Afro Celt Soundsystem

from the album sound magic
It has been an extraordinary 10 year journey for the Afro Celt Sound System - one of the most innovative music collectives of its time. In that period there have been many lesser imitators and the global beat movement they pioneered has entered the mainstream.

When Simon Emmerson began to piece together the Afro Celt Sound System in 1992 he had no idea where the journey would take him. But Emmerson's fascination with the link between Irish and African traditions introduced him to three like-minded souls - co-producer and multi-instrumentalist James McNally; vocalist and lyricist Iarla O Lionaird; co-producer, engineer and programmer Martin Russell.

The bonding of these four members turned the Afro Celts from a project into a band. Over the years they have formed an ever-changing collaborative collective with numerous outstanding guest performers who have taken cross-cultural fusion to dizzying hights. As well as core members Johnny Kalsi and N'Faly Koyate they have been joined by a host of names from Robert Plant to Sinead O Connor, Davy Spillane to Liam O'Flynn, Peter Gabriel and Eileen Ivers to name but a few.

As a band they have broken down musical barriers and celebrated musical and cultural differences to create an organic whole out of many parts. They have sold well over 1.2 million albums, contributed to the sound tracks of numerous films - from Hotel Rwanda to Stigmata, and been nominated for two Grammy awards. They have built a formidable live reputation playing to sell out crowds worldwide headlining Festivals at WOMAD and numerous other events.

After five albums the impact and influence of the Afro Celt Sound System remains undiminshed.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• afro
• celt
• sound
• system

[tubeasswipe]

the chorusin in irish translated to english is. no tent or castle we cant go home

[lijevar]

this is the future...

Species : Human

Planet : Earth

Galaxy : Milky Way

forget countries, forget nationalities, forget skin color

[ecopunk66]

@beccaapow are there any plans to do live shows in britain anytime this year?? if so where will they be??, north east england could do with some music infusion i dare say!!!

[beccaapow]

@ecopunk66 yeah its not too bad, he just started managing them now so its pretty cool! x

[UmmAzizaJamila]

@thatblabbermouthcat The largest population of Africans of Irish decent are on the Island of Monsurette. They came together during the potato famine. When ship were getting off the Isles. So they are not so very alien.

Do I hear a slight tone of racism there....I hope not.

[ecopunk66]

@beccaapow Youre a very lucky person, this band is respected and revered all over the planet! How cool is that eh!

Regards xx

[beccaapow]

haha, this is my dad's band. so wierd, i never listen to his music but i came up on my youtube home

[thatblabbermouthcat]

How can the traditional music of a people whose history streches back to the Bronze age and beyond be coupled with the tuneless drumming of a people who have no history or tradition. This is more liberal rubbish that allows, even demands the pollution of the Celtic/Irish race by a totally alien people. African and Celtic peoples are lightyears apart. Our liberalism will be the destruction of ourselves.

[mokomojoko]

yes thae sound of magical celtic and afroness

yes

[johnmoir36]

Sound magic, loved them at WOMAD! full of stage energy.