KAN

Event information

Kan is a supergroup, a union of four of the finest, most influential, award-winning, in demand artists of the 21st century traditional music world; one member of Lau, one member of Flook and two members of more bands than even they can remember. They are a unique melding of the bold and beautiful flute virtuosity of Brian Finnegan, from Armagh in the North of Ireland, with the expressive and daring fiddle playing of Aidan O’Rourke, from Scotland’s Isle of Seil, cemented by the organic and intuitive drumming of Harrogate’s James Goodwin and the unfettered, playful guitar reinventions of Ian Stephenson, out of Selby in Yorkshire.

Their debut album ‘Sleeper’ makes clear the band’s intention to create what they call ‘a homogenous quartet of lead instruments’, which emerged from the musicians’ frequent past collaborations – both in their compositional and recorded work and in less formal and more lubricated sessions. On stage, Kan performs in an arc with no lead musician – the drums are as important to the melodic content as the fiddle.

There’s a mutual admiration bordering on fandom between the individual members of Kan which makes them compelling and joyous to watch. When asked why he joined Kan, Ian replied: ‘There are probably dozens upon dozens of grown men who grew up listening to Flook and Lau, harbouring dreams of being in a band with Brian or Aidan one day. Well that’s me now. I’m chuffed to bits.’

Between them they’ve recorded and performed with the likes of Kate Rusby, Cara Dillon, BBC Philharmonic, Blazin’ Fiddles, Liverpool Philharmonic, Kathryn Tickell, Northern Sinfonia, Wayne Shorter, Eddi Reader, Justin Currie, Roddy Woomble, Adem, Sting (yes, really), OMD (yes, really), Jack Bruce (and again), Bella Hardy, Nitin Sawhney, Katherine Jenkins, Jan Garbareck, Karine Polwart, Trilok Gurtu… and we could go on.

But the most exciting thing about Kan is there’s never been a band like Kan before.

'a live wire of rhythm and melody - a tapestry of textures, there is magic in this' - **** Songlines

‘Highly original’ - **** R2

‘all four members shine, both separately and in unison - a spellbinding course through a world of musical inspiration' - Fatea