Interview with George Millar of the Irish Rovers: New album, upcoming PA tour date

After over four decades of live performance experience, George Millar of the Irish Rovers speaks with ease about past and present tour dates and television show appearances. Millar will perform with his group at 7:30 Mon., March 15 at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA--a pre-St. Patrick's Day special performance.

Millar attributes much of the group's success to a growing interest in folk and world music in the 1960s. When the band traveled to San Francisco, their popularity grew due to their skill, sound and Irish luck--they seemed to be in a fortuitous place and time. 

Notably, the Irish Rovers (whose founding members emigrated to Canada) originate from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As a result, they avoid political music. Their repertoire consists of traditional folk tunes and original music--which is written warmly in the style of Irish folk. Many of the songs embody humor and good spirit, promising an uplifting experience for live audiences.

The Irish American Culture Examiner interviewed Mr. Millar, asking him to reflect on decades of fame, a new album and the present tour.

TMC: How has the band changed or developed over time?
GM: It’s changed because first of all my brother who was in the original band retired, and Jimmy [Ferguson, founding band member] passed away about ten years ago. The music has probably continued to be the same, sort of traditional Irish music. If a song has 15 verses in Ireland we cut it back to be eight verses in America. It’s just good fun music, we don’t do any political songs because we’re a mixed band. We have a bit of fun. It hasn’t eveolved all that much.

TMC: Please tell me about your latest album, "Gracehill Fair."
GM: It was released about a week ago and the fair itself is a palce in about a place in the North of Ireland and we’re from there. There are a nice couple of instrumentals on there. We write the songs to sound like the songs are old. There are about 15 tracks on there.

TMC: Will we hear music from the latest album at your upcoming show in Glenside?
Yes, we do about half a dozen songs from the CD, as well as "The Black Velvet Band." One thing you won't hear is "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," which we reserve for seasonal performances...It’s one of those songs you either like it or you hate it.

TMC: Tell me about the early days at The Purple Onion in San Francisco. Why do you think there was a sudden thirst for your particular brand of Irish music there?
GM: Well, first of all, we had just emigrated from Ireland to Toronto so when we came into San Francisco three years later, folk music was really popular. All the popular music then was folk music. It really had an impact on us also. San Francisco…it was on a Greyhound bus tour. People would stop at The Purple Onion and have a couple drinks.

TMC: The Irish Rovers are notorious for their wild after-parties. Does this still hold true?
GM: We’re a wee bit older now and slightly wiser. There’s too many early morning flights. When you have a 7 o’clock flight, you have to be there by four because now have about 30 pieces of equipment...so those flights are becoming fewer and futher between.

TMC: What is the key to designing a successful set list? 
GM: There’s a way of doing it … you need a flow to it. With an audience, you try to take them up and down rather than keeping them on a certain level all the time. Soft songs, up tempo, comedy songs. We do a lot of talking and a wee bit of comedy thrown in there as well. It helps to keep the show flowing. People have said about our show: “You don’t really get a chance to breathe.” I couldn’t see it changing at all.

TMC: You’ve performed on television and stage for decades. What has been your favorite or most memorable performance?
GM: Probably one of the original things that we did when we were a young band—we played on television it was called "The Virginian," a western TV series back in the Sixties. We were in jail on it and we sang songs…that would have been the most memorable television appearance.

To purchase tickets to the upcoming Glenside, PA show, visit the Keswick Theatre's site. To learn more about The Irish Rovers, head to their official Web site.