There is no holding back these guys. For at least fifteen years, various line-ups of the Warwickshire folk band, The Oddsods have been delighting audiences of all ages with their 'Music for a Rare Old Time'. Their speciality is high-energy performance of mainly Irish (and some Scottish and English) traditional songs and tunes.

Listen out for soaring electric fiddle, supercharged melodeon, interlocking melody lines from banjo, mandolin, whistle and euphonium (yes they have one of those!), driven by tight and powerful rhythms of guitars and bodhrans. Add to that some cracking vocals and harmonies and a touch of friendly banter and you have all the ingredients for a superb night's entertainment with the 'Sods.

Much in demand for concerts and sessions, the band now performs the occasional ceilidh or barn dance set, with lead singer Simon Street calling the steps.

Background

The Oddsods are famous for their energetic 'Music For a Rare Old Time' with a style that's suitable for all musical occasions. Concerts, pub sessions, festivals, parties, ceilidhs - wherever you'll find the 'Sods, their mission in life is to have a good time and to make sure that the audience does as well.

Based in the Midlands, they have performed across the UK and have been booked as support for top Irish acts Noel Murphy, Sean Cannon and The Fureys and Davey Arthur. Veterans of major music events, their past gig list has included Warwick, Bromyard, Broadstairs and Bridgnorth Folk Festivals, Oakham Arts Festival and the Coventry Godiva Festival. The Oddsods are also dab hands at getting people singing and dancing at corporate events, weddings, christenings, beer festivals, car rallies, golf club do's, house-warmings - you name it, they've livened it up!

The band has been let loose on the airwaves on several occasions, including three appearances on BBC Radio WM's Carl Chinn Show, one of which included an interview on air in the middle of a song!

Their wide repertoire of songs and tunes ranges from traditional favourites such as Whiskey in the Jar, Irish Rover, Leaving of Liverpool, to contemporary folk classics like Belfast Mill, Green Fields of France and Dirty Old Town, with plenty of high energy jigs, reels and hornpipes thrown in.

You can usually catch them on the last Sunday of each month when they perform their free admission 'Oddsods and Friends' shows at the Denbigh Arms, Monks Kirby, near Rugby. These are always popular shows for audiences and artists alike. Musicians who wish to qualify for the title of Honorary Oddsod are welcome to join with the 'Oddsods Orchestra' - a motley but melodious collection of banjo-players, slide guitarists, whistle-players and cellists.