Ron Kavana
Kavana spent the '70s and early '80s in an R&B band, Juice On The Loose, before moving in a more traditional direction, inspired by the Pogues, and Shane McGowan in particular. He was invited to join McGowan's band after Ciat O'Riordan left, but the move was blocked by the Pogue's management. After eschewing R&B, he spent several years gigging with his Alias Ron Kavana. The new outfit incorporated African and South American rhythms with Irish sounds, and eagerly sought out further influences. The debut THINK LIKE A HERO, emphasied this approach, coupled with an unsuppressable pop energy. Songs such as This Is The Night (a worthy tribute to Van Morrison), sit comfortably alongside instrumentals like Soweto Trembles. In the Folk Roots readers' poll of 1991, Alias Ron Kavana featured at, or near the top of six of the eight categories. Kavana next assembled the LILT (London Irish Live Trust) album FOR THE CHILDREN, to promote peace in Northern Ireland, gathering a host of Irish traditional greats. The solo HOME FIRES followed. Mostly Irish in style, the material has the timbre of the traditional, particularly Young Ned Of The Hill (co-written with Pogue Terry Woods). Of the band album, COMING DAYS (1991), Folk Roots stated: 'The man has delivered'. Alias Ron Kavana has since added an Irish piper, and become the Alias Big Band, but the energy and live appeal endures. For the COMING DAYS recording the line-up comprised: Kavana (guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, mandola, keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming, vocals), Les Morgan (drums, percussion), Richie Robertson (bass, vocals), Fran Byrne (button accordion), Mick Molly (guitar, mandolin, mandola, vocals), and all group members played percussion.