Biography
RADIO ADD DATE March 7, 2023
RADIO PROMOTION BY Art Menius Radio
art@artmenius.com https://artmeniusradio.com
The Gaulway Ramblers debut with an eponymous album of traditional Irish & French music
The Gaulway Ramblers' self-titled debut album is a joyful experiment in intertraditional tavern music. Blending the high-spirited vigor of Irish music with the thicker, modal sounds of the French hurdy-gurdy tradition, these musicians create a hearty stew of instrumental flavors, with a double dose of drones thickening the broth, and the bracing, cicada-like sound of the hurdy-gurdy's "trompette" warming the back of the nostrils. In addition to the engrossing sonic blend, the musicians play with raw joy and curiosity that move this album from interesting to infectious.
The unusual but appealing combination that forms the band's core sound consists of Scott Miller (flute, uilleann pipes), Nathan Glazier (guitar, banjo) and Fred Holweck (hurdy-gurdy). These three found each other at Red Clay Brewery in Opelika, AL, where a weekly traditional Irish music session is held. Holweck was visiting for a year from France and found himself welcomed by the session, where he hypnotized the entire pub for months with his magical meditative melodies. Glazier and Miller, longtime session regulars, were so taken with Holweck's music that they pursued learning it with him outside the session. Over time, "learning" became "rehearsing" as the group developed their own style and the adventurous yet balanced arrangements they began to favor.
Their developing music called for percussive support, and Douglas Casson Coutts stepped in on the bodhrán. (Coutts did play on the album, but sadly was not available for the photoshoot.) With this structure they were ready to take on public performances. After the group's first festival at Celtic Bayou Fest in Lafayette, LA, it became clear that an album was the next step. The group invited Emma Dansak (viola) and CJ Alexander (cajón), friends of the session at Red Clay. Both were captivated by the Gaulway sound and fleshed it out into more dimensions, adding dark, fecund harmonies with the viola and nuanced power and architecture with the cajón.
The resulting music sounds brand new, but familiar; idiosyncratic, but universal. There are seven tracks of French music and four of Irish, each one tethered to tradition but eagerly telling a brand new story. However, there is a price of admission: to enjoy this album, you must be able to abide the buzz of the hurdy-gurdy. It's an abrasive sound, and it might not be for you. But you owe it to yourself to give the "Old Hag" set, or the "Gloryflower" set, the chance to convince you.
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AirPlay Direct Member Since:
02/26/23
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Profile Last Updated:
08/16/23 19:10:28