We are pleased to introduce Tommy Byrnes and his debut release Alehouse Insurrections to your readers! Imagine a combination of The Bothy Band, Tannahill Weavers and Moving Hearts, then mix in a bit of Jethro Tull and Yes to get a hint of Tommy’s style and sound.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PROGRESSIVE ROCK MEETS CELTIC FOLK ON TOMMY BYRNES' NEW CD

July 29, 2004 (Bernardston, MA) -- Tommy Byrnes, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, will release his brand new CD "Alehouse Insurrections" on August 31. Tommy Byrnes weaves a tapestry of highly accomplished traditional technique with the complex styles of the 70s progressive rock, acoustic folk and arrangements of the Celtic revival. "I thought I should record a few songs that had been around for a while, but I really wanted to start from scratch and write new stuff for the project," Tommy says. "I ended up with about 21 tracks recorded and pared them down to the nine that made it."

Playing a wide variety of instruments, including guitars, bass, tin whistles, bodhran, highland pipes and keyboards, the music of Tommy Byrnes is both evocative and inspired. "As a product of the wild and experimental 1970s I have always been partial to the progressive rock movement," Tommy explains. "Bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin were always on the turntable in my erstwhile youth." Now, Tommy has mixed his childhood heroes with traditional Celtic sounds.

In 1989 Tommy formed the critically acclaimed band Ockham's Razor, but after twelve years of being with the group he felt it was time to pursue a different dream. In 2001 he left the band to build a recording studio and release his own albums. Tommy's brand new solo album "Alehouse Insurrections" is the first step of that dream.

"I have always been a little schizophrenic music-wise and I figured I’d just roll the dice and see what came out. The album became an amalgam of all these influences. All of the musical styles I love ended up on album in one form or another," Tommy sums it up.

"Alehouse Insurrections" will be available on August 31 through Amazon.com, CD Baby.com, TowerRecords.com, Borders.com, VirginMega.com, CDNow.com, Waldenbooks.com, BathtubMusic.com, and through his website:
www.TommyByrnes.com.
For more information and review copies of the CD, please contact Jessica Byrnes at 413-648-9595. jessicabyrnes@sovereigntyrecords.com ###