Battlefield Band Set to Return

Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Artha Kass —

Battlefield Band is back, playing Scottish music of rare passion and joy!

Battlefield Band leads the way for Scotland with their inspired fusion of ancient and modern traditional music and song. Orcas Center is delighted to have Battlefield Band back on Center Stage on Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 pm and to offer our community a workshop lecture/demo to learn from their artistry as well.

Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength and vibrancy of today’s Scottish cultural scene, Battlefield Band has been at the forefront of a great revival in Scottish music. Refusing to be limited musically by 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.

Founded over 40 years ago in the Glasgow suburb of Battlefield, this band is one of the great institutions of the Scottish music scene. They are famous for their experiments, mixing pipes and fiddle with guitar, piano, whistle and cittern (the medieval mandolin), for their adventurous blend of traditional and contemporary songs.

Battlefield Band’s latest album, Room Enough For All, was awarded Album of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Awards 2013. Battlefield Band is honoured to have now been recognised by the awards for a third time in the band’s 45 year history, having previously been awarded “Best Live Act” at the inaugural awards ceremony in 2003 and “Scottish Folk Band of the Year” in 2011. Battlefield’s Band’s song Bagpipe Music, the opening track from the award winning album, has just been nominated in the World Traditional Song Category at the Independent Music Awards.

Battlefield Band’s workshop is on Saturday, April 5 at 4 pm on Center Stage of Orcas Center.

The workshop is a lecture/demo on The Elements and History of Celtic Music. Free with a ticket purchase to the evening concert or $10 at the door.

Burgers & Brew from the Lower Tavern at 6:00 pm before the show. $15 at the door.

“a wondrous perfectly paced display by musicians firmly in command of their art …a Highland jam that rang the barn’s rafters …the band’s chemistry at this point is uncanny… the best Battlefield Band in years.” —The Washington Post

“…one of the great institutions of the Scottish music scene.” —BBC Music Review

“Bringing Scottish folk music back up to date, the Battlefield Band are always evolving.” —Sunday Express

Tickets for Battlefield Band are $25, $19 Orcas Center members, $11 for students and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon – 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2014 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.