Celts return (From Stroud News and Journal)

Celts return

CRAOBH Rua, widely regarded as Belfast's finest, make a welcome visit to Stroud's Subscription Rooms next week for what promises to be a stunning eve of St Patrick's Day celebration of Irish music and song.

The exciting and fiery acoustic four-piece take a refreshingly unpretentious and uncommonly skilled run at some of the greatest music in the world.

"Craobh Rua (pronounced Crave Ru-ah) play Irish Traditional Music from the heart," said promoter Crispin Thomas. "They have a rich sound, acoustic driven, this is traditional Celtic fare at its finest, mixing rousing jigs, reels and polkas with tender ballads and airs.

"Theirs is a music driven by the exciting banjo and mandolin playing of group founder Brian Connolly and the stunning fiddle playing of Michael Cassidy."

"They are impeccable musicians and have been likened to the first wave of the Irish folk revival of the 1960s and 70s.

"They have performed with De Dannan, Alan Stivell and even taken the stage in Italy in an Ireland-meets-Mongolia collaboration with Outer Mongolian band Egschiglen!"

Recent tours and festival shows in the UK, Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland, Belgium, USA, Canada and Australia to delighted audiences has earned the band widespread appreciation and recognition.

Sell-out shows over the last eight years have seen the band build up a large and loyal fan-base.

They have released five albums to date worldwide, their current offering being If Ida Been Here Ida Been There.

They come to the Stroud Subscription Rooms, along with special guest Padraig Lalor, on Thursday, March 16 at 8pm. Tickets, priced £8.50, are available from the box office.