New Page 1

"Music of the Celts"

Saturday 3 February 2001

City Hall, Salisbury A great Celtic Night. Thanks to the audience for the great support and to the performers for a magical night.

The music of four great Celtic nations combined for the traditional to the funky

The contrast of styles invoked emotion, joy and produced great entertainment.

This is what Mick George of Salisbury Journal wrote about the show:

"With all things Celtic still very much in vogue, not surprisingly the City Hall drew a good audience for this "Night of Celtic Passion"

Contributions from Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland & Ringwood reminded us that a culture initially expelled to the outer reaches of civilisation by the Romans, still holds more than a tenuous link with today.

The Irish element was represented by by Sin E. The Uillean pipes, together with the drum kit gave them a sound reminiscent of Davy Spillane. Keyboards added that ethereal quality associated with the otherworldly Celts. Taz Alexanders vocals were superb.

Family band Anao Atao provided Cornish and Breton music. Although obviously proud of their heritage, they express themselves in more modern idioms, such as the walz and the polka, rather than those explored by the likes of Alan Stivel.

Fiona Darroch sang in the Gaelic language. I felt her cultivated voice made the songs seem a little artificial.

Last but not least, a pipe band all the way from Ringwood. Wonderful stuff.

Mick George. Salisbury Journal

Irish, Scottish, Cornish, Breton

Box Office 01722 327676

Tiered seating £11, Flat floor £10

£1 off all concessions

Anao Atao, Cornwall's foremost traditional music and dance group, is very much a family affair, comprising Soazig, Kyt, Sterenn & Maela Le Nen Davey.

Kyt hails from a musical family - mother played mandolin in the once famous Goonhavern Banjo Band, and little brother is currently touring with Irish group Anam. Soazig used to organise tours for Irish groups visiting Brittany (notably 1691, Monroe, the Bothy Band and Mick Hanley), was an activist in the early days of the Lorient Interceltic Festival, a member of a Breton dance team and a teacher of Celtic dancing before taking up post as manager of the Cornish group Bucca - whereafter she and Kyt paired up. Bucca signed to Plant Life Records and enjoyed huge success, performing to international television, concert and festival audiences. Their album 'The Hole in the Harper's Head' is still very much in demand.

When the members of Bucca finally went their separate ways, Kyt & Soazig created Anao Atao. With a view to family commitments, the masterplan for Anao Atao was to keep alive and build upon the achievements of Bucca in promoting Cornish music, but not to spend life on the road!. For several years this worked out very well - the duo teamed up with various guest musicians to undertake ‘manageable’ tours in Ireland, France & Brittany, were filmed for television, featured on the radio, and enjoyed quiet success as composers of original music for television soundtracks. This quiet life all ended with the 1994 release of their debut CD ‘Esoteric Stones’. Enthusiastic reviews and unexpected airplay threw Anao Atao into the international limelight, with album sales now extending to five continents.

Sterenn and Maela have been immersed from a young age in the Cornish (and Breton!) tradition. They represented their schools in traditional dance competitions, before joining the Celtic dance team 'Ros Keltek' with whom they have participated in festivals at home and abroad. They are also both accomplished classical and jazz musicians, and have already gained much performing experience through their work with Cornish Youth Ensembles - recently winning an outstanding performance award at the National Youth Music Festival in London's Royal Festival Hall. Their debut on stage with Anao Atao at the Oatlands (Potomac) Celtic Festival (Virginia, USA), was testimony to the fact that Cornish traditions are alive and well, and in the capable hands of a new generation of musicians. Copyright © 1999 Anao Atao. All rights reserved

Taz Alexander, James O'Grady

Mike Cosgrave, Ben Clark

The heart of .....

Four great names of Irish music - the sensational singing and bodhran of Taz Alexander, world champion Uillean piper, fiddle and whistle player James O'Grady, the keyboards of Mike Cosgrove and the drums of Ben Clark. Where have you heard these names before? Together they are the heart of leading Celtic recording group Sín É

Fiona Darroch

A Scots Gaidhlic voice to send shivers through your body.

Fiona Darroch is currently receiving airtime on Radio Scotland and when you hear her, you will understand why. A Scots Gaidhlic (Gaelic) singer, hailing from Jura (Outer Hebrides), with a voice to send shivers down your spine! Fiona will be supported by the Sin E folk.

Ringwood Pipe Band

Ringwood Pipe Band - pictured narching through the streets of Salisbury - complete the Celtic Contrast. As well as band music, individuals, duo's etc will play their great Highland bagpipes, small pipes and drums to demonstrate the full capability of their instruments. A real toe-tapping, foot stomping performance to raise the roof!