Sultans of Swing have a treat for fans of folk

AWARD-WINNING folk music maestros Sultans Of String are heading to The Brindley in Runcorn as the bands celebrates its 10th anniversary.

For the past 10 years, 2017 Juno award nominees and triple Canadian Folk Music award winners Sultans Of String have been thrilling audiences with their global sonic tapestry of Gypsy-jazz, Spanish flamenco, Arabic folk, Cuban rhythms, south Asian and Celtic music, weaving musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity.

The band is celebrating the milestone with a digital release, 10, featuring re-mastered cuts from their six-CD catalogue, and a UK tour.

Folk Radio UK recently described their music as ‘an enthralling, adventurous celebration of the power music has to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, and Sultans Of String wield that power with grace, eloquence and spirit’.

A spokesman for the group said the latest release 10 is more than a global sonic tapestry, and embraces differences while finding common ground across culture, land, and time.

While the album treks across all kinds of musical terrain, the fertile soil beneath each track is fed by hope unhindered and freedom found.

He said: “At the core of the band’s sound is Queen’s Diamond Jubilee recipient Chris McKhool’s fiery fiddle, melded seamlessly with founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s rumba rhythm, together their musical synergy created Sultans Of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar.

“Added to this rich foundation are core band members bass master Drew Birston, guitar wizard Eddie Paton, and Cuban percussion master Rosendo Chendy Leon.

“This album features special guest performances by Paddy Moloney on tin whistle, Anwar Khurshid on sitar (Life Of Pi, Love Guru), Andrew Collins on Mandolin (Foggy Hogtown Boys), Bassam Bishara on Oud, Ernie Tollar on Bansuri, The Chieftains’, and a Turkish string collective from Istanbul.

“Sultans Of String are celebrating their 10th anniversary crisscrossing the UK and North America.

“They have recently performed at Trafalgar Square, the legendary jazz club Birdland in New York City, a sold out show at Koerner Hall – Toronto’s Albert Hall, and have performed with Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Maryland’s Annapolis Symphony Orchestras.

“Sultans Of String have also performed live on BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and the internationally syndicated shows WoodSongs, World Cafe, and on SiriusXM in Washington DC.”