New York Interceltic Fest Noz

On January 30th, BZH New York will present the Interceltic Fest Noz, a celebration of music, dance, and culture of Brittany, Galicia, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There will be live music representing all five of those traditions, as well as set dances from the different Celtic cultures.

This evening of Celtic music and culture will also celebrate the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals celebrated among Celtic peoples, either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 1 or 2, which falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere. It is traditionally the festival of fire and light dedicated to the goddess Brigid. In the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Là Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, in Wales as Gŵyl Fair, and in Brittany as la Chandeleur.

The current lineup of performers includes the following and many more:

Bretagne: Duo Morgane Labbe and Francois Tiger Though being youthful in appearance, Morgane and Francois are veterans of fest noz stages throughout Brittany playing most notably as part of fest-noz group called Tadaam. Both are currently travelling across North America playing and presenting Breton culture and music to the cities of Montreal, Miami, New Orleans, Santa Fe, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and New York. Morgane was awarded the very prestigious 1st prize at the 2009 Interceltic festival of Lorient for best accordion player. (voir le site)

Bagad de New York Started through the initiative of Breton piper Yoann LeGoff, the Bagad de New York is a mobilization of American based pipers that play and carry on Brittany's strong bagpipe musical tradition. Members of the Bagad de NY will be competing in the 2010 1st category Bagpipe competition this February in Brittany as members of the Bagad Bro Kemperle and Kerlenn Pondi.

Marie Martin Breton born Marie Martin is a singer/songwriter using her personal experiences, relationships and travels to New York, London and her native Brittany as her main inspirations. She is a true picture of her work: between modernity and nostalgia, between soul and jazz.

Ireland: Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra Led by Professor Mick Moloney and based at New York University. WSHSO plays traditional Irish music with a focus on older tunes, tunes with New York City history, and tunes with interesting stories attached. (voir le site)

Tony DeMarco and Friends Tony DeMarco is one of America's finest folk fiddlers. A Brooklyn native of Irish and Italian decent, he is among the world's leading exponents of the sophisticated County Sligo style of Irish fiddling. Tony's playing has all the characteristics of great Sligo fiddling- swinging rhythmic drive, a wealth of bowed and finger ornamentation, and a high degree of improvised melodic variation. Sligo fiddling has been closely associated with the New York Irish musical tradition for many years. (voir le site)

Scotland: Wild Thistle featuring Mary Morrisson Abdill and Hannah Maire Marcus Mary Morrisson Abdill is a pianist and concertina musician who plays traditional Scottish, Contra and English dance music. She is a member of a number of local bands who play for traditional dances in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, including «Honey and Biscuits», with Helen Ellis, and with Hannah Marcus as «Wild Thistle». Mary backs up Bernie Stolls on his recent Hammer Dulcimer Sampler CD. See: (voir le site)

Hannah Marie Marcus is a musician who plays a wide arrange of music styles and instruments, ranging from piano and guitar to vocals and fiddle. She has composed a number of musical pieces and song, and is a member of a number of bands, including the Wingdales, and has a number of CDs available. Hannah and Mary regularly for Scotia, a Monday night Scottish Country Dance group in Manhattan. Mary and Hannah play under the band name: «Wild Thistle». See: (voir le site) and (voir le site)

Wales: Honey and Biscuits featuring Helen Ellis and Mary Morrisson Abdill Helen Ellis is a fiddler who plays Early Music as well as traditional music from Scotland and Wales. She is involved with a Welsh church in Manhattan, where she plays music and keeps involved in the Welsh community. Helen and Mary make up the band «Honey and Biscuits». Last summer, Helen and Mary could be found in the Manhattan Greenmarkets playing traditional and early music. See: (voir le site)