Realistically though, it’s not so much a name change as it is an overdue naming of the band made up of Colin Grant (fiddle), Jason Roach (piano), Darren McMullen (mandolin, guitar, banjo), Donnie Calabrese (bass), and Merlin Clarke (drums). This lineup of players, each very well-regarded in their own right, was originally conceived to back up Grant on a couple of tunes for one of his records, and then they started playing shows together, and kind of by default ended up known as the Colin Grant Band. Now with a new record ready to launch and five heads full of ideas, it’s time to formalize the band’s identity.
“With our first band record ready to release in a few months’ time, and a new approach we’ve been taking to arrange our music collectively (rather than a ‘big band backing up a fiddler’ sound), the time is right for us to re-identify ourselves as a team,” said Grant in an interview with seaandbescene.com, explaining the new name. “We started jamming two tunes in my parents’ basement for my last solo album Fun For The Whole Family that motivated us to keep writing together, and in the two years since, a whole new repertoire of tunes has come bursting into the world, with tune-writing from Jason and Darren as well.”
In advance of the album, Sprag Session is offering up this video of their studio session recording “The Gwanwitcha” at Sonic Temple in Halifax, shot live off the floor by Darcy Campbell of Shot on Site Media.
Visit the band’s new website to preorder their debut album and for more information about Sprag Session.
