"Sir Reg"
"Sir Reg"
SIR REG is an energetic sextet from Sweden playing Celtic rock/punk. On vocals is Brendan, an Irishman who left his hometown of Dublin to come to Sweden to fulfill his dream of putting together the most amazing band possible. Karin, the violinist, is a tiny and fiery redhead from Sweden who has a tendency to leave jaws open with her fiddle skills. The other members Erik (drums), Juba (bass), Mats (bouzouki) and Chris (electric guitar) all have diverse musical backgrounds, and together as SIR REG they are having the time of their lives – making and playing music they all love.
SIR REG is a band that took a long time in the making. For almost a decade, under the name The Barcrawlers, the core of the band gigged its ass off all over Scandinavia playing Irish pub songs at every venue imaginable. It all started in 2001 when Brendan and Karin played covers and Irish traditionals at a few local bars. Brendan had just recently moved to Sweden from Ireland and was in dire need to continue doing what he loved doing back in Dublin – singing and playing.
They hit the road with their favourite songs from bands such as The Pogues, Horslips, Flogging Molly, Blur, David Bowie, Oasis, The Beatles, The Dubliners and Dropkick Murphy's to name just a few. After many winding roads and several hundred shows under their belt, they felt content. They had achieved all that they had set out to do as a "pub-, and cover band". They decided it was about time for the next chapter - making their own music. SIR REG (pronounced "Sir. Redge") was born in early 2009.
They armed themselves with a bunch of original compositions and hit the studio to create something they would be proud of - music they would listen to themselves. With each member's individual influences thrown into a melting pot, the resulting sound was better than they had hoped for.
In late 2009 they self-released a self-titled CD which contained eight tracks. Good melodies, strong choruses, personal lyrics, violins, banjos, flutes, accordions, mellotrons and distorted guitars all got thrown into the upbeat tempo blender. In late 2010 the CD was re-released on APX Music, with a slightly altered tracklist.
During the spring and summer of 2010, following the release, they played as many shows possible. In September of 2010 SIR REG went on a three week European tour supporting the American horror rockers The Misfits which broadened the SIR REG fanbase.
A friend to the band who played bouzouki, Mats Lindström, had occasionally joined up on stage summer and autumn of 2010. Mats' contribution to the band was appreciated, and in January of 2011 he was welcomed into SIR REG as the sixth member.
SIR REG's CD was voted ”Best Celtic rock and punk album of 2010” by the visitors of celticfolkpunk.blogspot.com, and the internet radio station Paddy Rock Radio. To top it off, Celticfolkpunk.blogspot.com also voted SIR REG's CD ”Best Celtic band of 2010”.
The follow up album "A Sign Of The Times" was released in October 2011.
Once again it was voted album of the year on the internet radio station Paddy Rock Radio. It also got top scores on many other lists.
The future looks bright, with lots of live work to be done. And the band is up and ready for it.
Let the show begin …
