Pat Byrne at Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck

Úlla came together organically via shared connections in the Austin music scene. All full-time musicians, Úlla is comprised of a bunch of Irish expats joined by several trad-Irish music fans to form a collective that share and celebrate a mutual love of Irish musical heritage. Pat Byrne (vocals and guitar), from Borris, County Carlow moved to Austin to work on writing and form a band to play his original music. Andrea Magee, of Austin staple Beat Root Revival (vocals, bodhran, whistle), from Belfast, County Antrim, grew up singing in a family band, learning traditional songs from her father and sisters as a teen...

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Úlla came together organically via shared connections in the Austin music scene. All full-time musicians, Úlla is comprised of a bunch of Irish expats joined by several trad-Irish music fans to form a collective that share and celebrate a mutual love of Irish musical heritage. Pat Byrne (vocals and guitar), from Borris, County Carlow moved to Austin to work on writing and form a band to play his original music. Andrea Magee, of Austin staple Beat Root Revival (vocals, bodhran, whistle), from Belfast, County Antrim, grew up singing in a family band, learning traditional songs from her father and sisters as a teen. Stephen Carolan (vocals, guitar) moved to Austin with Pat to play guitar in his band. In his hometown of Drogheda, County Louth, Stephen honed his unique electric guitar style in a band with his brothers. The Carolan Brothers were much-loved in the Louth music scene. Now Stephen brings his creative talents to traditional songs and tunes with Úlla. Rich Brotherton (vocals, guitar, cittern), grew up playing music in Augusta, Georgia. After college he spent two summers in Doolin, County Clare, soaking up traditional reels, jigs and songs. He later moved to Texas and toured for years with the Robert Earl Keen band. Rich now works as the proprietor of Ace Recording, a cosy, well-appointed studio in south Austin. Kris Wade (bass, vocals), from Houston, Texas, has played every style of music the Austin scene offers -- from swing (Emily Gimble/Marshall Ford Swing Band) to blues (Guy Forsyth) to pop (Pat Byrne) to funky-tonk(Doug Strahan and the Good Neighbors), and now Irish folk with Úlla, Kris has the bottom end covered with style and taste.

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