LaFaro
LaFaro were a four-piece alternative rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They consisted of Jonny Black (guitar/vocals), Dave Magee (guitar), Herb Magee (Bass) and Alan Lynn (drums). History. Formed in 2004 LaFaro have been described as: "old school post hardcore sounds with just drums, guitars and big chunky distorted bass...they are one of the finest Irish Alt-Rock bands you are likely to hear in quite a while". Once signed to Field Records, and while with the label released the well received "LaFaro EP" in 2006 containing the lead track "Tupenny Nudger". The band had been  voted BBC Northern Ireland Across the Line Local Act of the Year for 2 years running and had features in Hot Press and Alternative Ulster magazines. They had also played support slots for Ash, The Pogues, Oppenheimer and Fighting With Wire, as well as shows at the SXSW Festival 2007 in Texas. They also contributed the track "Mr Heskey", to the "Oh Yeah Sessions '08" album a showcase for local Northern Irish music recorded at Belfast's Oh Yeah music centre which was released in April of that year. The band released the 5 track "EP2" towards the end of  2008. "Tupenny Nudger" was awarded the title of 'Best Northern Irish song of the past 5 years' in a poll conducted by "AU" magazine, the results of which were published in October 2008, beating Snow Patrol and Ash. After a successful UK tour in February/March 2009 supporting Fighting With Wire and And So I Watch You From Afar, the band came home to play one of their biggest shows to date at the re-opening of Belfast's Ulster Hall as part of the BBC's 'Do You Remember The First Time' show. They then went straight into the  studio to record their debut album. LaFaro spent the following months writing and gigging around Ireland including a performance on the main stage at Glasgowbury 2009, being handpicked to support The Pogues by the band, and their second show in the Ulster Hall in 2009. The band toured constantly in 2010 starting in the UK in January through to the end of February. Their debut album "LaFaro" was released on Smalltown America Records on May 10, 2010 to universal acclaim both at home and on the mainland. Both "Tupenny Nudger" and "Leningrad" were under heavy rotation on Zane Lowe's  BBC Radio One Evening show. Tours at home and across Europe in support of Helmet rounded out the band's most successful year to date. Herb Magee, bassist and twin brother of guitarist Dave Magee, announced his initial departure from the band while on stage at the Pigstock festival in 2011. Fellow Northern Ireland musician Cahir O'Doherty from Fighting With Wire filled in on bass duties for the release of "Easy Meat" Cahir returned to Fighting With Wire in December 2011. At this point, Cahir's brother, Oisin O'Doherty took over on bass. The band's last album "Easy Meat  was released on 3 October 2011 to excellent reviews. The title track was released in the summer of 2011, with a second single, Meat Wagon" released on 3 September. Herb Magee returned on bass guitar in mid-2012. LaFaro headlined a stage at Eurosonic 2012 and completed an extensive European tour in the winter of 2012 visiting 10 countries in their 32 date tour. They also accompanied Therapy? on the Irish leg of their 2013 tour. More recently Dave Magee has been playing guitar with Little Matador whilst Dave, Herb Magee and Alan Lynn briefly worked with Cahir O'Doherty under the  name GOONS. Herb has been releasing electronic music under the name Arvo Partyand was nominated for the NI Music Prize in 2019. Alan Lynn now performs as EXHALERSand has released two well-received albums. He plans to tour late 2022.