A legacy project from Donostia/San Sebastián’s reign as European Capital of Culture 2016, TOSTA Banda unites leading Basque artists Oreka TX with singers from fellow minority-language cultures along Europe’s Atlantic coast. Among the line-up are Monica de Nut (Galicia), Gwilym Bowen Rhys (Wales), Bec Applebee (Cornwall), Marit Talens (Friesland), Rona Wilkie (Scotland) and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail (Ireland), with instrumentation including guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki , flute, clarinet, saxophone, txalaparta and other percussion. Also featuring guest Phil Cunningham,  a Basque dance duo and the Scottish stepdancer Sophie Stephenson, the performance draws on all seven traditions to celebrate cultural diversity and connection through newly-created music.

Toasting 20 years as one of Scotland’s foremost song-based acts, Malinky offer a foretaste of their upcoming anniversary album, Handsel. Linking hands and voices across generations and traditions, their guests include Ulster song icon Len Graham, Ceolbeg co-founder Barabra Dymock, bothy ballad maestro Hector Riddell, and three young singers from Scotland and Ireland recently mentored by the band.

Basque Music. By Etxepare Basque Institute.