Artist Profiles: Luar Na Lubre

Luar Na Lubre was founded by multi-instrumentalist Bieito Romero (bagpipes, tin Whistle, punteiro, diatonic accordion; guitarist Daniel Cerqueiro; percussionist Xulio Varela; bassist and mandolinist Roberto Douro; and piper and percussionist Xan Cerqueiro.

Although the ensemble has had various lineup changes, it is one of the longest-lasting Galician folk groups in the past decades. Most of the group’s music are new arrangements of traditional Galician music found in old books and collected by doing field research.

Luar Na Lubre adds its personal touch to Galician music by combining traditional instruments with instruments from other traditions and by composing original songs. The band uses fiddle, guitar, flutes, bouzouki, tambourines, bodhrán, pandeiro (Galician frame drum) harp, Galician pipes, accordion, and zanfona (hurdy gurdy).

Luar Na Lubre accomplished several milestones in the past few years. With their albums, Plenilunio and Cabo Do Mundo they sold more than 80,000 copies of each. The band also collaborated with English artist Mike Olfield, performing on one of his tours.

Mike Oldfield recorded on his album Voyager the Luar Na Lubre song “0 Son Do Ar”, which he called “The Sound of the Sun”. This particular song is what has brought the group considerable international recognition.

In 2005 singer Rosa Cedron left the group. She was replaced by Portuguese singer Sara Louraço Vidal, who stayed with the band from 2005 to 2011. Sara was substituted by Paula Rey, who was lead vocalist during 2011-2016. Next came Irma Macías.

In 2020, Luar Na Lubre released Vieiras e Vieiros, Historias de peregrinos, an album dedicated to the pilgrims that have traveled the Saint James Way (Camino de Santiago) for centuries.

In June 2023, Luar Na Lubre presented the song ‘Canto de Andar’ featuring vocalist Rosa Cedrón. The song was part of the album Luar Na Lubre XX. Encrucillada, released in July. This marked an artistic and emotional reunion with Rosa Cedrón, who was the vocalist of the group during an important period of their career (1997 to 2005).

‘Canto de Andar’ is a song composed by Bieito Romero, in 2008, which is inspired by the old songs of returning home, after the daily work in the Galician rural world. A hymn to the simple, every day, ‘little nothings’ that are the essence of beauty. This song was originally included on the album Camiños da fin da terra (2008), performed by Portuguese singer Sara Vidal, a work that received the award for Best Song in the Galician Language at the Academy of Music Awards in 2008.

Luar Na Lubre XX- Encrucillada was published in book-disc format, including a photographic and literary chronology and texts by artists who have collaborated with the band led by Bieito Romero.

The band in 2024 included Bieito Romero on gaitas (bagpipes), accordion, zanfoña (hurdy-gurdy); Nuria Naya on violín; Patxi Bermúdez on bodhran, drum; Pedro Valero on acoustic guitar; Xavier Ferreiro on Latin percussion and effects; Xan Cerqueiro on flutes; Brais Maceiras on accordion; and Cristina López on lead vocals.

Discography:

O Son Do Ar (Edigal, 1988)
Beira – Atlántica (Sons Galiza, 1990)
Ara – Solis (Sons Galiza, 1993)
Plenilunio ‎(WEA, 1997)
Cabo Do Mundo (WEA, 1999)
Espiral ‎(WEA, 2002)
Hai Un Paraiso ‎(WEA, 2004)
Saudade ‎(WEA, 2005)
Camiños Da Fin Da Terra ‎(Warner Music Spain, 2008)
Ao Vivo ‎(Warner Music Spain, 2010)
Solsticio (Warner Music Spain, 2010)
Mar Maior (Warner Music Spain, 2012)
Torre de Breoghán (2014)
Extra : Mundi ‎(Warner Music Spain, 2015)
Ribeira Sacra ‎(Warner Music Spain, 2018)
Vieiras e Vieiros, Historias de peregrinos (Warner Music Spain, 2020)
XX Encrucillada (2023)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.