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Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honour of the Irish god Lugh, Lúnasa was formed in 1997 from members of some of the greatest Irish groups of the previous decade, an early review from Folk Roots magazine describing the band as an “Irish music dream team”. From the start, the band’s complex arrangements and unique sound reshaped the boundaries of traditional music and energized audiences the world over. Critical acclaim followed, The Irish Echo describing the band as the “the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet”; MOJO magazine named the band "the new gods of Irish music,” adding that “nobody since the Bothies has wielded such a thrilling rhythmic underlay.” Billboard raved that “anybody who listens can’t help but find them contagious.”Having since performed over 3,000 shows across 36 countries, Lúnasa has won multiple awards and become one of the most influential bands in the history of traditional music. Collaborations with singers Natalie Merchant, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, and Tim O’Brien and high-profile concerts at The Hollywood Bowl, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Glastonbury Festival and Bercy Arena Paris, helped broaden the band’s audience and cement its place at the forefront of contemporary Irish music.
Lúnasa’s current lineup features: Trevor Hutchinson, who achieved fame as the bassist with the The Waterboys and Sharon Shannon: piper Cillian Vallely was a member of Riverdance and recorded with Bruce Springsteen: Flute player Kevin Crawford, considered one of Ireland’s greatest flute players, was a member of Moving Cloud: award-winning fiddler Sean Smyth, who performed with Donal Lunny’s legendary Coolfin and accordionist Alan Kelly; Guitarist Ed Boyd made a name for himself in the UK folk scene with bands such as Flook, Kate Rusby, and Cara Dillon.
The band are currently celebrating the release of their 10th album “Live in Kyoto”, an album of new material that was recorded in the legendary Taku Taku club in Kyoto, Japan in Dec 2023.
“The result is a satisfying, well-tailored programme delivered with the distinctive blending of tightly reciprocal but almost casually dispatched ensemble playing that has become the quintet's signature." Songlines Magazine
“The playing here is exceptional, even by Lúnasa standards and while the music is very well done, it wouldn’t be as impactful were the recording itself not as good it is” The Irish Echo, New York
“On Live in Kyoto, you will find timeless, prodigiously performed, elegant, modern pieces that combine technical skill with deeply rooted Irish folk music traditions. The musicians deliver impeccable solos, ensemble pieces and brilliant instrumental interplay”. World Music Central
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