«The Skelligs» is an acoustic band from Split (Croatia), which plays predominantly traditional Irish, but also other Gaelic music as well as their original compositions in world/fusion style. The repertoire consists of instrumental sets of conventional music forms – reels, jigs, polkas, hornpipes, airs etc. with a touch of elements from other musical styles (such as improvisation, jazz harmonies, blues and funk riffs and other). The use of different musical instruments and unexpected arrangements makes their music attractive and unique. The basic approach is balance between tradition and innovation cleared of any kind of banality and shallowness. When a singer available, traditional songs (Irish, as well Croatian and other) are incorporated in the repertoire, whereas the accent is given to the arrangements. The band exists since 1999.
In an environment where the knowledge about Irish music is extremely humble, further more, this same environment has never had the opportunity to listen live the Irish music; the performances of «The Skelligs» were seen with a mixture of skepticism, surprise and thrill. With no exceptions in the audience, either young either old, there wasn't anyone who hasn't been fascinated by this «new-found» music sound, even often taken to dancing, thanks to it’s catching rhythm.
Since the first public performance (2000.) the group has been frequently performing in clubs, open air stages, theatres and halls in Croatia, Netherlands and lately in Ireland. The national television (HRT) shoots 2004. a 25 minutes documentary about the group. «The Skelligs» recorded 2006. the soundtrack for Croatian première of “The Weir†by the famous contemporary Irish playwright Conor McPherson.
The fact of the constantly line-up changing didn’t result in stagnancy. In opposite, the musicians that turned contributed with their talents to further development of the band as a unit, and thanks to their extraordinary skills and enthusiasm there wasn’t any standstill in the work of «The Skelligs». Till 2007. the band played in purely traditional style, but the new line-up brought then the creation of the new sound with a touch of jazz and fusion elements.
The name of the band is given after the Skelligs – two islands, or better to say rocks, 12 km from the southwest coast of Ireland, Co.Kerry. “Skellig†(sceilg) in Irish means rock.
Contact:
[email protected]Milan Pištalo - 098-981-58-79
[email protected]
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