Inspired by
their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength
and vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene, which
indeed they have done much to create and fuel, they have
led and been at the forefront of a great revival in Scottish
music. Refusing to be limited musically by suffocating
antiquarianism, or musical fashions, they have mixed the
old songs and music with a new self-penned repertoire,
all played on a fusion of ancient and modern instruments
- bagpipes, fiddle, synthesiser, guitar, flutes, bodhran
and accordion.
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from
L-R: Sean O'Donnell, Alasdair White, Ewen Henderson &
Mike Katz |
Named after the Glasgow suburb
of Battlefield, where the group was formed by four student
friends in 1969, they have now been on the world's roads
for over 40 years, distilling their own unique form of
the Scottish spirit and bottling it in concert and onto
disc. They've performed in Germany, Hong Kong, Australia,
New Zealand, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Syria,
Jordan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, U.S.A., Canada, Uzbekistan,
China and the U.K; breaking down barriers and pioneering
many new directions which others have followed. Angry,
joyful, raucous, contemplative, their music is most importantly
- accessible to all.
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 L-R:
Sean
O'Donnell, Ewen Henderson, Alasdair White, & Mike Katz
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During the years
there have obviously been line-up changes and indeed the band
are remarkable for the smooth and organic way in which these
changes have taken place. Their continued creativity, freshness
and enthusiasm is due to the positive way they have viewed,
and used, these changes - and of course the new musicians
themselves have been of prime importance. Musical evidence
of these changes can be heard on their many albums made over
the years. |
Battlefield Band are:
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Sean
O'Donnell (vocals/guitar)
A highly accomplished guitarist and singer, Sean was born
in Derry, Northern Ireland. He moved to Scotland in 1996,
and quickly became involved in the music scene, playing with
the award- winning Scots Irish band Beneche and The Emily
Smith Band, as well as with Michael McGoldrick and Daimh.
He joined Battlefield Band in 2005 and has become a keystone
of the group's sound: his soulful vocals and driving rhythmic
guitar adding so much to the mix. As a recent reviewer noted:
“O'Donnell is a revelation; from his heartfelt &
moving vocals when taking the lead, and his subtly complimentary
harmonies when supporting a song, he is a truly expressive
singer who has matured and developed over his period with
the group” |
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Ewen
Henderson (fiddle/bagpipes/whistles/piano/vocals)
Ewen hails from the Scottish West Highland town of Fort William,
and has been naturally steeped in the traditional music, Gaelic
language and culture of the area. Now in his early twenties,
he started learning the fiddle at the age of five, and has
since mastered an impressive array of other instruments, having
had the privilege of being taught by many of the true masters
of West Highland traditional music, from Aonghas Grant Snr
on fiddle to Angus MacColl on bagpipes, whilst also being
influenced by his strong family musical heritage. Ewen is
superbly talented, and has quickly established himself as
a strong musical force within the band. We look forward to
playing with him and to introducing another great musician
to our worldwide audience. |
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Alasdair
White (fiddle/whistle//bazouki/Highland and small
pipes)
An award-winning fiddler from an early age, Alasdair comes
from the Isle of Lewis, one of the Gaelic speaking Outer
Hebrides where music and culture remain strong daily forces.
He joined Battlefield
Band at the age of 18, as complete a musician and composer
as any of us had heard. Since then, he has toured the world
several times over and worked on many fine albums including
a highly acclaimed debut solo CD, confirming his reputation
and firmly establishing himself as a unique talent &
virtuoso fiddle player. In these past few years, his musicianship
and writing have had a great influence on Battlefield Band’s
repertoire and continuing success, and playing with them
has given him the wider audience that his music deserves.
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Mike Katz
(Highland pipes/small pipes/various whistles/bass guitar/guitar)
A superb and versatile musician, bagpiper Mike Katz joined
the Battlefield Band line-up in late 1997and has contributed
massively to the music and accessibility of the band. A
fine piper from an early age, a multi-instrumentalist, and
a 'musician's musician' with eclectic influences, Mike comes
originally from LA - where he learned and played in the
same pipe band as another band alumni; Eric Rigler. Initially
moving to Scotland aged 18 to study at Edinburgh University,
Mike put down roots and has lived here ever since, playing
in various bands - including the Scottish Gas Pipe Band
& Ceolbeg before joining Battlefield Band in 1997 -
and in the process earned himself a deserved reputation
as a truly excellent musician and tunesmith .
Mike plays Overton,
Abell
& Michael
Grinter whistles |
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