The Battlefield Band in Worcester, MA
NOTE: The heading above shows an incorrect start time for Sunday's Concert. The start time on Sunday is 3pm as stated everywhere else. The times above refer to the start time of the first concert and the approximate ending time of the last concert. They treat it like an ongoing series of events and we can't change it.
These are benefit concerts for three of Worcester leading Irish & Scottish cultural non-profit organizations. Saturday's performance will benefit the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center and The Celtic Music Department of WCUW 91.3fm Community Radio. Sunday's matinee performance will benefit the Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band.
Battlefield Band are one of the great institutions of Scottish traditional music. Inspired by their rich heritage and fired by the strength and vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene, which they have done much to create and fuel, their seamless fusion of ancient and contemporary music and song has continually evolved over the decades, confirming their position as vital composers and interpreters at the forefront of a living tradition.
Named after the Glasgow suburb of Battlefield, where the group was formed by four student friends in 1969, they have now been on the world's roads for over forty five years, distilling their own unique form of the Scottish spirit. They've performed in Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Syria, Jordan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, U.S.A., Canada, Uzbekistan, China and the U.K; breaking down barriers and pioneering many new directions which others have followed. Angry, joyful, raucous, contemplative, their music is most importantly - accessible to all.
During the years there have been many line-up changes and indeed the band are remarkable for the smooth and organic way in which these changes have taken place. Their continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm is due to the positive way they have viewed and used these changes.
Latest release ‘Room Enough For All’ (awarded Album of the Year at the prestigious MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2013) captures the fiery instrumental dynamics, intuitive interplay and understanding between world class musicians, while their plaintive ballads and tales of social history are as powerful and relevant as ever.
'...as fresh as new mown hay... their live show was a revelation, their new album is a keeper' Irish Music Magazine, May/June 2013
'These stalwarts of the Scottish traditional music scene pull off their umpteenth album with panache' The Scotsman, April 2013
'...as fresh as new mown hay...their live show was a revelation, their new album is a keeper' Irish Music Magazine, May/June 2013
'...still at the cutting edge of modern Scottish folk music...technically flawless & fabulously entertaining' Piping Today, Feb/March 2013
'...new album 'Room Enough for All' continues their commitment to giving the world some of the best music from their homeland' San Diego Troubadour, USA, March 2013
'...another inspirational recording from the flagship Scottish band, which may well be counted as their finest hour in the studio' Fatea, May 2013
'Battlefield Band never stand still' Folking, April 2013
'...a world class musical tour de force… …I’ve never seen so many smiling faces' Meander Valley View, Tasmania, April 2012
"What the internationally renowned Irish band, the Chieftains, have done for traditional Irish music, Battlefield Band are doing for the music of Scotland …" BILLBOARD
"They knit the Scottish tradition into a sound that still sounds fresh, alert and relevant and belies their veteran status. No tricks, no gimmicks, just very fine music." MOJO
'...one of the great institutions of the Scottish music scene.... ' The Guardian
"… a bedrock of Scottish music for over three decades." MOJO
'...a wondrous perfectly paced display by musicians firmly in command of their art ...a Highland jam that rang the barn's rafters ...the band's chemistry at this point is uncanny... the best Battlefield Band in years' The Washington Post