Seamount

Birlinn Jiarg are a band that was put together by whistle and Anglo concertina player Beccy Hurst to perform the traditional Manx music she grew up with, as well as her own compositions. After performing with various Manx bands and dance teams over the years, she moved from the Isle of Man to study folk music at Newcastle University, and that's where she hooked up with clarinet and flute player Freya Rae. The unusual combination of low whistle and clarinet was what originally inspired the band's formation and is an intrinsic part of what sets Birlinn Jiarg's sound apart from more traditional line-ups. They’re joined by Scottish guitarist and bouzouki player Alasdair Paul and bodhrán player Callum Younger, who provide a tight rhythmic base for Hurst and Rae's melodic interplay on a lively and distinctive debut album of instrumentals.