By Noah Lopez
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Anglophiles are in for a treat tonight as The House Band brings the music of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, the Celtic regions of Spain and more to Tucson.
Utilizing a broad array of haunting indigenous instruments Ä ranging from mandolin, flute and guitar to the Melodeon, Northumbrian small pipes and the bombarded (Brittany's primitive bagpipe) Ä The House Band has garnered a strong reputation for performance excellence.
Fronted by former Battlefield Band member Ged Foley, the quartet laces their English traditional folk with elements of Balkan music, African music and a strong dose of melancholy to form a true world folk sound. In recognition of their high standard of musicianship, their album Stonetown won the Folk Music Album of the Year in England. The band's follow-up CD, last year's Groundwork release, is a selection of the best of their first two recordings on the Topic label in the U.K.
For many years, the House Band had a reputation as the best trio in Celtic music. Last year, however, they added Roger Wilson, called the "finest young singer to have emerged in years" by Folk Roots magazine, and an accomplished fiddle player as well.
Tonight's concert should be particularly charged with Celtic energy as the House Band plays Arizona for the first time. This is one folk show you don't want to miss.
The House Band performs tonight at 8 p.m. at the Berger Performing Arts Center. Advance tickets are available at Hear's Music, Piney Hollow, Loco Records, Bentley's and Good Time Music for $10, with a $1 discount for students. For more information call 327-4809.