Liguriani
I Liguriani’s music evokes the imagination and the sentiments of the Ligurian tradition.
The band aims to dig deep into the boundless archives of local history and the collective memory of music and songs which are the expression of this unique region of Italy.
Liguria lies in Italy’s northwest, an area between rugged hilltops and the Mediterranean, from the French Riviera to Tuscany, bordering Piedmont and Emilia, with a melange of people and sounds. I Liguriani, the band, plays with passion and vitality and an eclectic repertoire that matches the spirit of the land and its diverse population. They display a wide assortment of musical influences, ranging from local traditions to Italian folk and political ballads, a touch of Irish melody and hints of bal musette with contemporary classical.
The band has recorded two albums: Suoni dai Mondi Liguri (2011, Felmay) and Stundai (2014, Felmay), both of which have received enthusiastic reviews from international press.
Liguriani have performed and toured Italy, Spain, UK, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.
In the last few years, the band has been touring extensively in Europe, appearing in renowned events such as Rudolstadt Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, WDR Koln folk konzerte, Rheingau Musik Festival, Weillburger Schlosskonzerte, Mito Settembre Musica, Gooikoorts Festival and many others.
Froots says about them: “They power through Italian dance tunes like they are some sort of latter day Mediterranean Bothy Band””.
Fabio Biale – vocals, fiddle, percussion, guitar
Michel Balatti – wooden flute
Fabio Rinaudo – bagpipes
Filippo Gambetta – accordion
Claudio De Angeli – guitar
www.liguriani.it
BIRKIN TREE
During their long career the band Birkin Tree has played more than a thousand concerts in Italy and in Europe and is the only Italian band of this kind who regularly plays in Ireland (three tours, various festival partecipations, recording and broadcasting of their live acts by RTE, Irish National Radio Television).
In the last few years the band has accompanied during their Italian tours some of the finest Irish musicians such as Liam O’Flynn, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill (who also appeared on their latest release Virginia), Niamh Parsons, Cyril O’Donoghue, Mick O’Brien, Tola Custy, Caitlin Nic Gabhann to name a few.
Birkin Tree has played live in tv and radio programs for Rai 1, Rai 3, Rai Radio1, Rai Radio 2, TELE + 3, TMC, RTS Switzerland, Radio Popolare, and in Ireland for RTE, Radio Kerry and Clare FM.
His music has been broadcasted in various occasions by radios from Germany, France, Norway, Italy, Ireland, Australia, USA, Canada, Russia and Switzerland.
The band has recorded four cds – Continental Reel (1996), A Cheap Present (1999), 3(three) (2003), Virginia (2010) – and various compilations.
All recording have received outstanding reviews and important awards from European and American folk/world music press:
– Continental Reel: best recording 1995/1996 for Folk Bullettin, the most important Italian folk music magazine.
– A Cheap Present: ***** review from Musica di Repubblica (the weekly music magazine attached to the most read Italian daily newspaper)
– 3(three): – “BRAVO!” award from French folk music magazine Trad Magasin
– place n° 6 in the 2003 Top Ten music recordings drawn by German web magazine “Folkworld.de”
– **** review from Musica di Repubblica (the weekly music magazine attached to the most read Italian daily newspaper)
Laura Torterolo – vocals
Fabio Rinaudo – uilleann pipes, whistles
Michel Balatti – flutes
Fabio Biale – fiddle, bodhran
Claudio De Angeli – guitar
www.birkintree.com