Alash ensemble is a trio of master throat singers from Tuva, a tiny republic in the heart of Central Asia. The ancient art of throat singing developed among the nomadic herdsmen of this region. Alash remains grounded in this tradition while expanding its musical vocabulary with new ideas from the West.
The ensemble is named for the Alash River, which runs through the northwestern region of Tuva. The Alash River has also inspired a couple of Tuvan songs which carry its name.
All members of Alash were trained in traditional Tuvan music since childhood, first learning from their families, and later becoming students of master throat singers. In 1999, as students at Kyzyl Arts College, they formed a group called Changy-Xaya. They practiced in the damp college basement on Kochetovo Street, and soon became the resident traditional ensemble on campus.
The musicians are inspired by the music of their grandparents, great-grandparents, and the great musicians of Tuva and Central Asia. At the same time they are influenced by such western artists as Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix. Yet the Alash musicians never sacrifice the integrity of their heritage in an effort to make their music more hip for an American audience. Rather they look for contemporary ideas that mesh well with the sound and feel of traditional Tuvan music.
Tony Trischka is considered to be the consummate banjo artist and perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. For more than 45 years, his stylings have inspired a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians with the many voices he has brought to the instrument.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Trischka’s interest in banjo was sparked by the Kingston Trio’s “Charlie and the MTA” in 1963. Two years later, he joined the Down City Ramblers, where he remained through 1971. That year, Trischka made his recording debut on 15 Bluegrass Instrumentals with the band Country Cooking; at the same time, he was also a member of America’s premier sports-rock band Country Granola. In 1973, he began a three-year stint with Breakfast Special. Between 1974 and 1975, he recorded two solo albums, Bluegrass Light and Heartlands. After one more solo album in 1976, Banjoland, he went on to become musical leader for the Broadway show The Robber Bridegroom.
With his fearless musical curiosity as the guiding force, Tony Trischka’s critically acclaimed release, Territory roams widely through the banjo’s creative terrain. Nine selections partner Tony with fellow banjoists Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Bill Evans, Bill Keith and Bruce Molsky.
Dig up Québec’s deep, dark roots, add electrifying energy and beguiling modesty = mind-blowing trad-folk groove.
Taking their name from a traditional song, Les Poules à Colin were raised behind the scenes at folk festivals, learning their craft at kitchen parties amongst some of Quebec’s finest trad musicians – which included their parents – in a region famous for its living heritage.
Despite their young age, Les Poules à Colin have been playing together for over nine years and it shows in their sparkling complicity. The group has a strong stage presence and demonstrates a contagious pleasure in each and every performance, drawing the audience to them. The group has already performed in major cities and small towns in Canada, the US, Europe, the UK and Australia, and Africa, amassing a wealth of impressive experience in a short time.
The group’s sound is a seamless blend of their strong folk upbringing and North American influences that range from old-time to jazz, with some provocative and moody effects. Fiddle, guitar, lapsteel, banjo, mandolin, piano, bass and foot percussion form a rich and varied backdrop for their inventive arrangements. Les Poules à Colin reveal a unique and modern perspective on traditional Québec culture.
Gus La Casse and Eamon Sefton met when they joined forces at the legendary Club Passim as part of the 2018 Boston Celtic Music Festival.
Eamon, a guitarist known for percussive rhythm and clever use of harmony, is a sought-after Celtic-style guitarist from the Boston area.
Gus, based in Downeast, Maine, is a dynamic folk fiddler with both speed and savage energy, playing a repertoire reflective of his innovative spirit and dedication to the Acadian and Cape Breton fiddle traditions.
Together, Gus and Eamon will feature the lively kitchen party music that is sure to make you want to clap your hands, stomp your feet and dance!
Winner of the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, and 2017 Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Up and Coming’ nominee, Skye musician and piper Brighde Chaimbeul is one of Scotland’s fastest rising stars.
A native Gaelic speaker, her style is rooted in her indigenous language and culture, but draws inspiration from a variety of piping traditions such as from Cape Breton, Eastern Europe and Ireland. Growing up in a musical family in Sleat on the Isle of Skye, she was no stranger to the sound of the pipes, and indeed the sound of music at home. Inspired by hearing the playing of Rona Lightfoot she began learning at the age of 7 with local tutor and award winning piper Niall Stewart.
