Ruggedwood a local emerging talent

A song inspired by a family tragedy has led to chart success for local folk pop band RuggedWood. 

The band that formed for a Battle of the Bands competition in Colaiste Choilm last year released their first single 'Warmth’ last week. This week it remains in the iTunes Irish chart, having peaked at number 22 last Monday.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent band member Johnny Byrne explained that the song, which was written by the band at the end of the last school year, was inspired by the death of his 14-year-old brother Matthew. 

Matthew suffered from DiGeorge syndrome, a disorder caused by a defect in chromosome 22 that results in the poor development of several body systems, and sadly passed away last March 15. 

“There was warmth in this house/And it’s gone without a doubt,” the chorus line of the band’s first single goes, voicing the pain and sadness caused by Matthew’s death.

“We picked it as the song we were going to work on,” Johnny explained, adding that a lot of the work on the single was done when the band played five gigs in London earlier this summer, thanks to an opportunity afforded to them by local publican Paul Bell, the father of band member Ronan Bell.

RuggedWood are locals Johnny Byrne (19) on lead vocals and guitar, Jerome Scully (18) on violin and harmonies, Ronan Bell (16) on lead vocals and banjo, Shane Brennan (18) on percussion and harmonies and Geoff Scully (16) on double bass and harmonies.

Starting out as a covers band, who played their first gig in The Brewery Tap in Tullamore approximately a year ago, Johnny said they’re now working on their own songs.

Their single 'Warmth’ was released on YouTube on September 3 last, and on iTunes last Saturday. Available for download for 99c, the song flew up the charts to number 22 by last Monday. 

“It has sad lyrics but a happy tune,” Johnny said, describing the single he thinks his brother would have loved. “Matthew loved music,” he explained. “Listening to music was his main thing in life.”

Co-ordinating band activities has gotten more difficult in the last year, with Shane, Jerome and Johnny now in college in Maynooth, Dublin and Limerick respectively while Ronan and Geoff remain in Tullamore in Leaving Cert year at Colaiste Choilm. 

However, despite the geographical difficulties, Johnny said they hope to move to bigger gig venues in the coming months and have aspirations of getting signed. 

An EP is planned by Christmas, he added.

Anyone interested in hearing 'Warmth’ and other RuggedWood numbers can do so this weekend at a marquee outside The Brewery Tap on Saturday night and at an outdoor gig as part of Tullamore Festival/Cannonball on Sunday night.

Updates are also available by following the band at www.facebook.com/RuggedWood.