John Mc Sherry (Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles)
John Mc Sherry is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the
art of Uilleann piping in the world today - "a true master"
- Irish Music Magazine. Coming from a Belfast family steeped in
traditional music, John focused his energies on the pipes from
an early age. By the time he reached fifteen he had two All Ireland
Championship titles under his belt and at the age of eighteen
he was the youngest ever winner of the senior 'Oireachtas' piping
competition. Combining with his musical siblings, John formed
the band 'Tamalin', bringing their unique blend of Irish, Breton,
rock and eastern music to enthusiastic audiences around the world.
By the age of 25, he had gained a reputation as a world class
studio session musician, recording with the likes of Clannad,
Nancy Griffiths, Shaun Davey, Dónal Lunny and Dan ar Braz to name
but a few. Described as being "at the forefront of modern
innovation" - Green Man Review, John has taken piping to
new heights with his unique style. His sense for improvisation
has even been compared to that of the great jazz legend John Coltrane.
Always in constant demand, John has performed with nearly every
artist you could think of, from Sinead O'Connor and Riverdance
to Ornette Coleman and Secret Garden. He was a founding member
of top trad band 'Lúnasa' as well as a lead instrumentalist with
Dónal Lunny's ground-breaking super group 'Coolfin', which included
Sharon Shannon and Nollaig Casey. John's last recording venture,
teaming up with life long musical comrade Michael Mc Goldrick
to release 'At First Light', received the award for Best traditional
Album of the Year 2001 - Irish American News.
Dónal O'Connor (Fiddle, Keyboards)
Son of the celebrated fiddler Gerry O’Connor (Skylark, Kinvara)
and renowned singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin (Lá Lugh), Dónal O’Connor
has inherited a great musical legacy of at least five generations
of fiddle playing. Highly regarded as a fiddle player, he was
asked, at the tender age of twenty one, to take part in the prestigious
‘Music Network Tour of Ireland’ alongside Scottish Guitarist Tony
Mc Manus, Fermanagh purveyor of song Gabriel McArdle and Belfast
Piper John Mc Sherry (Lúnasa, Coolfin, Tamalin). Dónal’s playing
was described recently by the press as “immaculate” “electrifying”
and “…borne out of naked talent and consummate professionalism…”
The Irish Times “exquisite” - The Scotsman.
He has toured Europe and the USA extensively from a young age
as both a lead and backing instrumentalist with a number of bands
including Lá Lugh. Currently living in Belfast, Dónal is part
of an extremely vibrant music scene and is regarded as “One of
the outstanding players of his generation” J.B. Vallely.
Recent collaborations have included tours with Mike McGoldrick,
live festival performance with Karen Casey, T.V. performances
with the legendary Sligo Flute player Séamus Tansey and recording
work with Brian Kennedy and Máire Brennan of Clannad. Despite
a hectic schedule of gigs, Dónal found time to produce Gerry O’Connor’s
long awaited solo album Journeyman which was released in the Autumn
of 2004 to great critical acclaim. Dónal has also presented a
number of music programmes on BBC Radio Ulster and was the presenter
of BBC Northern Irelands excellent 10 part music series ‘An Stuif
Ceart’ - described as a rare musical treat, the series incorporated
an eclectic mix of talent with such luminaries as John Prine and
Henry McCullough alongside the cream of Irish talent.
Francis McIlduff (Bodhrán, Uilleann Pipes, Low
Whistles)
Born into the legendary McPeake family in Belfast, Francis McIlduff
was introduced to the sights and sounds of traditional music at
a very early age, and whilst widely recognised today as one of
the finest pipers in the Ireland, it was on the bodhran that he
made his debut performance at the age of 12. Influenced in style
particularly by Christy Moore, his bodhran playing was soon to
take a back seat to the uillean pipes more synonymous with the
family name. Along with the pipes, the seemingly obligatory outstanding
low whistle playing soon went hand in hand at performances the
length and breadth of the country. Since debuting with the family
band, ' Clann McPeake' at a very tender age, Francis has gone
on to perform with some of the foremost traditional and contemporary
artistes in music today, including the seminal Irish folk rock
outfit 'Alias Ron Kavana', 'Sin E', 'Afterhours' featuring singer
Alan Burke, and Hungarian based traditional outfit 'Fianne'. He
is also in great demand as a session musician across Europe...
An excellent piper, great low whistle player and nifty bodhran
player to boot!
Alan Burke (Guitar, Vocals)
Alan started his singing career fronting the Irish band Afterhours
with whom he released three recordings,all of which were
widely received and toured extensively throughout Europe,
Canada and America. On the demise of that group Alan began a new
venture with the release of his first solo CD “On the Other Hand” 1998. This
was followed in 2000 by his second solo recording “Tip of the
Tongue”. Both these recordings received high praise and his subsequent
touring brought him everywhere from Bahrain to Belfast to Croatia
to Cardiff…and on.....
His voice has been described as “Full of power, sensitivity and
clarity”. His guitar playing, being influenced by his earlier
incarnation as a session drummer/percussionist is characterised
by strong driving rhythms alongside a more gentle and sympathetic
approach to the quieter side of his repertoire.
In 2002 Alan was involved the making of a CD for the company BMG
of library recordings alongside fellow traditional musicians,
Cathal Hayden, Maurice Lennon, Jim McGrath, Gerry O’Donnell, James
Blennerhasset and many others. 2004 brought two new recordings.
”The Eagles Whistle” with friend, uilleann piper Joe McHugh under
the guise of the band “Airla”. This was followed by Alan’s production
and co-recording of the CD “Ar Mhuin Na Muice” with Donegal singer,
Bríd Ní Mhaoileoin .A collection of songs in the Irish language.
Alan’s inexhaustible repertoire of traditional, Gaelic, self-penned
and contemporary song has kept him busy as a solo performer and
collaborator with a wide variety of other musicians. His performance,
presence and delivery demanding the attention of his audience.
Rubén Bada (Bouzouki, Guitar, Fiddle)
Rubén Bada was born in Avilés, in the northern coast of Asturies,
and raised in the Cape Peñes area, where the Asturian language
and culture are still healthy and alive.
Ruben got his hands on his first guitar at the age of 14 having
experimented with many instruments from the age of eight including
the Trombone!. After listening to some Bothy Band and Llan de
Cubel tapes, he realized that the traditional music he had listened
to since child (in Asturies there is a piper everywhere...) could
be taken further and that strings (guitar and bouzouki) could
be a key ingredient. After a couple of years learning Asturian
tunes and discovering Irish music, he got his first bouzouki,
a Greek one borrowed from a friend and it was at this time that
he began to learn the fiddle.
Rubén started his recording career in 1998 with the band Xéliba
with whom he recorded two albums. Soon after he became a highly
demanded studio musician and producer, working as a band member
or in the studio with Asturian acts such as Anabel Santiago, Mari
luz Cristobal, N'arba, Corquieu, Tejedor, Dixebra, Llacín Pipe
Band, Ú?, Toli Morilla...touring all over Europe.
In 2000 Rubén won the Asturian Traditional Music Contest on fiddle.
In 2004 Rubén moved to Belfast, and soon he became part of the
local music scene.
Currently, Rubén is playing with the band DRD, and in February
2006, was awarded "Best Instrumentalist" in the Asturian
Music Awards.
