Laura and the Lads
Laura and The Lads is a traditional trio with a richly Irish core. The group also features new compositions inspired by traditional forms, as well as music from Scotland, Cape Breton, Central France and Galicia (Northern Spain). Their arrangements and interpretations are wonderfully arresting and always charming.
All members of this ensemble are accomplished players and they thoroughly delight in performing their best selections from a vast repertoire. World class Irish stepdance can also be an element of their touring shows.
The trio features Laura on wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, Scottish smallpipes, Border pipes, French pipes and voice, supported by guitar and percussion (including the Irish bodhran). Together, they present a dazzling spectrum of Irish music (sometimes with dance) plus Celtic music from Scotland, France, Galicia and Minnesota, with great exuberance and skill.
More on the trio and its members:
> With ardent mastery, Laura MacKenzie commands a vast repertoire of wonderful traditional music. Laura performs a great wealth of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland, England, Central France and Northern Spain on a dazzling array of wind-powered instruments, including flutes, whistles, concertina, many bagpipes and voice. With astonishing versatility, her performance is supported by the grace, warmth and humor, the craft, knowledge and lore gleaned over a lifetime of music-making.
"High Priestess of Celtic music" - Minnesota Public Radio
> Gary Rue (guitar and voice) brings a new dimension to the Lads - his full throated, melodic guitar style, along with his vocal duet contributions, compliments and blends perfectly with the driving percussion and MacKenzie's musical prowess. He brings a rich and bountiful background of artistry and composition to traditional "Celtic" music, ensuring an extraordinary ensemble performance.
> Michael Bissonnette (world beat percussion master) covers a rich gamut of styles, from jazz, Latin and swing to African, Middle Eastern and Irish. With Laura and the Lads, his arsenal of instruments includes the Irish bodhran, with which he adds great lift, drive and nuance to the subtleties of Irish dance music. Michael's intuitive virtuosity on a full range of instruments enhances even the most delicate of slow airs.
> When MacKenzie and Rue, plus Bissonnette, join forces, when traditional artistry and modern sensibilities come together, something wonderful happens: a driving, intensely melodic profusion of sound…a hybrid of flutes a-flailing, percussive guitar, voices that soar, drums that echo, and hold-on-to-your-hats piping that delivers a rich tapestry of marvelous music.
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SOUND SAMPLES: Laura and the Lads' self-titled CD is available on this website, with samples.
VIDEO: Click right HERE to view*
*Laura and the Lads recorded a LIVE TV program for Baby Blue Arts - Baby Blue selected several of the many pieces for a feature on their website.
A "Behind the Scenes" interview is also available Baby Blue Arts - go to "Search Artists", then "Interviews"
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**Laura is currently a Bush Artist Fellow in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts**