If their casual banter, spark and sense of humour in a five minute interview is anything to go by, anyone who catches the performances of the Daoiri Farrell Trio at the National Folk Festival over the Easter weekend is in for a right treat.
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Daoiri Farrell has been hailed as the new voice of Irish traditional music and he's dragged his mates Michael "Blackie" O'Connell and Robbie Walsh down to Australia for a boy's own tour.
"Anyone who comes to our shows can expect a bit of fun, a bit of dancing, some nice songs and three really good looking fellas who love good Irish music," Farrell says.
Earlier this month he was the only artist to pick up two awards at the BBC Folk Awards, winning Best Traditional Track for Van Dieman's Land and the Horizon Award for the best emerging artist. He was also nominated for Folk Singer of the Year.
It's the first time the trio, as a whole or as individuals, have played at the National Folk Festival. Farrell and Walsh were in Canberra earlier in the year, playing with Four Winds at Smith's Alternative in January to a great reception.
The three have been playing together regularly for about three years now.
"We caught up through the music scene in Ireland, it's a lot smaller than Australia," says O'Connell, a highly respected uilleann piper.
"We've all got mutual friends and over the years we keep meeting at different festivals.
"And we get on, that's our secret."
All three grew up exposed to many styles of music - they list Michael Jackson, Boney M and The Beatles as influences - but their hearts beat Irish.
Growing up in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland O'Connell had the good fortune to be taught by legendary piper Mickey Dunne, whose style embodies the free-flowing traveller piping style.
"That's heavily influenced my style," O'Connell says. "There's an edge to that type of music, especially with Daoiri's bouzouki and the bodhran which Robbie plays.
"We make a big sound for three men."
"Three very handsome men," Farrell adds with a laugh.
The Daori Farrell Trio will be performing over the weekend at the National Folk Festival which opens on Thursday, April 13 and runs until Monday, April 17.
More than 200 acts will be performing at EPIC in a variety of venues. From roving experiences to a 98-year-old spiegeltent boasting all her original fixtures and fittings.
Fringeworld is a new precinct for 2017 dedicated to the cool, the quirky and the more contemporary troubadours of folk.
For ticketing and more information head to folkfestival.org.au.
