The Tholtan Builders

The Tholtan Builders are a Manx band formed in 1992 out of infamous pub sessions in the south of the Island, and since then well, we just haven't stopped! Apart from frequent local performances, we have been regular participants in the Manx Inter-Celtic Yn Cruinnaght and the Peel Traditional Boat Weekend.We have represented the Isle of Man twice at the Feile Pan-Celtagh, in Galway in 1993 and in Tralee in 1995, with songs we had written in Manx Gaelic, we also played at the L'Orient Festival in Brittany in August 1998.We play predominantly our own material together with a number of traditional Celtic tunes. Styles and arrangements can vary from Country, Reggae, Bluegrass, Jazz, Eastern European and even a Calypso now and again never goes amiss. Our own material covers local topical issues, interpretations of historical local poetry as well as more contemporary influences.A typical Tholtan Builders performance is lively, comical and audience participation is most definitely welcomed!The band's name is derived from the Manx Gaelic word Tholtan, which loosely translates as A house without a roof; tholtans are common throughout the Island's countryside and are the deserted homesteads of emigrant hill farmers.