It has been more than a decade since Celtic rockers Claymore performed on the Mornington Peninsula. With a performance long overdue, the internationally acclaimed festival favourites are gearing up for a massive show at the Publican in March and audiences are certainly in a for a treat. Heralded as one of the world’s premier Celtic rock bands, an evening in their company is always an unforgettably loud experience. Claymore’s live shows demand that you are on your feet from the onset.
Lead singer William Hutton says he can’t believe that it has been over 10 years since the band last performed on the Peninsula. “The last time we rocked the Peninsula we were playing at Dromana and boy did we rock it,” he says. “We did a live show on the veranda of a winery and then came back for a little festival they ran back then, its been so long that I can’t remember what it was called. But it was well attended and it was fun!”
When the opportunity came up for the band to perform at the Publican, they jumped at the chance. “We always look forward to performing in new venues and special spaces and we hear the Publican is just that,” he says. “Meeting new friends and fans and hopefully a few old faces who live down the Peninsula who have been encouraging us for the last few years to get down here.”
Forget everything you’ve ever thought you knew about Celtic rock bands, because Claymore, defies all expectations. This enigmatic band of multi-instrumentalists not only manages to combine traditional elements of Celtic music, but they take that passion and soul and rock it right into the 21st century. Few bands can pull off the sensitive task of re-educating the traditional realm into the modern day, but that’s something of a specialty for Claymore. Not only that, but they manage to write beautiful original Celtic compositions, and even lend their style to some power rock classics, all with an Irish and Scottish twist.
There is little that Claymore haven’t done throughout their career. They have a host of impressive album releases under their belt and a long list of festival performances to their name, including headlining position at Australia’s largest folk event. Since the band’s inception more than two decades ago, they’ve released five impressive albums, and performed internationally from gigs in New York, Scotland and New Zealand, to several headline appearances at the reputed Festival Interceltique De Lorient France. Combine this with performances at the biggest festivals on the Australian circuit such as the Queenscliff Music Festival, Big Blues Day Out, Perth International Arts Festival and Brunswick Music Festival to name a few, and you’ve got an impressive musical resume.
Already 2019 is shaping up to be a massive year for the band, they have a string of great dates around the country already flagged throughout the year, as well as a European tour booked in early August. “We have our new bass player – Stephen O’Prey – to take on his first Claymore tour,” says William. “We can’t wait for our European fans to hear him with us. Stephen is also the bass player with The Badloves. We also seriously need a new album and hopefully 2019 is the year.”
Tickets for Claymore’s show at the Publican are on sale now.
Saturday 30th March 2019 | 6pm
Publican Mornington, MORNINGTON VIC
62 Main Street, Mornington VIC
www.publicanmornington.com.au
For more information, please visit www.claymore.org
