KELTIAC is a band originally formed by Chris Dawson on moving to France where from a chance meeting in a recording studio he met traditional harpist Frederic Bougouin. They then both went on to form the four piece band, which has since become five ! which has gone on to play some of the biggest folk/celtic festivals in Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chris Dawson has grown up amongst the fantastic musical diversity in and around Manchester and been particularly involved in the Manchester Irish music scene and also plays the traditional music of his native region of Lancashire and the North-West in general... Jigs, Slip jigs, Reels, Hornpipes etc, are well known as being part of Irish music, but they are also native to the North of England, with which there has always been a lot of common ground in the folk tradition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris is also well known for his flute making skills, with players such as Michael McGoldrick, Brian Finnegan (Flook), Jean-Michel Veillon, Sylvain Barou, etc, all using his renowned bamboo flutes ! He is also one of the rare flute players who can play the flute using circular breathing, a technique which allows to play indefinitley without a break in the note ! . . . . . . . . . .
Chris plays traditional Flutes / Whistles, and many other instruments including: Mandolin, Bouzouki, Bodhran, Piano / Keyboards, Bass, Didgeridoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Since 1999, Chris has been touring with fantastic traditional harpist Frederic Bougouin-Kramer, who has an essential part on the album and on stage. Fred began his musical studies and apprentiship of the Celtic harp at the conservatoire de Poitiers. He has worked with Janet Harbison, Katrien Delavier and Myrdhin (Afro-Celts). A number of years ago during the International Celtic Harp Festival of Dinan in Brittany, Fred was awarded 1st place for improvisation and 2nd place for composition... He has since been back and played as a main artist ! Fred is without doubt one of the most innovative traditional harpists of today !
Keltiac's album, "Out on the Edge" has participations from some of the most respected musicians on the folk/celtic music scene today, including : Michael McGoldrick (Capercaillie, Lunasa, Afro-Celts, etc), Dan Ar Braz ! Alain Genty (Barzaz, Gwerz, etc), Sylvain Barou (Denez Prigent, Comas, etc), Annie Ebrel. . . . . .
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Click here to hear more tracks from the album 'Out on the Edge'
