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The Brian McCombe Band
If it’s rock music with emotion and a Celtic heart that moves you, then The Brian McCombe band with its propensity for both traditional and contemporary Celtic music with equal passion is tailor-made for you! Comprising a line-up of super-talented multi-instrumentalists from Scotland, Ireland, Australia and Brittany and fronted by Brian McCombe who is recognized as being “one of the greatest voices in the world of Celtic music”
Formed in 2003, the Band has made its presence well and truly felt internationally with sell-out performances in Poland, Italy, Austria, the UK and of course all over France.
Brian McCombe was born in Glasgow of Irish and Scottish parents, as well as composing his own songs, he is also an author and uilleann pipes virtuoso, winning the slow air championship on the instrument at the ‘All Ireland Fleadh’ in 1983.
Over the past 20 years Brian has sung all over Europe and the United States. Guesting on many projects, most notably (and something which we at Hard Drive Promotions are really ‘blown away’ by) - an album with Alan Stivell.
Percussionist David Hopkins.
Drawing upon and utilizing rhythms and techniques from many varying traditions, Belfast born ‘Hopi’ is quite rightly considered to be one of the foremost innovators of the bodhran
Living in Brittany for some 30 + years he has played in some very well known Breton bands (Barzaz,Bleizi Ruz, Guichen Quartet, etc). and has also worked with artists such as Didier Squiban, Pat O’May, Alan Stivell and Myrdhin, among others.
‘Hopi’ is also a composer & arranger of his own music and is well known for his passion of diverse music and instruments of the world and has amassed a (now legendary) immense private collection of instruments
Bassist Charles Lucas is a self taught musician who, being a native of Brittany, was primarily inspired by Breton traditional music and spent more than a decade playing with the group Suner – Gwad. Charles soon developed a keenness for jazz and went on to study double bass, classical and modern music at the National Conservatory in Rennes.
Guitarist Yvon Riou, another native of Britanny, is yet one more priceless gem in the Brian McCombe Band. Cosidered one of the greatest guitarists in the region, Yvon is, well known on the international traditional music scene, and is highly sought after by visiting Irish musicians for his accompaniment of traditional Irish music.
Violinist, Nicola Hayes has been playing from the age of 7 and is classically trained. Her speciality is the traditional of Irish and American music, learning and honing her Irish fiddle playing skills from within the Irish immigrant communities of her homeland Australia. Nicola’s love of Irish music meant that she got to spend several years in Ireland, where she perfecting her craft whilst playing in the sessions and concerts of County Clare.
Moving to Brittany in 2001, Nicola has continued her research into traditional fiddle, becoming totally immersed in Breton music.
Flautist Erwan Menguy is another Brian McCombe band member hailing from Brittany. A self-taught flute and Breton biniou kozh (bagpipe) player. In 2005 Erwan, along with his colleague Mathieu Méssager won the under 18s Champion of Brittany prize in the Gourin Championship and won the trophy “Matalin an Dall” in Lorient in 2008, with Daniel Le Féon becoming the youngest laureate since the contest began. Erwan also duets with Erwan Bérenguer playing traditional Irish music and is the Holder of a State Diploma as professor of traditional music.
And a final important statement from our youngest promoter.....
"I think 'Embrace The Sky' is wonderful and it makes me happy"
Lanah
aged 5, Hawaii
