FRI. 9/19
9:00 PM
SOLAS
Solas has emerged
as the most exciting band in traditional Irish music. The
Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine says, "Seamus Egan and
Solas make mind-blowing Irish folk music, maybe the world's best,"
while the Los Angeles Times says, "Solas offers a
compellingly original, strikingly contemporary view of traditional
Celtic sounds." Although Solas can play undiluted traditional
Irish music as well as anyone alive or departed, they are always
varying the mix of fire tested tradition and contemporary sensibility
with an ease and naturalness that is as astonishing as their
overwhelming musicianship. As a result, they transcend musical
genres into the realm of pure musical expression that only a
relative handful of musicians attain. The internationally acclaimed
supergroup has not only captured the hearts and ears of Irish
music fans, but fans all around the globe with their blend of
Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies, bluesy sometimes
jazz-inspired improvisations and global rhythms. Solas has built
a fanbase that includes the likes of Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris
and the much sought-after rap producer Timbaland who surprisingly
sampled the band on his radio hit "All Yall." Waiting
for an Echo, Solas' newest gem, promises to attract new fans
and further endear old ones.
Seamus Egan is an instrumental
wizard who has mastered everything from the flute to tenor banjo,
mandolin, tin whistle, low whistle, guitars and bodhran. Born
in Hatboro, Pa., and raised for a time in Foxford, Co. Mayo,
Ireland, he has been signed to Shanachie Entertainment since
the age of 13! Fans may remember Sarah McLaughlan's Grammy-winning
hit "I'll Remember You," penned by Seamus along with
Sarah and Dave Merg. The master composer has also written music
and played on soundtracks for the films Brothers McMullen
and the Oscar winning movie Dead Man Walking, as well
as the stage show Dancing on Dangerous Ground. Seamus
recently added acting to his many list of talents. In the summer,
he completed filming the independent film "American Wake."
Native New Yorker Winifred
Horan is a graduate of Boston's prestigious New England Conservatory
of Music. She has played in Cherish the Ladies and the Sharon
Shannon Band and has recorded with everyone from Richard Shindell
and Patty Larkin to Liz Carroll and Eileen Ivers. Incidentally,
Winifred is a nine-time Irish stepdancing titlist, and an All-Ireland
fiddle champion. Horan's recent solo outing, Just One Wish,
was hailed as one of the best Celtic or roots albums of 2002
by the Boston Globe, Philadelphia City Paper, Irish Times and
Irish Echo. Horan's technical virtuosity coupled with her yen
for musical roaming is a key element to the fascinating sound
of Solas.
Mick McAuley hails from Callan,
Co. Kilkenny and has long been regarded as one of Ireland's finest
button accordionists. Born into a well known musical family,
Mick has been playing whistles and accordion from the time he
was a child. By the time he was eleven, he had already appeared
on national tv. As a teenager he toured extensively throughout
Europe at various cultural festivals while turning his hand to
the concertina. Mick, who also sings background vocals for Solas,
has performed and/or recorded with Ron Kavana, Terry Woods as
"the Bucks", The Alias Band, Niamh Parsons and the
Loose Connections, Karan Casey, Susan McKeown, and Paul Brennan
of Clannad. In September 2003, Mick will release his Shanachie
debut as a leader, An Ocean's Breadth.
Just before joining Solas,
Deirdre Scanlan released her solo debut, Speak Softly,
which attracted widespread praise throughout Ireland. Deirdre
possesses one of those ethereal voices that keeps listeners hanging
on to her every word. A native of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, she
also appeared on a recording by Nenagh Singers Circle and played
fiddle with the Paddy O'Brien Ormond Ceili Band in her home county.
Eamon McElholm is a multi-talented
musician, who is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, also
plays keyboard and sings background vocals for Solas. He has
been touring with Solas since August 2002. Eamon was born and
raised in County Tyrone in the North of Ireland. For the last
several years he has been heavily involved with the well-known
Irish band 'Stockton's Wing' as singer, songwriter and guitarist.
A few years ago Eamon was awarded the Performing Rights Society/
John Lennon Songwriters Award, at the time he was a student in
Manchester, England.
More about Solas
