spades dig, hearts break, diamonds shine, clubs just beat it." 

The bands second Album was produced with the help of Pete McGuire (banjo/Vocals), Cormac Redmond (percussion) and Alessandro Giusti (guitar/mandolin). It was released in 2018, titled "Sand and Gravel" with a strong country rock feel akin to the Flying Burrito Brothers or Sweethearts of the Rodeo.

The band is already compiling new material for their third album. Happy listening!

Barry in full flight at their first gig in The Front Room at the Kilkenny Roots Festival 2017 with Banjo man Pete on Backing vocals.