The Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow saw Tarran come out on top as the winners of the Battle of The Folk Bands competition held on Saturday, January 21st, 2023.
The packed-out Drygate in the East End of Glasgow was the stage for the showdown between four talented bands. Despite some stiff competition, the judges Josie Duncan, Gillian Fleetwood, Michael Biggins, and Eryn Rae ultimately declared Tarran the champion.
Tarran (actually written TAЯRAN) is a dynamic four-member band that blends traditional Celtic and contemporary sounds. Based in Glasgow, the band members have roots in the western isles of Scotland and Ireland, bringing a rich cultural heritage to their music.
Malachy Arnold, the harpist, grew up in Glasgow and spent his formative years in Skye, where Gaelic culture and music were a major part of his life. His music is heavily influenced by his family’s Irish roots.
Rory Stark, who plays the whistle and bodhrán, is a highly regarded musician in the Glasgow music scene, having won the All Ireland Fleadh competition several times.
Breanna Wilson, a fiddle player from Glasgow, has strong ties to Scottish and Irish traditional music, and along with Malachy and Rory, has competed and performed at numerous concerts and fleadhs across Scotland and Ireland.
Sophie Joint, the pianist, frequently performs as a duo with Breanna, and they are proud winners of the Molly Award at the Birmingham Trad Fest. They have also played at international music festivals such as IMBOLC in Ireland, Celtic Colours in Canada, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany, France.
In 2019, the four members of Tarran came together to form the band and won the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections in 2020. The pandemic put a temporary halt to their live performances, but they continued to collaborate and perform online. Malachy Arnold, Breanna Wilson, and Sophie Joint are alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s BMus Traditional Music course.
Watch Tarran’s winning performance here:
Author: World Music Central News Room
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