The Hard Ground

Speaking to Marlene Enright, singer with the Hard Ground, this week we discussed their debut studio album, Broken Conversations, which was released on Friday the 13th of July, we talked about the band and how things are progressing in recent times. She said that “Thank fully the national stations have play listed some of their songs and all the local stations are playing their songs as well. She went onto say that part of the reason for this was their video Pawn which was filmed and edited by Maurice Supple from Blue Shed Productions, got a fantastic response on Youtube from many of the people involved in those stations.

She went on to add that locally they have gotten great support from everyone including Pat Short who has commented favorably on the band during recent radio and press interviews and has invited The Hard Ground to play at the Kiltha Trad Fest this coming Sunday. “Its great to get the public support from some one like Pat and for him to ask us to play at his festival, we are all delighted and thrilled at the idea of playing there” said Marlene.

The band were initially formed from the core of the duo known as Berries Blue, The Hard Ground came together when Marlene and Pat Carey decided they wanted their music to have a richer and more layered sound. They were joined by Dave Duffy and Dave Ryan, whom they met while studying music in University College Cork. The Cork-based quartet soon got to work on a feast of songs, weaving together ambient arrangements and beautiful orchestration. Broken Conversations the album is available at most good record stores, and online digitally on iTunes it’s a beautiful collection of songs brimming with lush instrumentation and deep, swooning melodies. Making use of a vast range of instruments, including harmonium, glockenspiel and kazoo, the band acquired the services of a quartet from the National Symphony Orchestra and a brass section consisting of trombone, trumpet and euphonium for the recording of the album

The Hard Ground, recently nominated as the Sunday Times’ “Ones to Watch” and Hot Press’ “Pick of The Fortnight”, whose sound can best be described as folk-rock with strong undercurrents of blues, Celina Murphy, of Hot press went on to say that their sound sits somewhere between Tom Waits and Lisa Hannigan. There’s even a touch of sinister songstress Anna Calvi about debut single ‘Pawn’, a song that’s equal parts sweet and sour.” The Hard Ground, are working hard at getting their new sound out there and this weekend is a chance for locals in East Cork to see this great band in action. You can check out their video on Youtube just type in Pawn, Hard Ground.

Shane Supple interviews Marlene Enright from The Hard Ground Aug 2012 by Shane Supple on Mixcloud