Govannen
Blending jigs and reels, with traditional and contemporary Irish songs with style.

Welcome to the website for Celtic band Govannen

Concerts and Special Occasions
Govannen can help make any occasion special. Songs to rouse the room, or delicate slow airs so suit the mood. Govannen can kick up a storm or provide just the right mellow ambience for quieter events.

Ceilidhs
Govannen also can provide Ceilidhs with our wonderful dance callers John McDonald and Cathy Lesurf for weddings, functions and parties.

Govannen are...
Dan Britton - vocals, guitar, bodhran, harmonica
Adele McMahon - violin
Neil Rabjohn - cajon drum, bodhran
Chris Conway - keyboards, tin and low whistles, guitar, kalimba, vocals

also in the Govannen extended family are...
John McDonald - ceilidh dance caller
Cathy Lesurf - ceilidh dance caller
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Neil Segrott - bass

CDs
Govannen have made 4 CDs - 2 live sets of songs, jigs & reels, an album of atmospheric instrumental music and an album of rhythmic traditional and new instrumental Celtic music.

January 2010
1. Govannen joined Chris at his 20th Anniversary Concert at the Musician in Leicester in December. The concert was filmed and it is hoped a DVD will be made from the concert.

2. 2010
Gig dates for 2010 are coming in all the time - see gig list below.

December 2009
1. alas the Brooksby gig was cancelled - possibly just postponed, maybe to a nother venue in the new year.

2. two fun gigs this month -
a. for those who like the pub gig vibe we are back at the Carrington Arms in Ashby Folville with our chums When Cousins Marry on the 12th Dec
b. Then therer is our annual xmas gig at the Kirby Twins Acoustic Club in Kirby Bellars - this time before xmas on the 19th Dec

3. Christo has a 20 Years in Showbusiness Celebration gig at The Musician on the 10th Dec - some Govannen chums will be there as guest performers.

October 2009
Govannen now has new Myspace (hear 10 tracks there) and Facebook pages

New CD
France Ellul featuring Govannen - Spirits of the Forest
The trilogy of albums that began with Spirits of the Sea and Spirits of the Moon conclude with this evocative journey through an ancient forest. Celtic harper France Ellul and Celtic band Govannen join forces to create an atmospheric Celtic music album of depth and emotion. Produced by Chris Conway

June 2009

The Door of Hope Charity Ceilidh at Burton Lazars in May went really well - and lot of money was raised for kids in Bulgaria and Albania. Thanks to all who came and made it such a success.

May 2009
Paradise Music have released a greeting card containing a compilation cd featuring Govannen & Bridget McMahon's music.

Celtic Card/CD - has tracks taken from Bridget McMahons CD Celtic Woman that Chris produced and Govannen played on, and Govannen's Celtic Fire CD.
The cards are 13,5cm square and include and envelope, the CDs are about 40mins long, and are just 5pounds from the shop

March 2009
1. Crazy St Patricks week for Govannen - 6 gigs in 9 days - and 2 of those were ceilidhs.
2. Govannen's cajon drum player Neil Rabjohn was out for a couple of months after back surgery. He rejoined the band at the end of the St Patricks run.
3. No news yet as to when the Spirits of the Forest album with harper France Ellul is to be released. Cover art held things up.

Ceilidhs
Govannen also can provide Ceilidh Dances with our expert dance callers John McDonald and Cathy Lesurf for weddings, functions and parties. The focus on our ceilidhs is fun and informality - dance experience is not necessary and our caller on the night will clearly guide you through the steps.

...and when you've had enough Ceilidh dancing...
As a break from the Ceilidh dancing or as a great way to round the evening off, Govannen can play a range of Celtic and popular songs for everyone to have a bop.

"Thank you so much – I had such a great time.  Everyone loved you – the mix of music was perfect. Thank you all so much for a really memorable evening" - Donna, Bedfordshire

"Just wanted to say a really huge thank you to Govannen for the live music at our party.
It was a fantastic night - everyone throroughly enjoyed themsleves and the band contributed immensley to the atmosphere and fun we all had. They were brilliant in every way. Discreet setting up, flexible in their timing and responsive to the moods and tastes of our guests. I received so many positive comments about the night and most mentioned how impressed they were with the quality of the musicians. There was a splattering of Irish among the guests too, who enjoyed every minute! The band played some great choices of music and certainly got everyone up on the dance floor, which is what I had hoped for." - Sally and Andy, Rutland

"We just wanted to say a big thank you to you and the rest of Govannen for helping to make our wedding day so special. Everybody loved the band and the music/dancing was everything we wanted and more" - Jo & Dan, Rutland.

"We are back from honeymoon now and I just wanted to thank you for making our wedding so special. We have had so many people tell us how great they thought you were" - Emma, Leicestershire

"I wanted to get in touch and say thank you again for the fantastic music & service you provided during our wedding .... was really pleased at how much everyone enjoyed the music, and the dancing - we have had lots of positive feedback. John deserves a medal I think for managing to whip everyone into (some sort! of) shape. We had a lovely day, but you definitely made our evening." Heather & Tim, Bedfordshire

Dan Britton
Chris Conway
Chris Conway & Dan Britton page
Oblong Music
Paradise Music

for bookings please contact...
DGMusic Agency
Bandsandmusicians agency
Counties Folk Agency

The group have been together for quite a few years now and although rooted in Irish music they have a number of different sides to their music.

You might catch them at a festival, or playing music at a wedding, performing a mixture of new arrangements and original songs at an art centre, or belting out the old songs in a pub. They might be recording atmospheric music for a recording project or with a dance caller playing the music at a ceilidh dance.

Govannen have released 4 CDs - 2 live albums on the Oblong label and 2 studio albums for Paradise Music, as well as appearing on albums by Bridget McMahon, Celtic harper France Ellul, and on the Door of Hope charity concert album.

One of the reasons Govannen works so well is the different complimentary roles in the band....


Dan Britton provides the drive and energy and earthiness of the band with his driving rhythmic guitar and bodhran and at live concerts he is the main lead singer of songs. Dan was influenced by the powerful performers of Irish music like Planxty and The Pogues.

Chris Conway ’s interests are in sounds, harmonies and arrangements, adding touches of magic with his battery of exotic instruments and keyboard wizardry. Chris’s Celtic influences were the great arrangers of multi-layered sound like Alan Stivell, Gwerz, and Donal Lunny. Plus Chris brings jazz elements into a Govannen set.

In Adele McMahon, Govannen have a soloist of world class. She’s also a library of Irish tunes for the band – she has hundreds in her head – though she can’t always remember their names…. Her dazzling fluid violin is the real backbone of the band sound. Adele as you might expect was influenced by her family (her father is a singer of traditional Irish songs from County Clare), and the great fiddle players like Martin Hayes and Kevin Burke.

Add to this the amazing percussion of Neil Rabjohn who plays the cajon drum, and the music really get cooking. Neil joins the group mostly at the bigger concerts and events that need some kick.

So these different factors get mixed around in different ways to make a classic concert, ceilidh or album.