{{Short description|Irish music band}} {{for|the Polish village|Grada, Poland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Gráda | image = Grada 04.JPG | landscape = yes | caption = Gráda at ''Kult'', Niederstetten, 2010 | genre = Irish folk, Celtic | years_active = 2001–2011<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gradamusic.com/info.html|title = Info}}</ref> | label = Compass | website = {{URL|gradamusic.ie}} | current_members = * Andrew Laking * Nicola Joyce * Gerry Paul * Alan Doherty * Tola Custy | past_members = * Anne Marie O'Malley * Brendan O'Sullivan * Colin Farrell * David Doocey * Stephen Doherty }}
'''Gráda''' is a traditional Irish music band founded in 2001 whose members are a mix of Irish and New Zealand musicians. Based in Dublin and Galway, Ireland, Gráda have spent much of their time touring internationally.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.womex.com/virtual/strada_music/grada | title=Grada - WOMEX }}</ref> In 2011, members of Gráda disbanded to work on individual projects.<ref name="auto"/> The band reformed in 2020 to play a concert in New Zealand and were joined by Tola Custy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2020/gardens-magic-2020-grada-pauline-scanlon-band/wellington | title=Gardens Magic 2020 - Gráda/Pauline Scanlon Band }}</ref> In October 2023 they reformed to embark on a nine date tour of New Zealand, to be followed by dates in Ireland<ref>{{Cite web | title=Gráda {{!}} Dublin | url=https://www.gradamusic.ie/ | access-date=2026-04-01 | website=www.gradamusic.ie}}</ref>
==Musical career== The group draws from a wide range of influences, which has seen them working with Dave Hingerty (Kíla, The Frames, The Swell Season); Vyviene Long (cellist with Damien Rice); and, as a producer, Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, The Waterboys). Further additions have included Dublin based trumpeter Bill Blackmore and percussionist Rasmus Skovmand.
In 2008, it was announced Colin Farrell had decided to leave the band. He was replaced by multi-instrumentalist David Doocey.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/David%20Doocey.html | title=David Doocey }}</ref> In April 2009, Alan Doherty left the band and was replaced by Stephen Doherty (no relation). Alan returned to the group in 2011.
==Charts and critical reception== Gráda have received critical acclaim, with their latest album ''Natural Angle'' being voted as one of the top folk albums of 2010 in the USA by NPR / Folk Alley and the IMA music awards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://compassrecords.com/news.php?story=735 |title=Compass Records |access-date=26 November 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119153900/http://compassrecords.com/news.php?story=735 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their previous album, ''Cloudy Day Navigation'' appeared multiple times in ''Irish Music's'' Top 10 charts.<ref>Irish Music Magazine. [http://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/charts/ "Charts"], ''Irish Music''. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref> Gráda have received glowing reviews from ''Irish Music'',<ref>*Margeson, B. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews7.htm "Trading Up with Grada"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023516/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews7.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, Irish Music, 2006. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref> ''Sing Out!'',<ref>Weir, R. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews6.htm "Gráda Endeavour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023419/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews6.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''Sing Out!'', 2005. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref> ''The Irish Times'',<ref>Long, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews5.htm "Gráda The Landing Step"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023459/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews5.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''Irish Times'', 2004. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref><ref>Long, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews2.htm "Grada Endeavour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023440/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews2.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''Irish Times'', 2002. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref> ''The Evening Herald''<ref>McQuaid, S. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews4.htm "Trad's Ring-o stars"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023356/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews4.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''The Evening Herald'', 2004. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref> and ''The Event Guide''.<ref>Mahoney, P. [http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews3.htm "Gráda Endeavour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023255/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews3.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''The Event Guide'', 2004. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews1.htm "Past, Present and Future"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117023338/http://www.gradamusic.com/gradaNEW/reviews1.htm |date=17 November 2007 }}, ''The Event Guide'', 2002. Accessed 4 November 2007</ref>
==Band members== * Andrew Laking – (double bass, vocals) * Nicola Joyce– (vocals, bodhrán) * Gerry Paul – (acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, vocals) * Alan Doherty – (flutes, whistle, vocals) * Tola Custy - (fiddle, vocals)
===Former members=== * Anne Marie O'Malley – vocals and bodhrán (2001–2006) * Brendan O'Sullivan – fiddle, viola, and vocals (2001–2005) * Colin Farrell – (fiddle, vocals) (2006–2008) * David Doocey – (Fiddle, Concertina, and Whistles) (2008-2011) * Stephen Doherty – (Flute) (2009-2011)
==Discography==
* Off to Sardinia – 2001 (out of production) * Endeavour – 2002 * The Landing Step – 2004 * Cloudy Day Navigation – 2007 * Natural Angle – 2010 (Compass)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://gradamusic.com/ gradamusic.com] - the official website * {{MusicBrainz artist|id=807f6187-aceb-47ba-9649-c4c456c2de7e|name=Gráda}} * [http://www.myspace.com/gradamusic Gráda's MySpace] – official MySpace page
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grada}} Category:Irish Celtic music groups Category:Irish folk music groups Category:Irish-New Zealand culture Category:Irish world music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2001 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011 Category:Irish-language musical groups