Artist description Nothing amuses the members of Hiring Fair more than when people ask them "Why do you play pubs... wouldn't you rather play a place where people really listen?" Their answer... If you're good at what you do, people anywhere will stop and listen. If you're not good at what you do, you'd better practice more! Besides, where else but a pub can you get a killer pint of Guinness?The members of Hiring Fair come from diverse musical backgrounds. While they define their sound as "Ameri-celt" folk-rock, they each approach it from their own uniqe angle. Lead singer Brenda Washburn grew up on a steady diet of rockabilly, thanks to a father who raised her on the music of Hank Williams and Jerry Lee Lewis. Tom McCuin drives the bands arrangements with powerful guitar and bodhran rhythms, and sings everything from rebel tunes to traditional ballads. Steve Moore, whose influences range from blues legends to pop icons, plays lead guitar and mandolin. Seth Lesselbaum spent many years as one of New York City's best swing bass players. His solid rhythms and often-times lead style provide a groove that's guaranteed to keep a crowd dancing on the fast numbers and swaying on the slow ones. As a group, Hiring Fair has drawn from a variety of musical resources, from Christy Moore to theCure. Their defining sound, however, comes from their original compositions and their unique treatment of traditional music.Hiring Fair has been playing clubs and festivals up and down the east coast since October 1997. Their version of Bagatelle's "Summer in Dublin" was featured on the 1998 release Pub Crawl: Live From Tir na nOg. Signed to Dancing Druid Music in March 1999, their debut CD "Breakfast Anyone?" was released in September of that year.

Music Style Ameri-Celt

Musical Influences Fairport Convention, The Pogues, The Saw Doctors

Artist History Formed in 1997 by Seth Lesselbaum and Brenda Washburn, Hiring Fair has undergone many changes, but the core of Lesselbaum, Washburn and guitarist Tom McCuin has remained constant (except for that nasty seven-month stretch when Tom was sent to Bosnia with the Army Reserve). The addition of lead guitarist Steve Moore in April, 1999 rounded out the distinctive Hiring Fair sound. Members may have come and gone, others, including former members, may jam with the band on occasion, but the tight-knit foursome that is Hiring Fair will continue delighting audiences across the U.S.A.

Group Members Brenda Washburn - Vocals, Bodhran; Seth Lesselbaum - Bass; John Curtain - Pennywhistle

Instruments Guitar, Mandolin, Pennywhistle, Bodhran, Bass, Drums

Albums Breakfast Anyone?

Press Reviews "a lively Irish rock band in the Saw Doctors/Black 47 vein" - The Boston Globe

Location Somerville, MA - USA

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