Press release here:
The Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, presented in partnership with The Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College, kicks off its Mainstage Celtic Series with Battlefield Band, 8:00pm, Friday, March 19 in downtown Asheville.
Under its banner “Forward with Scotland’s Past” and inspired by a rich heritage of Celtic music, Battlefield Band have been performing on the international scene for more than three decades as pioneers of the integration of bagpipes with fiddle, keyboard, guitar and voice. Heard regularly on National Public Radio’s Thistle and Shamrock and as frequent guests on Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, the band mixes the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments: bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars, cittern, bass, whistles and bouzouki.
Says Billboard Magazine, “What the internationally renowned Irish band, the Chieftains, has done for traditional Irish music, Battlefield Band is doing for the music of Scotland.”
For thirty years now Battlefield Band have been making their own distinctive blend of Scottish traditional and Celtic music, and have released almost as many albums in that time. Founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the “Battlefield” area of Glasgow, the band released a thirtieth anniversary album in 2009 entitled Zama Zama… Try Your Luck… This inspired fusion of ancient and modern Scottish traditional music is cut with a modern edge, exploring themes of greed and the tragedies that the search for wealth can bring during the current global banking crisis. BBC calls Zama Zama: “ … impressively varied and entertaining album by one of Scotland’s great veteran bands.”
Battlefield Band is made up of four talented players: founding member Alan Reid on keyboards, accordion and vocals; the highly versatile Mike Katz on Highland bagpipes, small pipes and whistles; award-winning fiddler Alasdair White, who also plays whistle, bouzouki, Highland and small pipes; and highly accomplished guitar player Sean O’Donnell, who lends his voice to vocals as well. Battlefield Band now perform throughout the world, playing to audiences in Europe, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States.
For more information on Battlefield Band’s March 19 performance or to purchase tickets (Regular $30; Seniors $28; Students $25; Student Rush day-of-the-show with valid ID $10), call the theatre’s box office at (828)257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.