Uiscedwr

Infobox musical artist
Name = Uiscedwr


Img_capt = Uiscedwr, left to right: Kevin Dempsey,
Anna Esslemont, Cormac Byrne
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Cheshire Yorkshire
Genre = Folk music, Contemporary Folk
Years_active = 2002 - present
Label = Yukka Records
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.uiscedwr.com
Current_members = Anna Esslemont, Cormac Byrne, James Hickman
Past_members = Ben Hellings
Notable_instruments =

Uiscedwr, pronounced "ish-ka-dooer" (roll the 'r'), are a British trio which was based in Manchester, but has moved to the Yorkshire area. The band has a contemporary folk sound that mixes lively dance numbers, mournful fiddle tunes and songs. The group won the BBC Young Folk Award in 2002 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/youngfolkaward2003/yfa_about.shtml] .

As well as touring and recording, Uiscedwr run courses in fiddle, guitar and bodhrán.

Members

Uiscedwr's membership has altered a little as the band have found their place and the members have worked on the progression of their own musical ideas.

Anna Esslemont plays fiddle and sings. One of the founder members of the band, Esslemont dropped out of the Royal Northern College of Music in order to pursue a freer musical style than was offered by the classical world. She grew up in Wales, and has played the violin since she was six, playing in both the North Powys Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales.

Cormac Byrne is from County Waterford in Ireland, and plays bodhrán, having discovered his passion for percussion at the age of 12. He went on to become a member of Tommy Hayes’ percussion orchestra Spraoi Drummers. Despite being from Ireland, he did not discover Irish traditional music until he moved to Manchester. As well as touring and recording with Uiscedwr, Byrne has been touring with Seth Lakeman and recently gained a BBC Fame Academy Bursary, [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/music/fameacademybursary/educationbursary05.shtml] ] which was used to partially fund Uiscedwr's second album, Circle.

The most recent addition to the group is Shropshire guitarist James Hickman who also plays with Chris Quinn as Nathan and Quinn (formerly The Badgers).

History

Esslemont and Byrne met in Manchester in 2002, and soon afterwards determined to form a group together. Byrne invited a friend from Ireland to play the guitar, and with the lineup fleshed out by Esslemont's younger sister they entered the BBC Young Folk Awards 2002, which they won. Despite the win, the guitarist left the group, and Esslemont called upon an old acquaintance, Ben Hellings. Now as a trio of Esslemont, Byrne and Hellings, they recorded "Everywhere" in 2003, which gained a high profile in the folk world and earned the group a nomination for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2005.

Unfortunately, shortly before the Folk Awards, differences within the group led to the departure of Hellings. His replacement was found in the form of guitarist Kevin Dempsey, whose vocals would also add to the group's sound.

Dempsey played with Uiscedwr until December 2007 when he left to concentrate on other projects. His successor is Shropshire guitarist James Hickman who joined the band on 30 January 2008.

Anna's battle

In 2005, Esslemont fell ill with aplastic anaemia, and although her recovery has progressed well, the illness has cut back on the group's tour schedule and delayed their second album.

Esslemont had a successful bone marrow transplant in December 2006, which led to the cancellation of all gigs until June 2007. This has included the cancellation of The Blood Tour - a charity tour planned for December to raise money for the Aplastic Anaemia Trust and to raise awareness of the need to donate blood, platelets and bone marrow. As a compromise both Esslemont and Byrne took part in a sponsored charity event to raise money fot the Aplastic Anaemia Trust, The Aplastic Anaemia Trust's Vampire Fun Run in London on October 29th 2006., and have raised more than £2,200 for the charity!

Discography

* "Everywhere" (released 07/06/2004)

1. "Feathers"

2. "A-part before the Swing"

3. "Mr and Mrs"

4. "The Drunken Mouse" 5. "Waterman's"

6. "No Going Back" 7. "Everywhere"

8. "Set in the Woods"

9. "All About Flying"

10. "Mind the Gap" 11. "La Peri"

* "Circle" (released 24/7/2006)

1. "Everyday Cynic"

2. "Esta Levista"

3. "America"

4. "Escobar"

5. "Ceol Aine"

6. "The Beast"

7. "The Music Bringer"

8. "Not The Hurricane"

9. "Tut-Tut"

10. "Yorkshire Tea"

11. "Tree"

12. "Flea Circus"

References

External links

* [http://www.uiscedwr.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/uiscedwr Myspace site] Features further band info, tour dates and clips of tracks.
* [http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/uiscedwr/ Yahoo Groups site] Mailing list for fans of Uiscedwr.