It’s often said that life is what happens when you’re making other plans but for Billy Treacy and the Scope, it was lockdown that helped push their new album.
A band constantly in demand on the live folk circuit both at home and abroad, Treacy found himself without those gigs that had been his lifeblood. So when there was no space for the live shows he thrived on, Billy made space to create ‘Life’, a new ten-track album that focuses on all the subjects Treacy holds dear.
He’s a Dubliner through and through and it’s hard, he says, to watch that culture of music and song, ceol agus craic disappearing into the void of faceless hotels and coffee chains. ‘Dollymount Beach’ and ‘The Market’ hark back to the days of Treacy’s childhood, the sights, smells and sounds of old Dublin that are gradually disappearing. ‘Ma’ remembers a similar era but is a touching tribute to the woman who brought Billy and his siblings up on the streets of North Dublin.
Along with the Scope who are Uilleann Pipes (Eoin Dillon ex KILA) , Fiddle (Anna Mary Donaghy) , Banjo (Anthony Warde) & Lap Steel (Graham Watson) Treacy’s blend of trad folk fusion has a splash of Dylan, a dab of MacGowan and a touch of Luke Kelly with a hat tip to the more traditional on a cover of ‘The Sally Gardens’ but the songs are very much Billy’s own style, knitting together the past and present. ‘Moving This Way’ tells a familiar tale of the struggles our young people face today. ‘Into This Life’ and ‘The Good Life’ reveal a different kind of struggle, one more familiar to the musician who lives life between the road and the gig. But even when that’s all taken away, there’s a lot left to be thankful for, as long as you can lift a guitar and sing.
Billy says: ‘I feel I’ve put my whole life into music. It’s the joy and emotion you get from playing even if it’s just by yourself. You can multiply that then when you hear the other instruments join in with you. Multiply it tenfold again when you hear and see what it means to other people who are listening and living in the moment. When you see that, you realise that you’re doing something good for people and you can’t measure that in monetary terms. So we will keep playing for those people and for ourselves.’
‘Life’ is available for download from all digital stores on the 28th Jan 2022.
But for those who love holding something in their hands, Billy has created a CD with a 20 page booklet of Dublin scenes, revealing where he got his inspiration.
It’s available via social media and BillyTreacyMusic@nullgmail.com
For more information see:
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/billywhizztransit
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/billytreacy.singersongwriter
Twitter : https://twitter.com/billy_treacy
Breaking Tunes: https://www.breakingtunes.com/billytreacyandthescope
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/billytreacy/
Bandcamp : https://billytreacyandthescope.bandcamp.com/
