Just before Christmas we announced the release of Astar, the new album from Scottish folk band Breabach. Astar, their fifth studio album (out on March 11th), translates from Scottish Gaelic as distance or journey and in many ways is a reflection of their global touring over the past five years which has influenced and shaped their music. It features a number of guest artists from Norway, Quebec, Australia and New Zealand who will add to the multicultural celebration of this release.
Just a look back at those five years shows how big a part their globetrotting ventures have played in developing their sound – In 2010 they toured Quebec and Scotland with Le Vent Du Nord and 2014 saw them merging with Maori and Aboriginal artists to produce the Boomerang concert which performed at the Sydney Opera House, Womad NZ, Glasgow Commonwealth Games & the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway. Then on a trip to Australia in March 2015, the band joined with members of the Black Arm Band to explore links between Aboriginal, Scottish, Indian and Maori music & culture. Much of the inspiration that came out of these few days spent together has found it’s way on to the album.
Whilst the album is influenced by what has passed this also marks a potential new beginning as Breabach are never one to sit still as the last five years have shown.
2016 will see them undertaking an extensive UK Tour so make every opportunity to see them if you can. Dates below:
Breabach 2016 Tour
28-Jan Perth Concert Hall, Perth
12-Feb The Brunton, Musselburgh
13-Feb The Civic, Barnsley
22-Feb Nettlebed Village Club, Nr Henley-on-Thames
23-Feb The Fleece Inn, Evesham
25-Feb Colston Hall, Bristol
26-Feb Liverpool Phil Music Room, Liverpool
27-Feb The Met, Bury
02-Mar Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
03-Mar New Greenham Arts Centre, Newbury
04-Mar Grayshott Folk Club, Surrey
05-Mar The Pound, Corsham
06-Mar Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton
10-Mar The Convent, Stroud
11-Mar The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple
12-Mar Emsworth Baptist Church, Emsworth
13-Mar 100 Club, London
19-Mar The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
25-Mar Bishopton Folk Night, Renfrewshire
31-Mar The Grand, Clitheroe
01-Apr Pontio, Bangor
02-Apr Drygate, Glasgow
You can pre-order Astar via Bandcamp which include a number of packages as well as an instant download of the above track: breabach.bandcamp.com/album/astar