Family band in tune with local writer
It’s all go for The Wrafter Family Band from Kilbeggan.
In early 2025, the band is releasing a new single, ‘That Tune’, which was penned by Offaly poet and songwriter Anthony Sullivan; before that the five-piece outfit is returning to the Tuar Ard Arts Centre in Moate on December 13 for a Christmas show, ‘Christmas with The Wrafter Family Band – A Seasonal Celebration’, where they will perform their new single for the first time.
“We’ve had some brilliant and lovely evenings playing in the Tuar Ard over the last few years,” said Peter, “so we couldn’t think of anywhere better for the first performance of this song.
“‘That Tune’ is a big moment for us, as it’s the first time that we’ve recorded and released a song that’s going out into the world for the first time, and with our name attached to it. It’s something that we’re all excited about. It feels like the obvious next step for us, and the right moment to take that step too.
“When Anthony sent us on the song, there was just something about it that both myself and the two lads, Conor and Thomas, were drawn to straight away. There are some songs that just make you want to play them, but then they make you want to play them for others to hear. And this is one of those songs.
“Since we made the decision to go into the studio with it, the whole family – Noreen and Aimee as well – have been working on putting a Wrafter Family Band stamp on it and it will be a proud moment for us when we get to play it in front of an audience for the first time.”
The song writer, Lusmagh poet and lyricist Anthony Sullivan, is also looking forward to the Tuar Ard concert, and the release of ‘That Tune’ in January.
“Almost as soon as I’d written it and listened back to it a couple of times, I could hear the Wrafters playing it. So when Peter came back to me after I’d sent it to him and told me they really liked it, that was just a wonderful moment.
"It’s a love song essentially, but one that’s tinged with a little bit of regret, enough to make it bitter sweet in a way. And that kind of a lyric, or story, when paired with a folk/country fusion musically, just works so well.
“Throw in the talent that runs right through the Wrafter Family Band, and this becomes such an exciting project to be involved with. It’s really an honour for me to have the Wrafters record ‘That Tune’, and I think it will be quite a powerful and emotional moment when they play it in the Tuar Ard next month.”
The Wrafter Family Band came to national attention on St Patrick’s night in 2017 when they charmed the country with a performance on The Late Late Show. Since then, they’ve gone on to perform in Leinster House, at the GPO, and on TG4, sharing stages with household names like Nathan Carter, The High Kings, George Murphy, The Fureys, Johnny McEvoy, Finbar Furey, and more. They released their debut EP, The First Verse, in 2019.
• Tickets for the Christmas show in Moate are on sale now from tuarard.ie, or call 09064 82042. Tickets are also available from universe.com/events.
• For more on The Wrafter Family Band, including details on the release of ‘That Tune’, see thewrafterfamilyband.com, and follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.