23rd August 2007
One of the highlights of this years Blas Festival is the fact that two renowned groups will be playing at Thurso High School on Tuesday 4th September. Tickets range from �5 for children/school pupils, �10 for Senior Citizens and �12 for adults. If web sites are anything to go by then these two groups have masses of mentions across the web not to mention their own web sites both official and at My Space for samples. On their own anyone one them could take to the stage. In a group setting Flook or Anam could run a concert on their own. Coming together in one evening of entertainment it will be a truly memorable night. Between them the members of these two groups have a truly awesome range of talents. Definitely not to be missed as the only Blas event in Caithness this year.
Flook were awarded BEST GROUP at the BBC Folk Awards 2006!! They have a truly international reputation.
Flook have seeveral albums unbder their belt and one reviewer said of them "Flook they were a trio emphasizing flutes and whistle without much else and I didn't pay much attention. Now they've expanded to a quartet and the instrument line-up also includes accordian, guitar, bouzouki and bodhran. So, althrough still completely acoustic, Flook's sound has expanded and the arrangements include more variety.
But flute and whistle are still the core of Flook's music. They are natural lead instruments for flook's Irish based sound and tunes, with guitar, mandolin and bouzouki used primarily as rhythm instruments and the bodhran keeping the underlying beat going. Flook's music is naturally exuberant and tuneful and most of their tunes stomp along at a good clip."
Check them out at www.flook.co.uk
Listen to some samples at www.myspace.com/2flutes
Since its formation in 1993, Anam has been delighting audiences throughout the world with their eclectic mixture of traditional and original songs and tunes, which are drawn not only from the Scottish & Irish idiom, but also from other musical influences including jazz, country, singer/songwriter, Eastern European and other world music.
The current line up has some of the most acclaimed and skilled musicians and singers to come out of Scotland and Ireland in recent years. The members, each of whom are well known in there own right, are:
Brian � hEadhra: vocals (Gaelic & English), guitar, bodhr�n, bouzouki
Listen to samples of Brian � hEadhra at
www.myspace.com/brianoheadhra
Fiona Mackenzie: vocals (Gaelic & English), bodhr�n
Listen To samples of Fiona Mackenzie at
www.myspace.com/fionamackenziemusic
Gordon Gunn: fiddle, mandolin See more of Gordon Gunn from Caithness at www.gordongunn.co.uk
Gordon is also member of Sessions A9
see web.mac.com/sessiona9/iWeb/sessiona9site/sitemenu.html
Nuala Kennedy: vocals (Gaelic & English), wooden flute and whistles.
See more of Nuala Kennedy at www.nualakennedy.com
Hear samples of Nualla Kennedy at www.myspace.com/nualakennedy
For more about Anam go to www.anamcommunications.com/music.html
Listen to some samples at www.myspace.com/anammusic
We are sure you will agree this will be one of the highlights on the music scene in Caithness in September.
The full Blas Festival Programme can seen at www.blas-festival.com/
www.blas-festival.com/
Tickets for all events can be booked at www.thebooth.co.uk/
www.thebooth.co.uk