Laura and the Lads
(Photo:Laura with Michael Bissonnette and Gary Rue)
Laura and The Lads ranges from a traditional trio to an ensemble five, even six, member strong. With a richly Irish core, the group also features new compositions inspired by traditional forms, as well as music from Scotland, Cape Breton, France and Galicia (Northern Spain). Their arrangements and interpretations are wonderfully arresting and always charming.
All members of this ensemble are accomplished players and they thoroughly delight in performing their best selections from a vast repertoire. World class Irish stepdance can also be an element of their touring shows.
The trio features Laura on wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, Scottish smallpipes, Border pipes, French pipes and voice, supported by guitar and percussion (including the Irish bodhran). The larger ensemble can include fiddle, bass, Irish dance and even Irish-style harmonica. Together, they present a dazzling spectrum of Irish music and dance plus Celtic music from Scotland, France, Galicia and Minnesota, with great exuberance and skill.
More on the trio and its members:
> With ardent mastery, Laura MacKenzie commands a vast repertoire of wonderful traditional music. Laura performs a great wealth of tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland, England, Central France and Northern Spain on a dazzling array of wind-powered instruments, including flutes, whistles, concertina, many bagpipes and voice. With astonishing versatility, her performance is supported by the grace, warmth and humor, the craft, knowledge and lore gleaned over a lifetime of music-making.
"High Priestess of Celtic music" - Minnesota Public Radio
> Gary Rue (guitar and voice) brings a new dimension to the Lads - his full throated, melodic guitar style, along with his vocal duet contributions, compliments and blends perfectly with the driving percussion and MacKenzie's musical prowess. When Gary takes the stage with his own music, his performance sparkles with a melodic cascade of personal favorites from his theatrical scores and pop triumphs, all thoroughly plumbed from the musical depths of his guitar, and a voice that soars, growls and bubbles.
> Michael Bissonnette (world beat percussion master) covers a rich gamut of styles, from jazz, Latin and swing to African, Middle Eastern and Irish. With Laura and the Lads, his arsenal of instruments includes the Irish bodhran, with which he adds great lift, drive and nuance to the subtleties of Irish dance music. Michael's intuitive virtuosity on a full range of instruments enhances even the most delicate of slow airs.
> When MacKenzie and Rue, plus Bissonnette, join forces, when traditional artistry and modern sensibilities come together, something wonderful happens: a driving, intensely melodic profusion of sound…a hybrid of flutes a-flailing, percussive guitar, voices that soar, drums that echo, and hold-on-to-your-hats piping that delivers a rich tapestry of marvelous music.
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NEW VIDEO!! Laura and the Lads recently recorded a LIVE TV program for Baby Blue Arts - Baby Blue selected several of the many pieces for a feature on their website. Click right HERE to view! (A "Behind the Scenes" interview is also available on their site - go to "Search Artists", then "Interviews")
Laura and the Lads' self-titled CD is available on this website, with samples.
A selection of Laura and The Lads' repertoire can also be heard right HERE.
**Laura is currently a Bush Artist Fellow in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts**