Previously Appearing at Wickham was...
Steve Wickham & Ray Coen
The mighty Steve Wickham (Waterboys/No Crows) will appear with special guest Ray Coen (No Crows) on Friday 4th August 2023. Steve is recognised as Ireland’s premier rock fiddler since the mid-1980s. His distinctive playing has been a major contribution to the Waterboys ground-breaking records over the years. Ray has played alongside Steve over many years as part of the band No Crows. Between them we’re sure Steve and Ray will offer an eclectic mix of music and songs.
Steve became a member of The Waterboys in 1985 shortly after playing on their seminal album “This is The Sea”. He continues to tour and record with Mike Scott and The Waterboys. Writing songs and music has always been part of his musical life. He continues to explore new musical territory composing for Film and Theatre and other eclectic projects, such as a crossover suite of music with Sligo Baroque Orchestra and Congolese soukous band ‘Tropicana Musica’.
He has recorded and performed with U2, Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, Bob Dylan, Sharon Shannon and many other artists in the worlds of rock and traditional folk music. He made his recording debut with U2 in 1982 on their break through album, War, playing on “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Drowning Man”.
Ray hails from Sligo and has many years experience as both a guitar and fiddle player. Over the years, Ray has increasingly moved from backing other musicians, to performing his own material. His debut album ‘Out of Sight’ was released in May 2009 and was described by Hotpress as both; ‘beautifully recorded and arranged’ and ‘music that is happy in its own skin’.
Ray has been a regular collaborator with No Crows since 2007 and was welcomed on board as a full blown band member in 2014. Ray has contributed greatly to the No Crows’ CD “Waiting for the Tide”, penning one tune “Good Times” and making a beautiful arrangement of the English trad song “Solvay”.