Breabach at Heath Street Baptist Church, Hampstead
Wednesday 8th February 2017
Doors 7:30pm, Live Music 8:15pm
Voted ‘Best Live Act 2013’ & ’Best Folk Band’ 2012 & 2016 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and twice nominated ‘Best Band’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards; Scottish five-piece Breabach deliver a thrilling and unique brand of contemporary folk music that has earned them international recognition on the world and roots music scene as one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting bands.
After a whirlwind five years traversing the globe, touring Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, Scandinavia and the middle East, Breabach are delighted to announce their fifth studio album Astar (translating from Scottish Gaelic as distance or journey). The music on the album takes inspiration from the beauty of both the places and people the band have visited and the wonderful musicians and cultures encountered along the way. Working with producer Greg Lawson (Moishes Bagel, BBC SSO, Grit Orchestra) the band have taken melodic, rhythmic and harmonic ideas from each of the countries they have visited. Some of this is woven into the arrangement, some of this is achieved through self-penned works. Through it all however, their Scottish roots still remain at the core of the recording with work from Burns, Dick Gaughan and Donald Macleod finding its way into the mix.
Breabach unite the talent of Calum MacCrimmon (pipes/whistles/bouzouki/vocals), Ewan Robertson (guitar/ vocals), James Mackenzie (pipes/flute/whistles), Megan Henderson (fiddle/vocals/step dance) and James Lindsay (double bass). Since launching their career as winners of the Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections in 2005 the band have steadily moved from strength to strength, picking up accolades and performing at esteemed events along the way. The 2016 release of Astar sees them reaching new levels of their musical ambition and maturity.
“Breabach once again displayed all the artfulness, ambition and imagination that set them so decisively apart from the pack.” Scotsman ****
“Tempos are often exhilarating, & the ensemble interplay is fiery. The colours & textures are beautifully layered but spaciously uncluttered lending the Breabach sound a depth & definition that only strengthens its impact.” Songlines ****
Heath Street Baptist Church is at 84 Heath Street, Hampstead, two minutes from Hampstead Station on the Northern Line and on several bus routes.