Every family has their own traditions, and for The Leahys, that tradition means getting on stage and performing. The family has been a fixture of the Canadian music scene for decades, and is coming to Yorkton in its newest configuration with The Leahys on April 30, as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series.
Erin Leahy says that The Leahys are a combination of new and old. The new is a focus on vocals and songwriting, something that took a backseat during their years with LEAHY, but that they still keep those same Celtic roots that the family was built on, with fiddle and stepdancing. She says it’s a return to their roots, because when they recorded under The Leahy Family they had the same mix of vocals, songwriting and Celtic roots that the newest version of the group is building.
“It was a natural opportunity to do a project that was a little different that focuses on our songwriting and singing... You follow the music and where it goes and where it leads you, and now it leads us to this place.”
The focus is shifting towards is something the family has been itching to do for a while, and Leahy admits that they’ve had songs building long before they decided to make it a priority to the new group. The focus of the group changes as the siblings focus on different projects, and the timing made sense for the songwriters in the family to get together and put that part of their music into the foreground, while continuing to build on their roots.
“I don’t look at art in terms of what’s the standard, art presents the opposite mentality, if it’s authentic or not. If it’s authentic, it’s approachable for anyone. If it’s authentic, it will speak to everyone. From the perspective of making it and being on stage and performing it, if it’s real, if it’s authentic, it will communicate, it will reach people, and that’s all that matters.”
It was a natural thing for the Leahy family to form a band, since they grew up with live music as a big part of their life from an early age. There wasn’t a television at the Leahy farm, but there were eleven kids and lots of music, and they were never far from someone to play with and the chance to create.
“I remember going to a high school party, and I couldn’t believe the party consisted of people talking and standing around, listening to music from a stereo system, and that was the extent of the party. I was used to live music and various generations of people dancing, a full table of food... The live music was what was the purpose of the party, we were coming together to share music.”
A family band can work in cycles, with new family members getting folded into the group as they develop an interest in the music surrounds them. The younger members of the Leahy family are starting to become part of that tradition, with some of the children taking part in the tour.
“It’s the natural way our family music has evolved. Our parents would play, we would be with them for their performances, and they would have us come onto the shows as guests. Over time, it evolved into us having our own concerts. That’s what’s happening now with our young ones, it’s not so much a calculated effort as they are with us, they play, and why not show that to the audience?”
Watching the tradition continue with the next generation is something that Leahy enjoys. The kids are learning differently from their parents, with new tools and new ways to learn, and as a result are putting a new twist into the same roots that the family has laid down.
“What we’re happy about is that, like us, they’re recipients of this great musical tradition and they have their own gifts. Seeing how that gift is evolving and is becoming part of their lives, they make it new, it’s not the same thing, it’s interesting to see where it’s going. I think that’s true testimony to the fact that artistic creation, be it music or any other art, is infinite.”
That philosophy drives what the Leahys do off stage as well, as they also run the Leahy Music Camp. While the camp is about music education, Leahy says the real rewards are outside the camp, as people take what they learned home to their communities.
“We’ve heard from a number of people who have started up their own groups and organizations to continuing growing and developing... It becomes much more about learning music and dance, even though that’s why people come in the first place... Take away the option to learn in this particular way, you take away all of the fruit that is borne after and through it as well.”
It has been a while since The Leahys have been in Saskatchewan, and Leahy says they have wanted to get back into the province for a while. It’s the people that bring them back, she says.
“They have hearts that extend to others. I wonder if that is relates to the geography and climate, you’ve had to through the decades really depend on each other, that’s just a guess... I guess that big sky opens you to something different.”
The Leahys will be at the Anne Portnuff Theatre on April 30 as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series. Tickets are available at the Arts Council office.
