REVIEWS and FEEDBACK EMAILS --Tour of USA & Ireland, July 2007

My tour in Ireland with the Wise Family Band in July was a great success. I was left wishing they could have stayed and played for longer as the week passed too quickly.
The Wises played and sang with great originality. Wonderful harmonies, (I was often left with a shiver going up my spine!) super fiddle playing and great stage presence. Their self penned songs are often about people or experiences with a very Western Australian slant and that was quite novel to Irish audiences. This made their set educational and as interesting lyrically as it was musically.
The audiences were left clamouring for more and it is to be hoped that they will return soon as they will be sure of a hearty welcome!
Andy Irvine

REVIEW OF DONEGAL PERFORMANCE in Donegal News
BY SEÁN P. FEENY 
Last Wednesday night, the audience at the Balor Theatre, Ballybofey,
was taken on a beautiful musical journey.
After 35 years the great Andy Irvine, returned to Ballybofey, and
brought with him some very special friends from Down Under.
On their very first trip to Ireland, Scott, Louisa and their three
teenage daughters Ruth, Lucy Rowena, known as the Wise Family Band, from
Margaret River, Western Australia, certainly left a lasting impression.
From the very first song you heard the wonderful outcome of a long
process that, you could say, began with a seed.
Out of this seed grew a tree, the wood was used by Scott Wise to make
instruments, together with his wife Louisa they brought up and taught
three talented girls that, combined with the instruments, produced a
harmonious and very impressive sound in song.
It is said that once you play one stringed instrument, it’s easy to
pick up another, but seeing this family switched around between
violins, a fretless bass, a ukulele, a mandolin, guitars and a dulcimer
was just fantastic.
The one thing that stood out though by far was the vocals. There’s
something about a family singing together in harmony, the similar
voices in different keys that just blend in beautifully with each
other.
Anyone, who even whispers the word ‘Corrs’ as a comparison, hasn’t got
a clue. If you want to hear true family talent, you listen to a Wise
Family album.
The parents’ passion for music shines through their accomplished
daughters who are not only lovely singers, with very clean and crisp
voices, they also write wonderful songs and bearing in mind that they
are still in their teens you can be sure there will be many more great
compositions coming from them.
Their music is just simply all-round great folk, drawing inspiration
from Louisa’s American and Scott’s Australian heritage and adding
collected songs that they give the Wise treatment and make their
own.
One can only thank Andy for introducing us to his close and very
talented friends and keep the fingers crossed that the Wise Family will
one day return to Donegal to perform for many more people…
…Andy is a real joy to watch and listen to, especially his style of playing, playing
proper melodies as he sings, not just chords on his various
instruments, and what a treat it was to see them all play together for
a few songs, too.
It was another musical success for the Balor and let’s hope that both
Andy Irvine and The Wise Family will return to Donegal very soon.
 
REVIEW by Chris Inserra--July 10, 2007 Chicago, Illinois/USA House Concert (Host)
One word describes the night with the Wise Family Band: DELICIOUS! The mixture of harmonies, variety of song choices and versatility of instrumentation left the audience hungering for more. As the walls resounded with the richness of the music, people at times swayed along or stomped their feet with the pulse of the beat.  In a world where so many youth have been consumed by television, computers, ipods and cell phones, the gracious spirits and authentic music-making of Ruth, Lucy and Rowena were refreshing. Their music intermingled with that of their parents, Louisa and Scott, provided a vision of hope and beauty much needed in our society today. July 10th was simply a delicious night, one savored for many more to come!
(NB: Chris Inserra is Music Coordinator for School of the Americas Watch. Our house concert at her house was attended by mainly peace activists, not our normal folk music crowd.)

I saw the Wise Family Band perform when they came to New England during their recent tour to the United States. It was a rare treat for me to experience their amazing virtuosity on such a huge range of instruments, their astonishing variety of musical styles, and their entertaining onstage family repartee. Their performance was great fun and the whole audience loved it!
Dorothea Jensen
Contoocook, NH 03229

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of seeing the Wise Family Band perform in Chillicothe, Illinois this past summer. We have been fans of their music for quite some time, so it was such a treat to see them perform live. We enjoyed their dynamic vocal ranges & beautiful, crisp harmonies and were impressed by each band member’s ability to pick up multiple instruments and play them with ease. The storytelling and humor woven between each song made the concert fresh and left us wanting more. It’s obvious that this family loves making great music together, which brings joy to the audiences they perform for. I hope we have the opportunity to see them perform again in the near future. Wise Family U.S. tour 2008!!
Katy & Jon Stinson
Norwalk, CT

Hi from New Hampshire!
We have been listening to your music ever since you left. We will never forget your performance; it left an everlasting beautiful memory.
God Bless all of you and hope we meet again.
Susan and Dick Leary
Tuftonburo, New Hampshire

We had a great time when you were here. 
Lots of our friends have been telling us how great the concert was, and we agree!
Thanks, Bert Bourgeois
Exeter, New Hampshire
(Host—house concert)

