We are Hermitage Green, a five piece band from Limerick that have been together since 2010. We are currently recording our debut studio album which we will very proudly release with Sony Music in early March 2016.

This album represents five years of our lives that started with five mates playing in the corner of a pub on Monday nights to touring the world with nothing but instruments and rucksacks through Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Canada and of course how could we not tour the United States of America.

In fact the first trip we took as a band was to the US of A.

In March 2012 we were asked to play at a St. Patricks day festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and naturally we jumped at the opportunity. We had all spent time in America over the years, all of us have family here, mainly in Boston, NYC and Chicago but also we were all once J-1 students that spent wild summers in the US. Griff and Dan went to California, Dermy to South Carolina, Darragh to Long Island and Baz to Cape Cod. So we were well accustomed to the country. However, we were lined up to support a Bluegrass band from Florida named "Uproot Hootenanny' for this trip and also to borrow instruments and equipment but we were about to get schooled on how to be rock and roll.

At 11am on the Tuesday morning we arrived and they took us on a musical adventure/party which involved going bar to bar in Deerfield beach Florida playing foot-stomping, whiskey-drinking music to anyone that would listen. The lads were full on insane and ridiculously talented and in fairness we did our best to keep up with them. We finished at some ungodly hour and when we woke the next day to piece things together we realized we left all our borrowed instruments in the van outside the bar and everything was stolen - by whom we don't know - and have never found out. We were terrified of telling our new friends but when we did they smiled and laughed at our stupidity and without thinking twice gave us more instruments and we carried on.

This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. We can whole-heartedly say that they are our best friends in the world, Darragh had them over to play his wedding last year and the fiddle player has promised to name his first child, boy or girl, after Baz!

Since our chance encounter with Uproot, we have toured Ireland twice a year with them selling out shows all over the country. Last year we finally made it back to the US to tour around NYC and catch up with our friends. We played sell out shows in The Rockwood Music Hall, Piano's Bar, and The Bowery Electric.

I don't think we have felt anything like it when we arrived into Manhattan and felt the buzz of the city, our first sound check in the famous Pianos bar, the pre-gig beers across the street looking at a queue of people waiting in line to see us play in New York City. Crazy! The gigs did not disappoint. The crowds were amazing, so much energy and interaction which is what its all about for us. We finished our last set in the Rockwood by coming down off stage into the crowd singing the "Auld Triangle' arm in arm with the audience. In NYC. Dreams do come true.

So that is it a brief synopsis of our growing relationship with America. We look forward to touring our album all over this amazing country in 2016 and hopefully make some "friends for life" on the way.

Much Love America,

HG

More from Hermitage Green

If you are interested in supporting Irish music here are couple of small but significant things you can do:

1. Like and share this playlist

2. Follow us on Spotify: PLAYIRISH USA playlist combines all the weekly playlists into one big fabulous playlist - follow here: #PLAYIRISHUSA

IASCA is the Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. Based in Ireland, their members are the Irish music writers of all genres - artists, songwriters, composers and lyricists. Their goal is to represent their members, support them, protect their interests and create an environment where new talent can thrive.PLAY IRISH is an IASCA initiative to promote Irish music both at home and overseas. This playlist is brought to you by the IASCA, visit their website here: www.iasca.ie.

If you are interested in supporting Irish music here are couple of small but significant things you can do:

1. Like and share this playlist

2. Follow us on Spotify: PLAYIRISH USA playlist combines all the weekly playlists into one big fabulous playlist - follow here: #PLAYIRISHUSA

IASCA is the Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. Based in Ireland, their members are the Irish music writers of all genres - artists, songwriters, composers and lyricists. Their goal is to represent their members, support them, protect their interests and create an environment where new talent can thrive.PLAY IRISH is an IASCA initiative to promote Irish music both at home and overseas. This playlist is brought to you by the IASCA, visit their website here: www.iasca.ie.