Julie Fowlis
Folk singer Julie Fowlis is from North Uist, a small island in the Outer Hebrides, who sings in her native tongue, Scottish Gaelic. An accomplished musician, playing Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, whistle, and oboe, Julie brings ancient songs from the Hebridean Islands to new audiences around the world.
A mix of powerful yet sweet and expressive vocals intertwined with the driving rhythms of ‘Puirt-a-beul’ (music of the mouth), a traditional singing style native to Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia, makes for enchanting music sets.
Multi award winning, Julie was publicly voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2007 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and her album “cuilidh”, produced with husband Eamon Doorley, was voted “Album of the Year” at the same awards. Other awards include BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award 2006 for Best Emerging Artist and she was also voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2005 at the Scots Trad Music Awards.
Julie presents two flagship music programmes on BBC Scotland – the traditional music programme “Travelling Folk” and the world music show “Global Gathering”.
Julie perfomed at cultural centre An Droichead in Belfast in April 2008 with her husband Eamon Doorley and guitarist Tony Byrne.
Kila
“Kíla are right there at the cusp of it. Somehow you get the feeling they lit the fuse for the big bang.” Bono
Kila formed in 1987 at the ages of 17 at Coláiste Eoin Dublin, where a rich Irish cultural ethos is encouraged amongst students in football, traditional music and the Irish language. Kila came out with a talent fostered, and were one of the first groups to hit the traditional music scene with their alternative ‘trad meets dance’ music, shifting them into a whole new genre of contemporary traditional Irish music.
The 7 strong Kila line-up is enviably multi instrumentalists, which inlcudes indigenous instruments, giving their music a rich sound and combined with their high energy playing it’s an amazing dynamic to watch on stage. Tables and chairs are empty at their gigs as the dance floor bursts at the seams with crowds hopping mad.
Kila is photogrpahed playing at the Féile an Earraigh festival in Belfast February 2009.
Rossa Ó Snodaigh – Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Clarinet, Bones, Bodhrán, Bongos, Congas, Djembe, Didgeridoo, Bandooria, Darabuka, Percussion, Vocals Rónán Ó Snodaigh – Bodhrán, Djembe, Congas, Bongos, Guitar, Vocals Colm Ó Snodaigh – Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Djembe, Vocals, Percussion Dee Armstrong – Fiddle, Viola, Hammered Dulcimer, Accordion, Bodhrán Eoin Dillon – Uileann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Shakers, Vocals Brian Hogan – Bass, Double Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Drums, Vocals Lance Hogan – Percussion, guitar, bass and vocals