Band of Burns welcomes you to one of the most powerful and compelling sounds of folk and world music: a unique collaboration of twelve artists from the top echelons of the folk scene – including members of such prestigious groups as Afro Celt Sound System and The Langan Band.
These individuals come together to perform a truly distinct show which celebrates the life, works and philosophies of Robert Burns, sharing a profound belief in the values he championed – equality, social justice and the power of love – and in their pressing relevance amid today’s troubled times.
The birth of Band of Burns came after several years of one-off Burns Night gigs in London’s famous Wilton’s Music Hall. The team behind the band – musicians Alastair Caplin and Dila Vardar – put together a more permanent group of musicians who relished playing together but had too little opportunity and were hungry for more.
Bringing elements of the musical traditions of their homelands – Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, and Turkey – the final selection of the twelve musicians was an easy choice to make; all had played together at some point in the past, all had shared the highest level of mutual respect for each other’s musical skill, and all had a deep regard for the works of Robert Burns.
The resultant band is a tightly knit ensemble of musicians who all shine bright in their own right, with a string of awards and an admirable checklist of every big concert venue in the UK.
“Nourishing stuff beyond its times, another warm welcoming stew to fee the bones.” – The Guardian
“A shimmering collection that does full justice to the poet’s humane vision.” – The Times
This is a standing show.
