Tree Sleepers

Tree Sleepers

 This week we take a look at “The Tree Sleepers” who are a Cork based alternative rock band. The band is the creative outlet of LJ Devlin who after studying music at Ballyfermot College and playing in a number of bands and as a solo artist around Dublin returned to Cork to release her successful debut album Hunters Moon. Having worked with the lads on other projects in the past they decided to get together and form the LJ Devlin and the Unemployable Tree Sleepers. Which they later shortened to simply The Tree Sleepers after Caleb, found him self waking up after sleeping in a tree during a festival, with a group of little children poking him with a stick to see if he would fall out of the tree.

They are hard to define in terms of style and when I spoke with the band this week we still didn’t get around to putting them in a style that fitted everyone, with elements of folk, rock, Indie, blues and funk all topped off with the powerful and bluesy voice of LJ herself its hard to define a style or sound that fit this band. Let’s just say they have a little bit of everything for everyone.

The band have played extensively around Cork and Dublin, and LJ herself is no stranger to the stage, having a show at the Cork Jazz Festival where she played support to Natty Wailer and the Reggae Vibes and she also appeared as a guest vocalist / supports slots for Cork bands Fred and The Frank and Walters. Currently the Tree Sleepers are making a name for themselves, particularly in the thriving Cork scene and with the new debut EP Phantasmagoria (it is a real word, I asked them several times and they gave me the full explanation of the word), they look set to make an even bigger name for themselves.

The line up of the band currently is as follows, LJ Devlin on guitar and vocals. Ron, from London who grew up in west Cork, on guitar.  Caleb Clark, from Huston, Texas, on bass guitar. Murchadh from The Blasket Islands on banjo and saxophone with Rupert Housden rounding out the group on drums. The band is sometimes complimented with other musicians and backing vocalist’s. Musically the band writes as a group, with each, adding new aspects to each song. LJ wrote most of the lyrics when the group started but as time moved along each member got more involved until they are at a stage where they all contribute to each song.

Currently the band are getting sorted to go into the studio and record a new album but you can catch them playing around Cork, This band are worth a listen so check them out.

You can view their website on www.treesleepers.com or email them at treesleepers@gmail.com 086 3978409 for bookings

Shane Supple interviews The Tree Sleepers March 2012 by Shane Supple on Mixcloud