Brighde met pipe makers, players and revivalists Fin and Hamish Moore in 2014 where she was introduced to the smallpipes, and since has developed a unique style which has captured audiences across the globe. Mark Radcliffe of BBC Radio 2 described her playing as “mesmerising”, and Tim Chipping of renowned music magazine, fRoots as “exceptional”. She has collaborated with many established artists over the years, most recently including Ross Ainslie, John McSherry, Paul Meehan, Aidan O Rourke, Carlos Nunez, Allan MacDonald.
Recent performance highlights include appearances at major festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, Piping Live and Wickham Festival, as well as featuring on various TV programmes, series Port, Seirm, Trad ar Fad and the BBC Alba Hogmanay show.
Nourished by deep roots in the expansive canon of traditional American music, The Lonely Heartstring Band embodies the modern American condition—an understanding and reverence for the past that informs a push into the future. George Clements (guitar, vocals) Patrick M’Gonigle (fiddle, vocals) Charles Clements (bass, vocals) Matt Witler (mandolin) and Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo) bring together their own musical styles to create a sound greater than the sum of its parts.
Combining soulful instrumental virtuosity with soaring three-part harmonies, their growing repertoire of original songs and compositions showcases not only their considerable talents, but a dedication to meaningful roots-conscious music.
Already they have generated a devoted following of music-lovers across North America, performing and headlining at major music festivals and historic venues from Western Canada to California, from Kentucky to New Hampshire. Whether it’s a festival stage, theatre, or intimate listening room, The Lonely Heartstring Band always delivers a dynamic, diverse, and heartfelt performance. Over the last three years of touring, the band has crafted shows that generate a genuine connection and bring crowds to their feet.
Miles of Music Island Camp is a week-long retreat exploring traditional folk music, modern songwriting, and how they work together. The week includes classes, dances, jams, great food and plenty of free time on a gorgeous private island in New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. We teach fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, singing, and occasionally other instruments, and we also have instruction for non-instrument-specific musical skills like songwriting, ear training, ensemble playing, and performance. All ages and abilities are welcome.
Our staff and guest artists are a mix of renowned touring professionals, players steeped in regional traditional music styles as well as up-and-coming original musicians. With 120 creative people including instructors, guest artists, kitchen staff, boat pilots and students, we become a vibrant village for one week. There are moments of jamming and dancing in large groups as well as opportunities to steal away for one-on-one song sharing or tunes on the porch.
Voci Angelica Trio is an international band with members hailing from three continents. Listeners describe the music as “a haute folk sound that mesmerizes and enthralls,” where each note “sears itself into a goosebump on your arm.”
Straddling the genres of world folk and classical music, the trio creates an ambitious blend of cultures, reinvigorating traditional songs for contemporary audiences. Vocal harmonies elegantly intertwine with lush cello lines and percussion to create a musical fusion that transcends political and geographic borders.
The trio’s self-titled EP and second album, “Taking Flight: Live from Japan,” both invite listeners to journey through unfamiliar musical landscapes. As Voci continues to unearth musical gems, its musicians have become more attentive to the current situations in the diverse countries they explore. Live performances are a celebration of the group’s cultural wayfaring, showcasing the differences and similarities of our shared humanity. In 2017, the trio joined the roster of the Boston Celebrity Series Neighborhood Arts Program which presents free concerts for local communities. In 2013, the trio won an Iguana Music Fund grant from Club Passim to purchase a sound system for their school educational program with Young Audiences of Massachusetts. Voci Angelica’s mission has also led to the USA’s East Coast, Midwest and Southern regions; Canada; Japan; and South Korea.
Members:
Jodi Hitzhusen, voice/percussion
Meena Malik, voice/percussion
Aristides Rivas, cello
Their beautifully produced third album Long Goodbye is a relentlessly classy and high-minded affair but with a knowing rock vibe writes Grant Moon of PROG Magazine about Esthemaąs latest release. An acoustic instrumental progressive music ensemble hailing from Boston, MA (USA), Esthema has been creating their unique sound since 2006 by fusing progressive rock and jazz fusion with the sounds of the traditional music of the Balkan region and the Near & Middle East. The musicians that shape the sound of Esthema bring together both western and eastern influences, instruments, and concepts creating a musical tapestry that transcends musical genres and cultures.
With three critically acclaimed releases to date, Apart From The Rest (2007), the Hereness and Nowness of Things (2009) and Long Goodbye (2014), Esthema is currently in the studio working on their next release, Esthema Śią scheduled for release in the fall 2018.
Esthema is:
Andy Milas (guitar)
Onur Dilisen (violin)
Mac Ritchey (oud, bouzouki, electric oud)
Tom Martin (bass)
George Lernis (drums, percussion)
