Swåp - the Du Da tour at Orkney Bands

Swåp - the Du Da tour

Published by Matthias May 3rd, 2006 in Gigs.

If the title hasn’t already left you scratching your head, this night promises “Rave energy and string quartet subtlety by turn!” …err what now? Featuring Karen Tweed, Ian Carr, Ola Bäckström and Carina Normansson, Swåp will be hitting Orkney for two performances during their Highlands and Islands tour this month. Blurb:

Swåp present chilling, thrilling musical adventures in Anglo-Scandinavian roots ‘’n’’ reel and song, where Swedish polskas & schottis shake hands with jigs & waltzes from all over the British Isles & Ireland.

Following international festival appearances at Celtic Connections, Tokyo, Minneapolis Nordic Roots, Tonder, The Purcell Room and broadcast spots on BBC R3 Late Junction & BBC4, Swåp tour the UK this spring, kicking off at York’s renowned Jorvik Viking Festival and visiting the Highland & Islands in May 2006.

Featuring all-Ireland champion and internationally acclaimed piano accordionist, Karen Tweed, long-time member of The Poozies with Mary McMaster, Patsy Seddon & Eilidh Shaw.

Guitarist Ian Carr, wizard of rhythm & wit, currently a regular with Eddi Reader, Kate Rusby Band and John McCusker. He’s recently learned Swedish and now has a baby daughter called Matilda.

Ola Bäckström, viola d’amore & fiddle, is one of the most respected fiddlers & composers in Scandinavia today. His playing on Den Fule’s Skalv, Hedningarna’s Hippjokk, Triptyk, Boot and solo album have influenced a generation of musicians.

Carina Normansson, fiddle & voice, has roots in Vastmanland and is devoted to researching music and song of the region. She is a member of Traton with Ola. Carina leads new “big-bunch” orchestra West Manna Folk with her dog Frida. She sings of naked men in the snow.

11 May 2006, 7:30PM
King Street Hall, Kirkwall
01856 871000 for tickets: £8/ £5 concession.

12 May 2006, 7:00PM
Community Hall, Sanday
01857 600296 for tickets: £7.50/ £4.50 (joint ticket £10/£5)

Check out their website for more:
Swåp

2 Responses to “Swåp - the Du Da tour”

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1 Grumpy Old Git May 19th, 2006 at 9:33 pm

I WAS THERE - Swåp - the Du Da tour - King Street Halls Kirkwall - 11May 2006.

SOLD OUT
These guys are fantastic. Outstanding Talent, Sublime Ability, Supreme Performers blah blah blah - Yep I could use all these and more to describe SWAP’s whistle stop tour of Orkney but nah, not gonna. This band has been together for 11 years and that is quite something in the ego busting music business . Kinda lets you understand the friendly sort of people they are and that they obviously share the love of the music they play. They possibly dont tour that often due to their own massive solo commitments as befits such Masterful Musicians. Oops slipped into obsequious mode again sorry.
Individually their resume’s and discography read like the Royal Family of the Traditional/World Music Universe. Together, they fuse their elements with subtle class and effortless magic.

Scandahoovian Polkas, if thats your thing, were in abundance. Albeit with variations of the theme and there are so many with a 3/4 time signature. Add to that some pretty cool self penned tunes and a few historically significant Swedish Folk Songs, humerously explained for us not blessed with the abilty to speak Swedish, ammounted to a full and varied programme.

As an introduction to Swedish traditional music it was excellent - As a platform to see and hear superb musicians working well together in a tight well rehearsed set it was wonderful. The King Street Halls as a venue was perfect for this band with a unique accoustic that lent itself to the music without the need for volume. This allowed clarity and quality to bathe the audience who thoroughly enjoyed Swåp’s performance as the well deserved encore testified.

Thanks for the chance to share music.

1 No prescription xanax. Trackback on Apr 16th, 2008 at 5:05 am

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