MacD on Music: Days of Wine and Roses

It’s a great time to be a music fan in Ireland. For the past few years it seems like we’ve been pumping out one brilliant artist after another. Groups like TRAMP, CHERYM, Pillow Queens, NewDad and Problem Patterns have been spreading the brilliance of Irish music and making a splash both at home and abroad.

This week, I’m talking to WineMom, a Dublin-based group that have been making a name for themselves over the past couple of years. Made up of Rosanna Harrington (vocals/rhythm guitar), Millie Molony (bass/backing vocals), Matthew Marshall (lead guitar) and Reese Martin (drums), WineMom have, so far, released a string of singles and have opened for Jane’s Addiction and Kingfishr. Next month, they’ll be playing Derry in the New Gate Arts & Cultural Centre on 5th September and Belfast on the 6th in the Oh Yeah Music Centre.

I got chatting to the band recently to discuss their career up to now. Rosanna: “I met Millie about two years ago. We were both in the college music scene and we hit it off and decided to make a band. Originally we wanted it to be an all girl band but then we met Reese so we slightly made an exception. I went to BIMM, a performing arts college, and Matthew also went there so I texted him and the rest is history.”

I asked them how they’d describe their music. Reese: “We’re all inspired by the nostalgic stuff. Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, but there’s also some modern stuff, like Britney.”

Matthew: “But we’re also about as different in regards to music taste as you can get.”

I asked about their recent opening slot for Jane’s Addiction. Rosanna: “Our manager, I think, got in touch with MCD who were putting it on. They left the support open to local Dublin bands so we got onto that, which was amazing. It was one of their last shows too.”

I asked about their releases so far. Reese: “We have five singles so far, and one cover of ‘Somebody To Love’ by Jefferson Airplane. It’s got a pretty good reaction so far.”

Millie: “We got a bit of a following in Dublin and around Ireland. Going on tour with Kingfishr, because it was an Irish tour, we really gained a bit of an audience. We play a lot in Dublin, so the college kids are on to us.”

Matthew: “It’s really lovely, because you play a show and they come up to you after. It is lovely to chat away to them.”

Millie: “Because we are so into the nostalgic, we get every age.”

Rosanna: “It’s been good. Hot Press have done bits on us. We’ve been on RTÉ, on the Six O’Clock Show and stuff like that.”

Next, we moved onto the upcoming Derry and Belfast gigs and their experience in this part of the country. Reese: “We played Stendhal this year, which was class. It was such a great experience.”

Rosanna: “We haven’t done a Derry headline so far. We’ve got support from The Vandees and NoVendors for Derry and our friend Charlie Hanlon for Belfast. We actually supported him in Whelan’s last year.”

Speaking about their plans for the future: “We’re maybe organising an Irish tour and gigging as much as we can. We’re keeping up on the socials too, because it’s another audience. Yeah, we’re playing venues and stuff but it’s the power of social media as well.”

When I spoke to the band, they were in London, about to play the first of a string of gigs. Speaking about their overseas shows, Reese said: “A few weeks ago, we played the Mascara Bar, and we’re playing it again this week. Our first time was in the summer last year.”

Millie: “We love it here.”

Rosanna: “We had a sold out headline there last year.”

I asked about what other groups they like at the minute. Matthew: “I love Skinner. He’s Dublin based and unbelievable. The influences he has, it’s absurd how they all come together.”

Rosanna: “I’m obsessed with this band I saw at Stendhal, this punk band, Problem Patterns. Oh my God, I was blown away! I’ve been driving my mum mad.”

Reese: “I love our mates band and he, the fool, and also Bricknasty, like Acid Jazz sort of stuff. and he, the fool is this mad, huge orchestral thing. There’s like five lead singers.”

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Millie: “I’m really loving John Francis Flynn at the moment. Absolutely just wonderful.”

And that’s it for WineMom. They’ll be playing the New Gate Art Centre on September 5th and the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast on the 6th. Their music can be found on Spotify and they can be found on Instagram @winemom_official.