Silta

Music:

Member Since: 19/04/2007
Band Members: Contact details:
Christian Martin
+353(0)86-4042354
[email protected]

Angun Sønnesyn Olsen – (vocals) - comes from Voss in Norway. She is currently working on a PhD in the Department of Folklore & Ethnology at University College Cork. Her research involves an extensive comparative analysis of Irish and Norwegian traditional singing. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in folklore and Irish language at the Universities of Bergen and Oslo. While studying music in high school she developed a strong interest in traditional music, and has since researched both the Irish and Scandinavian traditions, focusing on songs. For the last three years, she has been living in Cork, and there she has learned songs from among others Karan Casey, Eilís Ní Shuilleabháin and Máire Ní Chéilleachair. Her main influence in the Norwegian tradition is Berit Opheim, as well as archival recordings.

Tomás Harrington – (button accordion) – born in Cork to a family steeped in Irish tradition, he started playing the button accordion at the age of seven. While a PhD student in the UK, Tomás co-founded the Incomparable O'Baldini Bros. with Don Oeters and fellow Corkonian Colm Murphy (who would both go on to form Broderick with Luke Daniels). Since his return to Ireland in 2000, Tomás has become heavily involved in the traditional Irish music and festival scene, appearing as a guest with several bands which have included Hada to Hada and Tré. He has also appeared on a series of recordings, including Parting Glass (2004) by Emer Kenny (from Celtic Woman 3). A former All-Ireland Champion dancer, his musical influences largely encompass Breton, Nordic, Cajun, Bluegrass, Jazz and Eastern European music, which has seen him travel and play extensively in Ireland, Europe and the US for the past several years. Tomás joined Silta in autumn 2008.

Christian Martin –(fiddle)- originally hails from Nuremberg in Germany. He has lived in Ireland for the last eight years and recently finished his studies with a Diploma in Music Performance and Production at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa (CSN) in Cork. He is classically trained and he has developed a diversity of styles, from jazz/blues to rock and funk. However, throughout his career traditional music was always a passion. For the last twelve years he has played in various traditional bands including Peacocks Feather and Shebeen Connection to name but a few. His diverse musical activities lead him on tours throughout Europe. His main influences and teachers are Gerry O’Connor, Martin Hayes, Ciaran Tourish and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

Barry O' Donovan – (guitar) - was born in Cork in Ireland, where he started playing the guitar at a young age. Initially coming from a Rock 'n' Roll background, his musical influences range from Rory Gallagher and Arty McGlynn to Al Di Meola. He has been playing Irish traditional music for the last sixteen years. Barry has accompanied many great musicians, including Seamus Creagh, Aidan Coffey and Conny O' Connell and recorded with Ger and Martha Clancy, Edel O' Sullivan and Seamus Creagh. In 1998 he co-founded the band Anor with Padraig O' Neill and Christelle Moissan. The band toured all over Europe and played at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany (France) where the band was awarded second prize at the band contest La Bolée des Korrigans. The band released a CD entitled Anor, Live in Sweden in February 1999. Barry has played all over Ireland and abroad and is also currently playing with a Cork-based world music Lazik.

Brian Hanlon – (bouzouki and bodhrán) - Irish music was in Brian Hanlon’s blood even before he was born! His mother, a popular folk musician from the talented Murphy family immigrated to the United States from County Cork in Ireland and he grew up surrounded with many traditional instruments. By the age of 18, he had 5 National Championship titles to his name and represented the USA in the All Ireland Fleadh (traditional music competition). He has performed with such artists as Mick McCauley, Winifred Horan (Solas), Seamus Connolly, Michael Londra, Jerry O' Sullivan, Paddy Keenan, Larry Nugent, Mary Bergin, Tony Cuffe and Tommy Peoples. He also has supported such acts as The Saw Doctors, Solas, Luka Bloom, Dervish, and Kevin Burke. Brian has also recorded with musicians such as James Blennerhassett, Niall Vallelly, Rod Quinn, Hanneke Cassel and Laura Cortese and is in constant demand as a studio musician. Most recently he joined the Aoife Clancy band for their US Tour. A gifted multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, his versatility and proficiency on guitar, bodhrán, and bouzouki mean he is in great demand both as a solo performer and as an accompanist.

Sirpa Lahti - accordion/vocals - comes from Haapavesi in Finland. She has played traditional music almost all her life, and graduated as a music pedagogue from Central Ostrobothnia Polytechnic, Kokkola in 2005. Now she is studying Ethnomusicology at the University of Tampere, and has been an exchange student in University College Cork, Ireland 2006/2007. While in Cork, she was learning Irish accordion from among others, Bobby Gardiner and Christy Leahy. Sirpa is a member of a band called Polskadots in Cork, and in Finland, she is playing with for example Pirukapo, Mööbeli and Cás. Pirukapo has released one CD ‘Karupipo’ in 2005. Sirpa’s main interest in music is in Finnish, Scandinavian, and Irish traditional music.

Saijaleena Rantanen
Sounds Like:
Silta "Kjetto"
Label: Own Label; 2007
This short album by Irish-Scandinavian band Silta starts out with an enchanting melody and perfectly tailored vocals. The delicate but not tentative singing in the song “Ein Sael Kyss” by Robert Burns is perfectly accompanied by guitar and accordion. The gradual playing of harmony lines by the violin is nothing new to the accompaniment of traditional songs, but here it works as if the band had invented the art of arranging. This band’s work is not to be missed.
Gabe McCaslin - Folkworld
Record Label: Unsigned