Celtic trailblazers set for lively show (From Ilkley Gazette)

Otley Courthouse

4:07pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Entertainment

Otley Courthouse is delighted to welcome the fantastic Shooglenifty on Sunday, June 17, for an evening of superb Celtic music.

With all six of their members extremely talented musicians, bringing numerous different instruments to bear at every gig, Shooglenifty are one of Scottish music’s most unique and successful exports: they have just returned from a tour of Australia, and are following up their May and June dates at the Courthouse and various festivals in the UK with a trip to America.

Shooglenifty are credited as being the originators of 'acid-croft', a fiery and infectious blend of music that combines traditional Scottish instrumental folk with a wide assortment of modern styles including blues, rock, ambient, trance and electronica. The band themselves describe it perhaps more colourfully as "hypno-folkadelic ambient trad"!

A supremely dexterous and witty live band, their energetic live performances have kept them in constant demand around the world; they have also taken a leading role in the recent Celtic Fusion movement, along with similar artists such as Peatbog Faeries and Croft No. Five. The Peatbogs were a massive hit at the Courthouse when they played here for our fifth anniversary, and we hope Shooglenifty will provide an equally memorable night. It’s a standing-only gig, so there’ll be plenty of opportunity to get up and dance!

As this newspaper comes out, the Courthouse is halfway through its Half Term Arts and Crafts workshops, and look out for fantastic acoustic band Gypsy Fire on Saturday, June 9. The awesome Jennifer Batton, former guitarist for Michael Jackson, said of Gypsy Fire: “The energy and musicianship were inspiring”. And who are we to argue? It should be a superb evening of acoustic music.

Tickets for all Courthouse events are available online at www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, on 01943 467466 and from the Courthouse.