Tradition Reimagined
Grásta (pronounced graw-sh-tha), the Irish word for “Grace,” is a fresh new folk project that breathes new life into a range of musical traditions. The band crafts original songs exploring contemporary themes using traditional instruments, while reimagining traditional songs and tunes with vibrant, modern arrangements.
Golden Light is the title track of the debut album due for release in 2026.
Biography
Grásta is the vision of Irish singer-songwriter Gus Glynn, who initially set out to record a solo album of new material alongside fresh settings of traditional pieces. What began as a solo project quickly evolved when percussionist, bodhrán, and whistle player Mark Woolley (Full House, Virginia Kettle’s Rolling Folk, Radco) came on board to help. The chemistry was immediate.
Mark suggested Ian Jones (Full House, Time Bandits) a regular musical visitor to Ireland, for flute and melodeon parts and Ben Robertson, renowned finger-style guitar player on fiddle, a second instrument that Ben approaches with flair, ingenuity and stylistic attention to detail.
Recordings at Chris Lee’s Babacombe studio, were so enjoyable and musically rewarding that Gus invited the musicians to continue together as a full band. Everyone agreed on the spot, and so, Grásta was born.
Mark suggested Ian Jones (Full House, Time Bandits) a regular musical visitor to Ireland, for flute and melodeon parts and Ben Robertson, renowned finger-style guitar player on fiddle, a second instrument that Ben approaches with flair, ingenuity and stylistic attention to detail.
Recordings at Chris Lee’s Babacombe studio, were so enjoyable and musically rewarding that Gus invited the musicians to continue together as a full band. Everyone agreed on the spot, and so, Grásta was born.
Live Shows
|
|
|
|
Gus Glynn: Guitar / Vocals / Songs
Gus is a singer songwriter and classically trained fingerstyle guitarist born and bred in Galway, now settled in Cheshire for over twenty years. Having grown up around Irish folk music he has always had the intention to work in the genre should he find the right people. His work with The Gus Glynn Band allowed his song writing skills to develop through four studio albums in a range of genres. Solo acoustic gigs and solo acoustic touring with the National Rural Touring Forum developed his understanding of folk forms, solo guitar arrangements and playing folk as a solo artist. A chance meeting with Mark Woolley led to a practice / jam session where Gus was very, very happy to find a player who understood the Irish rhythms, playing top notch bodhran, and traditional airs on whistle. It was Mark who suggested working with Ben and Ian for live performance and Chris Lee as producer / engineer in studio. Gus is very happy to be working with some of the finest musicians in Cheshire on a project he's been eager to begin for many years - Grásta. |
|
Mark Woolley: Bodhran / Whistle / Percussion
When Mark saw musicians getting free beer in pubs for playing music when he lived in London, that was all the motivation he needed to start playing folk music. From the London Irish scene via a career move to Northamptonshire he met and joined Dansaul with Dan Plews, Saul Rose and Guy Fletcher. Gigging across the UK followed and the East Coast of America playing English Folk Dance style songs and tunes. After moving back to Cheshire he joined Full House by text, was recruited into Ade Edmondson’s Bad Shepherds whilst on holiday in Mexico and into a number of Mark Radcliffe’s musical ensembles by not ducking quick enough. He can also be found playing percussion and whistles in Virginia Kettles Rolling Folk. Beer may sometimes be involved. |
|
Ben Robertson: Fiddle
Ben is a fingerstyle guitarist, singer, and fiddler from the hills of North Wales. He spent his formative years on the Chester folk scene and since then has performed at folk and roots festivals across the UK both as a soloist and in a duo with Phoebe Rees. Most recently he has found himself playing fiddle in multiple ceilidh bands, and has been having lots of fun as fiddle player in the Grásta project. |
|
Ian Jones: Flute / Button Accordion
Ian from Chester is a classically trained musician. He’s been playing on the Norhtwest Folk scene for over 20 years. He enjoys playing many different styles of traditional music and performs with The Time Bandits, Full House and with the folk trio Helianthus. He’s excited to now be working in the Grásta project. |
