Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Sell out warning! The most sensational figure in Scottish smallpipes since they were first forged! Brìghde revitalised a dying sound, moving it beyond the folk tradition and her native Isle of Skye towards the global stage. Now she’s collaborating with sax maestro Colin Stetson on towering, droning masterpieces of experimental mystical minimalism. Totally unmissable for trad and drone fans alike."
Join the Headfirst mailing list for our unbiased recommendations.
A gig held at Strange Brew on Wednesday 21st February. The event starts at 19:00.
Ear Trumpet Music Presents: Brìghde Chaimbeul + Cerys Hafana. Standing show (with some unreserved seats) at Strange Brew, 10-12 Fairfax St, BS1 3DB - Ages 14+ (Under 18's to be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm
Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounched Breetch-er Hime-bowl) is a leading purveyor of experimental Celtic music. Her piping has earned her a BBC Young Folk Award and a BBC Horizon Award, and seen her perform for heads of state at the Cop26 climate conference. She’s brought her instrument to a global stage, and has worked with a range of other artists - currently she can be heard on Caroline Polachek's new single 'Blood and Butter'. With her second album 'Carry Them With Us’, Chaimbeul has taken it beyond folk music, discovering a place where tradition and minimalism meet, offering her the freedom to experiment in sound and create something completely her own. 'Carry Them With Us' is an exhilarating weave of rich textural drones, trance atmospheres and instrumental folk traditions. She was joined on this album by acclaimed Canadian sound explorer and saxophonist Colin Stetson (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver), who also co-produced the album.
A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, Brìghde's style is rooted in her language and culture, but draws inspiration from a variety of global piping traditions, such as from Eastern Europe, Cape Breton and Ireland. Her debut album ‘The Reeling’ (2019) had an extraordinary response. Produced by Lau’s Aidan O’Rourke, it was named as Folk Album Of The Month by The Guardian, given five star reviews in both fRoots and Songlines, lavished with praise by BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and listed as one of The Quietus’s Albums Of The Year. 'The Reeling' was voted one of the 20 Scottish Albums of the Year by the Say Awards (out of 293 submissions) and secured a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award win for Brìghde.
“Simultaneously ancient and modern, profound and direct” – Folk Album of the Month – The Guardian
“A unique, exciting and forward-looking album that sets the bar for 2019 very high
indeed” – The Quietus
“Exciting, unusual and gorgeous” – Songlines
“Pure, vital energy… exceptional playing” – Folk Radio
“Mesmerising” - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
Cerys Hafana
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. She comes from Machynlleth, Wales, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea. Cerys has won over audiences from Green Man to the Eisteddfod and from BBC 6 Music Festival to Celtic Connections with her magical, progressive sound.
Her second album Edyf was selected as one of The Guardian’s Top Ten albums of
2022, as well as receiving wide-spread media attention and critical acclaim.
'she’s an adept shapeshifter, entwining tradition with direct and personal interpretations to create music that’s both progressive, profound and inspiring.' Alex Gallagher, Folk Radio UK
'Hafana explores resonances from the past that connect with the modern day in a contemporary, creative way... she uses her harp as a percussive, jagged- toothed tool… sings movingly, her high voice like an indie-pop soprano shorn of its sweetness.’ Jude Rogers, The Guardian. https://eartrumpetmusic.co.uk
Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio)
Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm
Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounched Breetch-er Hime-bowl) is a leading purveyor of experimental Celtic music. Her piping has earned her a BBC Young Folk Award and a BBC Horizon Award, and seen her perform for heads of state at the Cop26 climate conference. She’s brought her instrument to a global stage, and has worked with a range of other artists - currently she can be heard on Caroline Polachek's new single 'Blood and Butter'. With her second album 'Carry Them With Us’, Chaimbeul has taken it beyond folk music, discovering a place where tradition and minimalism meet, offering her the freedom to experiment in sound and create something completely her own. 'Carry Them With Us' is an exhilarating weave of rich textural drones, trance atmospheres and instrumental folk traditions. She was joined on this album by acclaimed Canadian sound explorer and saxophonist Colin Stetson (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver), who also co-produced the album.
A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, Brìghde's style is rooted in her language and culture, but draws inspiration from a variety of global piping traditions, such as from Eastern Europe, Cape Breton and Ireland. Her debut album ‘The Reeling’ (2019) had an extraordinary response. Produced by Lau’s Aidan O’Rourke, it was named as Folk Album Of The Month by The Guardian, given five star reviews in both fRoots and Songlines, lavished with praise by BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and listed as one of The Quietus’s Albums Of The Year. 'The Reeling' was voted one of the 20 Scottish Albums of the Year by the Say Awards (out of 293 submissions) and secured a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award win for Brìghde.
“Simultaneously ancient and modern, profound and direct” – Folk Album of the Month – The Guardian
“A unique, exciting and forward-looking album that sets the bar for 2019 very high
indeed” – The Quietus
“Exciting, unusual and gorgeous” – Songlines
“Pure, vital energy… exceptional playing” – Folk Radio
“Mesmerising” - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
Cerys Hafana
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. She comes from Machynlleth, Wales, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea. Cerys has won over audiences from Green Man to the Eisteddfod and from BBC 6 Music Festival to Celtic Connections with her magical, progressive sound.
Her second album Edyf was selected as one of The Guardian’s Top Ten albums of
2022, as well as receiving wide-spread media attention and critical acclaim.
'she’s an adept shapeshifter, entwining tradition with direct and personal interpretations to create music that’s both progressive, profound and inspiring.' Alex Gallagher, Folk Radio UK
'Hafana explores resonances from the past that connect with the modern day in a contemporary, creative way... she uses her harp as a percussive, jagged- toothed tool… sings movingly, her high voice like an indie-pop soprano shorn of its sweetness.’ Jude Rogers, The Guardian. https://eartrumpetmusic.co.uk
Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio)
Other folk gigs
— Bristol Beacon
indie rock
psych
folk
folk-pop
jazz
