French musicians enjoy a warm west Mayo welcome

Three young men arrived in Westport recently from Brittany looking every inch the part of modern-day hippies. With long hair - one sporting dreadlocks - band t-shirts, flannel shirts, and instruments slung over their shoulders, they strolled through the streets of Westport. Max, Alan, and Francois, collectively known as The Grateful Life, had a very different experience from that of Lennon’s tribe on nearby Dorinish Island decades earlier.
They performed their own original music, blending in a few Irish classics like Whiskey in the Jar, The Irish Rover, and Raglan Road. As they busked, passers-by generously donated, and in the pubs, they were warmly welcomed. After a few impromptu jamming sessions were overheard, the musicians were offered paid gigs at Blousers and McGing’s pubs.
Though childhood friends, they hadn’t actually played together as a band back in France. They joked that they’re now “an Irish band.” Max Barbedette, 30, played the cajón drums. Alan Beckman, also 30, was on guitar, and Francois Sevraim, 28, played both mandolin and bass, depending on the song. All three proved to be multi-talented, often swapping instruments seamlessly - and sounding just as brilliant no matter the combination.

Resisting definition
When asked to describe their music, all three paused in silence. And after hearing them play, it’s easy to see why. Their sound resists definition. Francois explained: “We struggle to categorise our music because it’s all improvised, influenced by everything from Flamenco, Blues, Rock, Bluegrass, and Jazz.” He added: “I don’t think music can be described in a word.”
What makes the band truly impressive is that no song ever sounds quite the same twice. Their performances are alive - full of improvisation, musical chemistry, and spontaneity. Beckman’s guitar work is far beyond a few chords; it’s rich and intricate, his fingers dancing up and down the fretboard while his right hand delicately fingerpicks complex patterns.

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From time to time, Francois takes the spotlight on mandolin, stepping forward with a lead that reveals his exceptional musical ear. His playing is spontaneous yet intentional - he listens closely to the guitar’s rhythm and melodies, weaving his notes around them in real time. It’s a dance of intuition and skill, with his fingers moving effortlessly across the strings as if guided by instinct. Meanwhile, Max holds everything together on the cajón with laser-sharp timing and groove. No matter how complex or improvised the moment becomes, Max doesn’t miss a beat - anchoring the performance with a steady, driving rhythm that allows the others to soar.

Local requests
Though their original pieces are instrumental, they happily obliged local requests for covers, playing songs like Caledonia, Grace, and, when asked very politely, a few Bob Marley classics.
Francois shared that their two-week stay in Westport wasn’t planned. The band had taken the ferry to Ireland intending to busk and camp along the west coast. They visited Cork, Galway, and Kilkenny before arriving in Westport. “We actually left,” Francois admitted with a laugh, “but came back three days later.” They all laughed heartily. “We camped in football fields and in the woods until a local we met in Matt Molloy’s offered us their living room for the week. That’s when we felt like we’d found home.”
When asked about the future, Max responded with playful enthusiasm: “I’d love to be sponsored by Guinness and can’t wait to play Glastonbury. But Westport feels like home now. I’d be thrilled to come back as a guest for the Bluegrass Festival’s 20th anniversary.” He added a special thanks to Mervyn Sayers for joining them on saxophone during their set at the Clew Bay Hotel.
Francois expressed the band’s gratitude to Tom Grady from Blousers, which they consider their “Westport headquarters” and to the fabulous Leesha who sang with them so beautifully, and to Tiernan O’Rourke, who kindly showed them around. They affectionately referred to him as “a great man for the parish who led us through the town he knows and loves.”
When asked for a few words, Alan prefers to remain quiet. “I only make sense when I play,” he said with a nod, content to let the music speak for itself.
They were a friendly, polite, and incredibly talented trio - fully embraced by the Westport community. And just like Sid Rawle, the so-called “King of the Hippies,” once described it, they too found Westport to be “a little bit of heaven.”