New Road
Ireland based quartet New Road explores roots that extend across the Atlantic, incorporating Irish traditional, Appalachian old-time, blues and beyond, and bringing to the stage a musical experience full of passion and exhilaration, depth and beauty.
New Road were formed in 2013 on the back of Leonard Barry’s album of the same name, on which they all played. They have since gone on to perform to much critical acclaim in concerts at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, and festivals in France, Belgium and Ireland. Uilleann piper and whistles player Leonard Barry has been described as a ‘master’ and was named Male Musician of the Year 2015 by The Irish American News. Rick Epping from California (harmonica, concertina, 5-string banjo, jaw harp, vocals) is a legend of the folk music scene and is one of the world’s leading harmonica players. Andy Morrow’s fiddle playing has been described by Hot Press as “sweet and majestic, bracing style and fine musicianship” and Shane McGowan (guitarist and singer) from South Co. Sligo is one of the most sought after guitarists in traditional music today, regularly performing with Lunasa, Dave Munnely and Sean Keane but to name a few.
They will be joined in Shetland by Leonard Podolak, the Grammy and Juno Award winning clawhammer banjo virtuoso from Canada who founded The Duhks.
Festival regulars may recognise Seamie and Rick from their 2010 appearance at the Shetland Folk Festival as members of The Unwanted whereas Leonard was last at the Festival in 1996 with Danu.
Together, New Road have been said to create ‘a glorious soundscape with wide horizons’.
