Sheelanagig, are releasing their 5th album'Beard Town' recorded at the legendary Real World Studios and are hitting the road for a UK tour. They have become something of a West Country institution for the past decade. A quintet with a well-stocked armoury of stringed instruments banjo, fiddle, double bass etc and a bagful of joint-jumping tunes, these boys sure know how to get a party started. Putting both stomp and skank into gypsy-flavoured tunes from the Balkans and beyond, it's difficult nay, impossible for your limbs to remain stationary when you're within earshot of them in full flight. Five showmen with a touch of the circus about them, the fact that they've often played with a knowing wink shouldn't obscure their impeccable technique, virtuoso-standard ability that raises the roof in every place they perform.

Formed 10 years ago at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, they have performed extensively across the UK and Europe playing all sorts of venues from music clubs to theatres and from free street carnivals to major festivals like Beautiful Days, Glastonbury and Womad to name a few. The five members bring a variety of musical backgrounds to the band which adds to the unique flavour of the sound. Violinist Aaron Catlow has been touring most of his life with various acts including medieval troubadours Peascod and Irish revellers, Mad Dog Mcrea. Flautist Adrian Sykes played for many years in a folk electronica group Elephant Talk and has produced music for theatre and dance. Drummer, Jon Blakeley's passion lies in Afro beat and Latin and he plays with Bristol super group No Go Stop. Guitarist Kit Hawes performed in Bristol's Invisible Circus House Band and is an outstanding solo folk performer, and bassist John Short has a background of rock and jazz and tours the world with Fado performer Claudia Aurora. There are many influences within the band but what unites them is a passion for creating fantastic music that is not only great to listen to, but is also an energetic and entertaining experience when seen live

If a combination of Madness, Taraf de Haidouks and Hot Club jazz ticks your boxes, here's your new favourite band. If you've seen them before then you know there will be mayhem, a lot of laughs and some great music.

'A completely top night out.' - Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

'The musicianship is tight and intense' Songlines

'High octane stuff...Would liven any party and keep the floor full' fRoots Magzine

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