Hello all
Greetings again from Co Wexford, Ireland. I saw you with our national treasure Andy at The Phil Murphy w/e in Carrig on Bannow. I really enjoyed your songs. Beautiful harmonies, fiddle arrangements and musicianship all round. Congratulations on a great concert. I think you even put Andy in the shade for a while on stage but he wouldn't have minded. He's a good one.
Regards
Fergal Murphy

Louisa, Scott, and girls,
Thanks so much for sharing your music and talents with us in
Chillicothe. What a great concert! It was truly a joy to watch and
hear your gifted family perform.
I have your "Hold Up the Sky" in my laptop and we all enjoy listening to
it. Can't wait until next summer. Hope you all can return for another
show. What was the name of the kind of spoky, bluesy number you guys did?
Any chance that you will record it in the future? A Wise Family Blues
CD with Rowena and her harmonica sounds like an idea to me. I will
watch your web sight for updates.
It was great seeing you again,
Tom Dalton

Hello
Here are the photos I took.
Thanks for a great night. Hope to see you back again soon.
Noel (Ireland)

Dear Scott, Louisa and all of you girls,
I just wanted to write and let you know how much I loved hearing you
play at Carrick on Bannow with Andy last weekend.
I brought home your album to the love of my life who couldn't come down
at the weekend and we had a lovely time talking about your incredible
skills in the music , spirit and crafting.--thankyou so much for everything you gave us, and I hope that you can come back to Ireland again before too long.
all the very best to you
dorothy gunne
(Co. Wexford, Ireland)

Dear Wise Family Band, 
It has been days since I wrote my last fanmail and I can no longer contain myself. You left an enormous 5-person hole shaped like an elephant (at least)! I am filling it with
your music which is the only music I can stand anymore. Its the music of heavenly beings. Forgive me for going overboard but it’s true. Thank you so much for spending time in my life and carrying me along with you above the fray.
Your future servant and friend,
Paula I. Wittner

Dear Wise Family,
Your concert at the Old White Church in New Hampshire was one of the best performances I've seen during the past three years! The band's talent and charisma is astonishing. Please, come back soon and keep the fire burning!
Pati Sato

Hello Wise Family,
I was amazed by your music at the Old White Church! The standing ovation was spontaneous and you guys really earned that! Teri told us later that it was the first time of the concerts they've hosted that drew a standing ovation. And then another after your encore song! Hope to see you around again next year.
Andy Johnson

Greetings to the Wise Family Band,
Arizona was lit up with your music this last July.
We are devoted fans of your band. When we saw your touring schedule for Arizona, we wanted to listen to your music in all 5 places but we were only able to attend your Phoenix concert, where we live, and to drive the 70 miles to be at your next performance at Arcosanti.
We enjoyed your magical music immensely!!
Just the fact of having a family perform together is one treat in and of itself. The ballads and stories from Australia and around the world gives us a glimpse of color and enchantment of living in other parts of the world. The beauty of your instruments, hand made by Scott, added to the charm of the events.
We love the warmth of your concerts and we are not referring to the weather in Arizona in July!
It is as if the music was a gift from one family to another.
We Love your Music!
Please let us know when your next tour of Arizona will be.
Beth Lessard and Bob Williams
Tempe, Arizona

Wonderful concert!
I saw you last night at Chris Inserra's house. You were brilliant! I'm so impressed by the sound and the talent that comes from every member of your family. I'm looking forward to listening to your CD and also to when you'll be back Chicago way.
Check out the Old Town School of Folk Music <www.oldtownschool.org> and the Fox Valley Folk Festival for some possible gigs in the future. Let us know when you're back our way, and good luck with the rest of the tour.
Peace -
Amy Dixon-Kolar
________________________________________

Dear Wises
We looooved seeing each and all of you, sharing in the magic of your family and what you have created as a musical group, and appreciating your generosity in passing the stage to the girls. It was the highlight of the summer. It was incredibly special and absolutely beautiful. Getting to hear you all perform was like being bewitched.
Joni Bissell, Mill Valley, California

MISCELLANEOUS FLATTERING QUOTES BY IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE

Paul Petran, presenter Music Deli, ABC Radio National: "You guys are good....You guys are really good!"

Brendan Power, Harmonica-ist Extraordinaire: "Really captivating!"

Andy Irvine,: "That was great, but it won't last!"

Steve Barnes, Artistic Director Fairbridge Folk Festival: "You guys were top of the list in the punters poll of favorite acts!"

Alain Genty, bass player with Tony McManus:"I like your family orchestra!" (Belgian accent)

Lucky Oceans: "That was the best thing I've seen here!" (first ever gig, in the street at Bridgetown Blues Festival, kids very young)

Gerry O'Connor, Fabulous Fiddler: "That was great. Come visit us in Ireland!"

Mike Cooper, Musician and Singer Extraordinaire: "A family that plays together really plays together!"

Punter at The Boite's Daylesford Singers' Festival: "The Wise Family was the best fun I've had in years!"