MUSIC

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ÍMAR International folk supergroup hit the road

Ímar, the latest folk supergroup to emerge from the British Isles’ scene, features players from Scotland, Ireland, England and the Isle of Man, with members of groups including Manran, RURA and Talisk among their number. In folk circles, their rise is on its way to becoming meteoric. ‘We launched in 2016 and not long after that arrived at a career highlight when our i rst billed gig was opening Cambridge Folk Festival,’ says Glasgow-raised concertina player Mohsen Amini. ‘Then we launched our album [Afterlight] at Celtic Connections, and that took us by surprise when it earned i ve-star reviews. Since then we’ve been touring. We’re just really enjoying the

chance to play our music and take it around the world.’ It’s a modest ambition for a group

who who have amassed a signii cant haul of trad music trophies between them. The band members Amini, Adam Brown (bodhran), Ryan Murphy (pipes, whistle), Tomas Callister (i ddle) and Adam Rhodes (bouzouki) have won nine Irish and eight British titles altogether.

‘All our traditions have a common ground,’ says Amini. ‘From the i rst rehearsal we all blended together really well. Our sound has continued to mature and become a distinctive Ímar voice.’ (David Pollock) Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Mon 4 Sep.

1 Sep–31 Oct 2017 THE LIST 65