"Refreshingly different to anything else that’s around at the minute." The Irish World
Rún gives new life to old songs. With a repertoire based on four-part harmony interpretations of Celtic songs about one-horned cows, red-haired girls, hayropes and bogeymen, the five-strong group performs acapella and with Celtic harp. Rún is the Gaelic word for ‘secret, wish or love’.
The London-based act formed in 2007 and have gone on to perform at many folk clubs and venues including the Union Chapel, the National Theatre Foyer, the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Camden Irish Centre. In 2009 their summer festival tour took them to Upton Folk Festival, Glastonbury, Lewisham People’s Day, Lovebox and Lambeth Country Show. They have supported a variety of high-profile folk artists including John McSherry, Zoe Conway and Martin Simpson.
Our wee Scots Gaelic Christmas Offering
Bodach from Brona McVittie on Vimeo .
Members:
Lewis Barfoot
Lewis started her singing career at school when she mimed her way through her group lessons, getting top marks in the choir for her unbounded enthusiasm, without actually uttering a word. She's gone on to be the lead singer in the The Fruit People, a Brighton based pop-funk band and also sang for the pop-rock band Geezer. She's enjoying getting back to her Irish roots with the Rún gals. When she's not singing she works as an actor, check her on spotlight
Alli Buhagiar
Alli has degrees in music from Dartington College of Arts and Goldsmith's College. She's currently studying under Alice Hyde. Passionate about folk, classical and experimental, her experience ranges from professional tribute bands to recording demos for producers. She formed her own folk group, Belladonna, three years ago. Alli loves early music, folk music weird folkie musical instruments.
Sonja Byrne
Being half Irish, half Bavarian, Sonja was raised listening to trad music. As well as most Celtic and European folk she loves Bluegrass, Old Time, and is keen to pursue her interest in Hebrew song. Alongside perfoming new arrangements of old folk songs, Sonja has sung with Paco Pena in Requiem For The Earth at London's Royal Festival Hall, performed on the soundtrack to Channel 4's War Oratorio and sung with Bellowhead in Southbank Centre's production of The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.
Evrah
Evrah specialises in songs from the British Isles and Eastern Europe, and also has a penchant for chanson and inclination for improvisation. In addition to singing with Rún, Evrah is lead vocalist with the London Gypsy Orchestra, and plays with words as Germander Speedwell. See her website .
Brona McVittie
Brona is from the sleepy village of Rostrevor, where the mountains of Mourne roll down to the sea. Rún evolved out of her interest in old Gaelic songs and the folklore of her homeland. With a Diploma in Musical Techniques and Composition from London's Birkbeck, she creates four-part harmony arrangements of what would traditionally be performed 'Sean nós' (the old way). The group perform acapella and with Celtic harp. Brona also sings with The London Lasses and Pete Quinn .