Scottish alt-folk music band Talisk was formed in 2014. With their innovative, top-selling sound, boundary-pushing style, and worldwide shows, Talisk has cemented their status as one of Scotland’s most sought-after groups rooted in Scotland’s Celtic music traditions.
The trio consists of Mohsen Amini, Graeme Armstrong, and Benedict Morris, each a recipient of prestigious awards including BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year. They seamlessly mix concertina, guitar, and fiddle to create a captivating and instantly enthralling live show.
Despite their seemingly acoustic instrumentation, Talisk’s multi-layered sound is anything but simplistic, reflecting the mastery of three exceptional musicians who have garnered widespread acclaim for their explosively energetic performances. In addition to winning Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, the group has also been recognized with the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation, further underscoring their cutting-edge approach.
Talisk’s magnetic live shows have been seen and celebrated at top festivals across the globe, including the Cambridge Folk Festival, Tønder Festival in Denmark, Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysian Borneo, WOMADs in the UK, Chile and Las Palmas, the Edmonton Folk Festival, and the Milwaukee Irish Festival, among others. Furthermore, the group has made six appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections and closed out Saturday night’s main stage at the prestigious 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, solidifying their status as one of folk music’s most exciting acts.
Following the critical success of their debut album, Abyss, Talisk’s sophomore release, Beyond, proved to be equally well-received, earning rave reviews and soaring to the top of the iTunes world music charts upon its late 2018 release. With their innovative sound, masterful musicianship, and dynamic live shows, Talisk is a group not to be missed.
Mohsen Amini (concertina), BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards “Musician of the Year,” is a virtuoso musician from Glasgow, Scotland. He co-founded Talisk and acclaimed supergroup Ímar, performed globally, and has won numerous awards for his outstanding musicianship.
Benedict Morris (fiddle), 2019 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, has made a significant impact in the traditional music scene with his duo project and joining Talisk.
Graeme Armstrong (guitar), a BMUS Honours Degree holder in performance and composition. He co-founded the award-winning Rachel Hamer Band and joined Talisk in 2017, leading the band to win the 2017 Folk Band Of The Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards.
Discography:
Abyss (Talisk Records, 2016)
Beyond (Talisk Records, 2018)
Dawn (Talisk Records, 2022)
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.