The Battlefield Band Returns to Ojai
The Battlefield Band will be performing on Wednesday, March 27th, 7:00PM at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club.
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, the Battlefield Band 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, synthesizer, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion.
Scotland’s great flagship band are the musicians that others measure themselves against, Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the ‘Battlefield’ area of Glasgow, the band have now been touring & performing throughout the world for over forty years, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States.
Ever evolving; over the years new members have brought with them new ideas, music, instruments, attitudes and influences, leading to continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm.
The current Battlefield Band line-up consists of:
Sean O’Donnell from Derry, Northern Ireland, on vocals and guitar, who joined the band in 2005. His soulful vocals and driving rhythmic guitar add so much to the mix that 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”
Ewen Henderson, from the Scottish West Highland town of Fort William, on fiddle, bagpipes, whistles, piano and vocals has been born into and naturally steeped in the traditional music and Gaelic language of Scottish culture. He has mastered an impressive array of 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.
Alasdair White, on fiddle, whistle, bazouki, Highland and small pipes comes from the Isle of Lewis, one of the Gaelic speaking Outer Hebrides where music and culture remain strong daily forces. His musicianship, writing, and sense of humor have had a great influence on Battlefield Band’s repertoire and continuing success.
Last but not least, the superb and versatile bagpiper, Mike Katz, born in California (though he lived in Scotland for many years), is the only local boy and has been with the band for 15 years, bringing his expertise on Highland pipes, various whistles and bass guitar to round out the already wonderful, creative and eclectic sound of this world renowned band.
Under their banner ‘Forward with Scotland’s Past’, Battlefield Band have been a bedrock of talent for over four decades, and continue to lead the way for Scotland with their inspired fusion of ancient and modern traditional music and song.
Tickets for this show are $25 in advance and $28 at the door, but they are going fast and this show will surely sellout. For more info and online tickets go to: www.ojaiconcertseries.com or pick up tickets at these fine local Ojai businesses: Made in Ojai, Ojai Valley Feed, Ojai Creates, Cardinali Brothers Music, Ojai Coffee Roasting Company, & Serendipity Toys. Also you can now pick up tickets in Ventura at: “Imagine on Main St.” (the toy store across from the movie theater).
For more information call Shane Butler at: 805-665-8852.
