View source for LaFaro

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = LaFaro
| image             = LaFaro, Brno, 2012.JPG
| landscape         = yes
| caption           =
| image_size        =
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| genre             = [[Alternative rock]]<br />[[Punk rock]]<br />[[Post-hardcore]]<br />[[Noise rock]]
| years_active      = 2004 – 2014
| label             = [[Smalltown America Records]] (UK)
| website           = [http://www.lafaro.co.uk Official]
| current_members   = Jonny Black<br />Dave Magee<br />Alan Lynn<br /> Herb Magee
| past_members      = Anna Fitzsimons<br />Oisin O'Doherty<br /> Cahir O'Doherty
}}
'''LaFaro''' were a four-piece [[alternative rock]] band from [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]. They consisted of Jonny Black (guitar/vocals),  Dave Magee (guitar), Herb Magee (Bass) and Alan Lynn (drums).
==History==
Formed in 2004 LaFaro have been described as: "old school post hardcore sounds with just drums, guitars and big chunky distorted bass...they are one of the finest Irish Alt-Rock bands you are likely to hear in quite a while".<ref>Johns, Elliott. "Reviews", ''[[Rocksound]]'', September 2007.</ref>
Once signed to [[Field Records]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.field-records.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=71|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306044912/http://www.field-records.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=71|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2008|title=Field Records - LaFaro|date=March 6, 2008}}</ref> and while with the label released the well received "LaFaro EP" in 2006 containing the lead track "Tupenny Nudger". The band had been voted BBC Northern Ireland Across the Line Local Act of the Year for 2 years running<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/news_specific147823.shtml|title=BBC - Northern Ireland - Across The Line|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and had features in Hot Press<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/amp-fiddlers-2907928|title=Amp fiddlers|first=Colin|last=Carberry|website=Hotpress.com}}</ref> and Alternative Ulster magazines. They had also played support slots for [[Ash (band)|Ash]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific62244.shtml|title=BBC - Northern Ireland - Across The Line|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> [[The Pogues]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/366322+The+Pogues+at+Nugent+Hall+(Kings+Hall+Complex)+on+22+December+2007|title=The Pogues at Nugent Hall (Kings Hall Complex) (Belfast) on 22 Dec 2007|website=Last.fm}}</ref> [[Oppenheimer (band)|Oppenheimer]] and [[Fighting With Wire]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/review_specific149899.shtml|title=BBC - Northern Ireland - Across The Line|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> as well as shows at the SXSW Festival 2007 in Texas.
They also contributed the track "Mr Heskey", to the "Oh Yeah Sessions '08" album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohyeahbelfast.com/ohyeah-sessions-08/index.php|title=Oh Yeah Sessions 08<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Ohyeahbelfast.com|access-date=25 June 2008|archive-date=15 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115101543/http://www.ohyeahbelfast.com/ohyeah-sessions-08/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>  a showcase for local Northern Irish music recorded at Belfast's Oh Yeah music centre which was released in April of that year. The band released the 5 track "EP2" towards the end of 2008.
"Tupenny Nudger" was awarded the title of 'Best Northern Irish song of the past 5 years' in a poll conducted by ''[[Alternative Ulster|AU]]'' magazine, the results of which were published in October 2008, beating [[Snow Patrol]] and [[Ash (band)|Ash]].
After a successful UK tour in February/March 2009 supporting [[Fighting With Wire]] and [[And So I Watch You From Afar]], the band came home to play one of their biggest shows to date at the re-opening of Belfast's [[Ulster Hall]] as part of the BBC's 'Do You Remember The First Time' show. They then went straight into the studio to record their debut album. LaFaro spent the following months writing and gigging around Ireland including a performance on the main stage at [[Glasgowbury]] 2009, being handpicked to support [[The Pogues]] by the band, and their second show in the Ulster Hall in 2009.
The band toured constantly in 2010 starting in the UK in January through to the end of February. Their debut album ''LaFaro'' was released on [[Smalltown America Records]] on May 10, 2010 to universal acclaim both at home and on the mainland. Both "Tupenny Nudger" and "Leningrad" were under heavy rotation on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio One Evening show.
Tours at home and across Europe in support of [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]] rounded out the band's most successful year to date.
Herb Magee, bassist and twin brother of guitarist Dave Magee, announced his initial departure from the band while on stage at the Pigstock festival in 2011.
Fellow Northern Ireland musician [[Cahir O'Doherty]] from [[Fighting With Wire]] filled in on bass duties for the release of "Easy Meat"
Cahir returned to Fighting With Wire in December 2011. At this point, Cahir's brother, Oisin O'Doherty took over on bass.
The band's last album ''Easy Meat'' was released on 3 October 2011 to excellent reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/read/lafaro-easy-meat|title=LaFaro - Easy Meat - Reviews|website=Rocksound.tv}}</ref> The title track was released in the summer of 2011, with a second single, "Meat Wagon"  released on 3 September.
Herb Magee returned on bass guitar in mid-2012. LaFaro headlined a stage at Eurosonic 2012 and completed an extensive European tour in the winter of 2012 visiting 10 countries in their 32 date tour.
They also accompanied [[Therapy?]] on the Irish leg of their 2013 tour.
More recently Dave Magee has been playing guitar with [[Little Matador]] whilst Dave, Herb Magee and Alan Lynn briefly worked with Cahir O'Doherty under the name GOONS. Herb continues to release electronic music under the name Arvo Party<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arvoparty.bandcamp.com |title=Music &#124; Arvo Party |publisher=Arvoparty.bandcamp.com |date=2016-01-01 |accessdate=2022-08-16}}</ref> and was nominated for the NI Music Prize in 2019. Alan Lynn now performs as EXHALERS<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exhalers.bandcamp.com |title=Music &#124; Exhalers |publisher=Exhalers.bandcamp.com |date=2021-03-04 |accessdate=2022-08-16}}</ref> and has released three well-received albums.
==Members==
* Jonny Black - Vocals / rhythm guitar
* Dave Magee - Lead guitar / BV
* Alan Lynn - Drums / BV
* Herb Magee - Bass / BV
==Former members==
* ·Anna Fitzsimons Bass / BV
* ·Oisin O'Doherty Bass / BV
* ·Cahir O'Doherty Bass / BV
==Discography==
===EPs and singles===
* "Scott" (2006) - split single with [[Public Relations Exercise]]
* ''LaFaro'' EP (2007)
* ''EP2'' (2008)
* "Tupenny Nudger" (2010) Single
* "Ballad of Burnt Dave" (2010) Single
* "Easy Meat" (2011) Single
* "Meat Wagon" (2011) Single
===Albums===
{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Album details
!| Peak chart positions
|-
!style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|[[Irish Albums Chart|IRL]]
|-
|2010
|align="left"| ''LaFaro''
*Released: 2010
*Label: [[Smalltown America Records|Smalltown America]]
*Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]] [[Music download|Download]]
| —
|-
|2011
|align="left"| ''Easy Meat''
*Released: 2011
*Label: Smalltown America
*Formats: CD, Download
| —
|-
|colspan="3" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a title that did not chart.
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|LaFaro}}
* [http://www.lafaro.co.uk/ Official Website]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Noise rock groups from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:British post-hardcore musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Belfast]]