THE WICKED TINKERS
Prepare yourself for a wild ride with Wicked Tinkers! Pioneers of the growing Tribal Celtic movement, the Tinkers have been playing haunting, heart-pounding bagpipes and irresistible, tribal drums as a professional touring band since 1995. With the addition, several years back, of the mesmerizing drone of the Australian didgeridoo and Bronze Age Irish horn, the magic was complete. Sit back and be transported to an earlier time in Scotland and Ireland, when battle cries filled the air and strange, unheard-of creatures roamed the night. Or better yet, get on your feet and let your body move to ancient rhythms and forgotten sounds.
Don't think this is dry, dusty music for museum shelves -- the boys in the band merge the best of modern, almost rock-and-roll energy with the hypnotic, insistent grooves of their Gaelic ancestors. Rare is the bystander who comes away without feeling a surprising, sometimes bewildering connection to long-forgotten, primal emotions ... half-memories of ages past and experiences nameless yet somehow familiar. Wicked Tinkers create music to set your jaw, put a fire in your belly, a glint in your eye and a dance in your feet.
A community bagpipe band that performs
a unique repertoire of traditional and innovative music.
A LOCAL FAVORITE!
The Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers was formed by Colin and Shauna Pickett-Gordon in the spring of 1991. For many who came to the first rehearsal, it was their first exposure to traditional Celtic music. It was an introduction to music that is fun to play and encompassing in the range of emotions it portrays -- lively Jigs and Reels, stately Strathspeys and Waltzes, haunting Airs and Laments. Although the group focuses on Scottish music, both contemporary and traditional, the repertoire also includes music from other Celtic areas: Wales, Ireland and Brittany. We even venture into American folk music, much of which was "imported" by early settlers from Scotland and Ireland.
The group is inclusive in welcoming players with a wide range of skills, from rank beginner to accomplished professional, and we welcome all instruments: strings, woodwind, percussion and keyboard. We usually meet for rehearsal on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, 2:00 to 5:00 pm, alternating between Montara and Scotts Valley. At full strength, the group numbers about 20 players.
The Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers are in great demand to perform at such events as Highland games, Scottish clan dinners, street fairs, private parties and weddings. The fiddlers get great satisfaction from staging their own concerts featuring the fiddle orchestra and guest artists.Their first CD, "The Mists of Montara" was released last year.
The Piping Circle
The Piping Circle is a social band devoted to high quality bagpipe music.
1916 is a combination of musicians from various bands and genres who came together. Robbie Byrne, Walter Baldwin and Dougie who played with a group called 'Loveday,' were the first members of the band. After the first rehearsal with bagpipes, bass guitar and drums, it was obvious that they had struck a chord with their various musical styles and had developed their own sound. A couple of guitarists joined the practice, but then Rich joined and his style of playing enhanced the band. From there, after a few more rehearsals, the band performed free of charge at the 'William Wallace' day celebrations in August, 2007.They had a great reception and encore and many people asked them for CD's, which, of course they had not as yet recorded.
After this success, Robbie had to return to England for four months, but, on his return, the band began rehearsals in again prepartion for the Bakersfield Highland Games which were held on Saturday, April 5th, 2008. The games were a success and they met a lot of new faces.
1916 entered the studio on April 19th to finally begin recording their first album, Uprising.
It’s time to celebrate! The Santa Cruz High School marching band is celebrating 85 years of community spirit and hosting the 40th annual band review right here in Santa Cruz! Every third Saturday in October, thousands of hard-working school musicians and color guards from Northern California parade through the streets of Santa Cruz to the Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz High School marching band receives no funding from the school or the state. The Band Boosters volunteer all year raising funds to keep the music programs vibrant and accessible to as many students as possible. The Band Review is an important part of this effort. We will also be hosting a fundraising booth selling scones and shortbread cookies at this years Scottish Games October 2nd in San Lorenzo Park. The Cardinal Regiment will lead off the clan parade at 11:30am, please come to the games and show your support.
The Santa Cruz High School
Marching Band
