| Howard Chu: fiddle, mandolin, vocal | Ian Abramovitch: bodhran, bones |
| Áedan MacDomhnaill: concertina, harp, vocal, step dance | George Lockwood: banjo, fiddle, mandolin |
Mixing songs with instrumentals,
the group provides a raucous good time for folkies and families. When you
see them, expect to hear jigs, ballads, reels, drinking songs, hornpipes,
patriotic songs, and polkas. Look for them anywhere - pubs, restaurants,
parties, weddings, festivals.
Howard leads the band, playing fiddle and mandolin, singing bass, and step-dancing.
A singer all his life, he started playing fiddle in the summer of 1991
and hasn't stopped since. The musical path has been a twisty one - Howard
has performed across the United States and Canada, and throughout Europe,
with a number of recordings made along the way. His specialty is Early
Music, from medieval to Baroque, with occasional detours into big band
and vocal jazz. Howard has won numerous international awards for vocal,
fiddle, and dance, but finds the most satisfaction just in jamming with
friends.
When Ian first picked up a bodhran, at the Renaissance Faire, back in 1985,
someone asked him "why did you get that? We don't need another bodhran
player!" His answer was "I got it for me.. not for you.." Two years later
the word was "THE CHIEF" says..."you WILL drum for the stage show"...
The rest is history...
Over the last few years he's played guest spots with a variety of the
local bands in the L.A. area and appears on a number of albums produced
by local artists. The "Shmoozmeister" of Highland Sun, he's quick with
a smile or a flirtatious wink... and DON'T get him started on his next
favorite item... Single Malt Scotches...
As a designer/producer of motion picture sound and music, George has seen
his work screened from Bombay and Tokyo to London and Berlin. He has been
playing Celtic music since 1974. While a student at Cal Arts, he studied
Carnatic (South Indian) violin with the renowned Dr. L. Subramaniam. He
has recorded internationally and has contributed to the work of artists
ranging from Pat O'Neill to Mike Kelley, Nels Cline, Jim Shaw, and Donald
Byrd. More recently, George also performed in the movie "Titanic" in the
down-below ceiligh.
Áedan studied harp with various well-known harpers from Ireland,
Wales, and the U.S. She has performed in Southern California and the San
Francisco Bay Area for radio shows, music festivals, benefits, art shows,
restaurants, hotels, private parties, weddings, funerals, and religious
celebrations. She has also appeared as a guest harper on several CD's and
has a track on the recently released Harper's Hall - Volume 1 CD.
Her own CD, As the Crow Flies, is due to be released very shortly. It is an original and unique blend of harp, vocals, piano, bass, concertina, flute, and guitar. All songs are traditional Celtic with three original compositions by Áedan keeping the Celtic flavor.