The Elders
The 2021 Samhain Celtic New Year Festival welcomes The Elders.
The band was founded in 1998 by six individuals with a passion for music rooted in Americana and Celtic folk rock. From the beginning, The Elders seemed to be channeling something ancient and enduring – something unaffected by fads, trends and the giant maw of mind-numbing commercialism. Their ability to bring together the art of storytelling with elements both musically progressive and rooted in tradition, has won them a broad international fan base, as well as critical acclaim in numerous publications such as PASTE Magazine, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange, Music Row Magazine, Goldmine Magazine, TRAD Magazine (France), Chicago Sun-Times, Kansas City Star and more.
Their 8th studio album, True, builds upon The Elders’ song-writing reputation. The songs feature story lines with vibrant narratives that explore history, legends, tall tales and true-life experiences. In addition to the band’s trademark mesh of styles, textures, and soaring vocals, the album features a few barn-burning instrumentals.
Their critically acclaimed albums serve as reflections of the group dynamic, but fans who are wild about The Elders can tell you that the real magic happens on stage, where their powerful personal and musical chemistry forges a deep sense of community with their audience.
THE ELDERS ARE:
- Ian Byrne – vocals, drums, percussion, whistle
- Steve Phillips – vocals, guitar, mandolin (passed away September, 2020)
- Diana Ladio – fiddle
- Brent Hoad – vocals, keyboards, fiddle, guitar
- Norm Dahlor – vocals, bass, guitar, banjo
- Kian Byrne – vocals, drums, bass, mandolin
Band member Steve Phillips died of Covid in September 2020. A member of the Canadian group Enter the Haggis spearheaded a group of musicians to do a tribute song to him. The Celtic Music Hour played it in a recent show. It is called “Right with the World” and was written by Brent Hoad and Steve Phillips. Groups represented in the video (created virtually) include: The Elders, Enter the Haggis, We Banjo 3, Gaelic Storm, The Young Dubliners, Searson, and the High Kings. Click here to watch the video.