A Laois band have been chosen to take part in a brand new RTE TV show which is set to air later this year.
Coolboy, who formed last October, are set to feature in the programme called ‘An Ghig Mhór’.
The show follows young up and coming Irish artists as they put on a big headline show in their hometown and the work that goes in behind the scenes as independent artists.
This will culminate in a live gig which is scheduled for Friday, April 26, in the Dunamaise Arts Centre.
Coolboy has four members – two from Portlaoise and two from Mountrath.
Fionn Devoy (Lead Guitar) and Tadgh O’Dwyer (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals) are from Portlaoise while Ruairi Phelan (Drums) and Alex Power (Bass Guitar & Vocals) are from Mountrath.
Fionn is in first year college in Maynooth, while Tadgh is preparing for to sit his Leaving Cert in Dunamaise College.
Ruairi and Alex are from Mountrath and are also preparing for their Leaving Cert in Mountrath Community School.
All four lads were previously members of other bands in the Portlaoise area, appearing at major festivals like Forest Fest and Electric Picnic, but mutual musical influences brought them together to form Coolboy in Autumn ’23.
And they are already booked to appear at Forest Fest as Coolboy later this summer.
Coolboy’s lively style draws influences from classics like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Thin Lizzy, right up to modern acts such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and The Back Seat Lovers.
Their set is a mixture of covers of modern hits and rock classics, interspersed with exciting original material.
Speaking to LaoisToday, lead singer Tadhg O’Dwyer said that excitement is building ahead of the gig.
He also explained the random way that the lads decided on a name for the band.
“The band name came from one of the lads passing through a little village in Wicklow and it was written on a road sign there, and we said ‘sure that’ll do nicely’,” he laughed.
“We played packed out shows in Portlaoise over Christmas and shortly after we were asked to play at Forest Fest for the coming year.
“The gig in the Dunamaise Arts Centre will be our biggest headline gig to date.
“We play a variety of Indie Rock/Pop cover songs, something for absolutely everybody to enjoy.
“We have been in the recording studio for the last while recording our own music which we hope to release early this summer on all streaming platforms.
“So it is certainly very exciting times and we are looking forward to seeing everyone next Friday.”
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