Louie's Lost Limb

We’re Louie’s Lost Limb – a Manchester-based trio playing Irish traditional music with a bit of our own twist. With banjo, guitar and cajón, we put together energetic sets full of jigs, reels, polkas and the odd surprise. Everything we play is rooted in tradition, but we’re not trying to recreate something from the past – we want it to feel alive, rhythmic, and full of movement. We come from different musical backgrounds, and that mix is a big part of what shapes our sound. James draws on a strong sense of his Irish roots, which comes through in his approach to melody and rhythm. Jonny brings an academic eye to things, helping us think carefully about arrangement and structure. Julian grew up in a tight-knit Irish community, so the music has always felt like home. As a group, we try to strike a balance: staying true to the tunes while finding space to make them our own. We like to mess around with rhythm and flow, not for the sake of it, but to keep things interesting – for us and for whoever’s listening. We’ve played in pubs, bars and private events across Manchester, and we’re slowly building a name for ourselves. What matters most to us is the feeling in the room – that sense of connection you get when a tune really lands, when people are listening, tapping along, maybe even dancing. That’s the aim every time we play.