The Winding Stair

THe Winding Stair is a musical group from Belfast in the North of Ireland which first played publicly in 2005. The band describes their music as folk noir. Their name is associated with poetry by WB Yeats.

The Band
The line-up is Clare Galway on violin and vocals, Tom Hughes on cello and bodhran, Mary O'Halloran doing lead vocals and Ciaran Tracey on guitar.

gigs
The band have played extensively in Northern Ireland since 2005. This has included prestigious support slots such as Martha Wainwright in Lisburn on August 13 2007. The were also invited to play the Glastonbury Festival], appearing third on the bill at the [[acoustic stage on June 23 2007. Sharing the stage that nightwere: The Epstein, KT Tunstall and Hummingbirds among others.

TV and Radio
The band were invited to perform for the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.They were asked to perform The Mountains Of Mourne, originally written by Percy French, to accompany a feature broadcast on the Co. Down mountains' status as a national park. This was broadcast on August 29, 2007.

On October 17 2007, BBC Radio 1 broadcast a live session from the band.

The band appeared on the Irish Arts programme called Imeall Geal on BBC 2, playing one song at the end of the programme..

The Album
The band self-released an album called Finistere on August 5 2007. It was produced by Eamonn P Keyes at Xhateau De L'Ormeau and Doghouse studios in Belfast. The launch party featured a gig from the band and appearances from Oxford's Cogwheel Dogs and Belfast's Ruby Colley. It received a positive review on the website of the record label Drowned in Sound.