© 2009 John Kelly - JK Mandolins ©

This page contains JK mandolin and octave sound samples along with tracks from The Old Bores.  The female vocals are by Rhoda and the instruments are played by me, Derek or John T.  

Feedback on any of the musical items is welcome - you can add comments to the visitors’ page or e-mail.

Sincere thanks to Francois at http://www.premiumbeat.com for help in setting up the MP3 player installed on this page.  He has been very helpful in sorting out the teething problems I have had - and this is a free player too.  That’s customer care!

Notes on the tunes listed in the player:

Ashokan Farewell: Played, unusually, on electric guitars.  Tune is by J Ungar and was written as a fiddle tune.

Banjo Breakdown: Played on a JK octave mandolin and tenor banjo;  a popular pipe tune despite the name!

Dingle Regatta: Played on JK mandolin, octave and tenor banjo.  An  Irish tune from Old Bores’ repertoire.

Farewell to Whisky: Niel Gow fiddle tune played here on acoustic guitar in DADGAD tuning.

Hector the Hero: Scott Skinner fiddle tune, played on two JK octave mandolins by J Kelly and J Thomson.

Merry Old Maid: Played on JK mandolin and guitar with percussion added from small bodhran.  Another Irish tune.

Home to the Kyles: A local Cowal song about Kyles of Bute, sung here by Rhoda Macdonald with backing by The Old Bores.

Rakes of Kildare: Another Irish tune, played on JK mandolin and octave with guitar and bass guitar.

Isle of Eigg: Song written by Robin Laing -  accordion by Derek, vocal and other instruments by me.

Chief O’Neill’s Favourite: Irish reel played on JK Octave and tenor banjo

Paddy’s Leather Breeches:  Played by my daughter Morag on her midi pipes with guitar, mandolin and tenor banjo backing.

Annie McKelvie: An Iain Ingram song sung here by John Thomson with Derek Macdonald on accordion and John on octave mandolin; I have added guitar and mandolin to the mix.

St Anne’s Reel/Willafjord:  Two popular tunes, the second from Shetland, played on JK mandolin and guitar.

Johnny Murray of Lochee:  Got from Nigel Gatherer’s website.

Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch:  Another from Nigel’s website, from his Tune of the Week  section.

Whiskey Before Breakfast:  Irish reel played on Tenor banjo, mandolin and guitar.

Hector The Hero:  Version with Derek on Accordion and midi cello added.  This is the one on the YouTube

:All tracks recorded using Reaper software on a laptop and produced by ourselves at home.