Birch Creek Band Bio
The band “Birch Creek” was formed in the summer or 2009 and is based out of the hills of Connecticut. They met at an outdoor Farm Aid concert held at local farm and their music styles have meshed nicely ever since and has produced an eclectic repertoire of instrumental pieces. The delicate blend of the sweet sound of the mountain dulcimer, bouzouki, mandolin & guitar and of coarse the signature sound of Alexs, their incredible flutist takes center stage as she packs the most punch in our music. Performing everything from age old Celtic instrumentals from the Isles to a handful of smoky backwoods tunes and loving what they do.
Members:
Brian Horton – Guitars & Bouzouki: is a self taught fingerstyle instrumental guitarist until he had the honor of studying under Grammy award winning Celtic guitarist Al Petteway. His styles range from contemporary to traditional Celtic. Brian's interest in guitar started by in the early 70’s at the age of 12 and also plays the bouzouki, keyboards, Wiessenborn slide & banjo. He plays Kevin Ryan Guitars and also owns & operates Cabinfever Recording Studios producing acoustic music recordings. The recording studio is located in foothills of the Berkshire Mountains of New England. Brian also is a master woodworker building furniture & designing fine acoustic instruments.
Aleks Miglowiec – Flute & Piccolo: is a master flutist who graduated with a Master's degree in flute instrumental studies and pedagogy from the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz, Poland under the direction of Professor. ZW. Antoni Wierzbiński. In Poland, she played in the Youth Rock Symphony Orchestra, the Ladies First Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber groups. Currently, she plays with the Charter Oak Flutes, Flute Punch and Birch Creek.
Sandra Lynn – Dulcimer: In 1976 Sandra was given her first dulcimer and there was a connection at first strum. Since then, she has performed with the band "2 Chicks & A Guy" ,"Flute Punch" and various bands expanding her musical talents by playing Celtic, Bluegrass, Renaissance & Folk on her dulcimer. The list of tunes she plays is a mile long; Sandra plays handcrafted instruments made by Laurel Mountain Dulcimers and Aeolus Dulcimers
Kevin Gallagher – Mandolin, Dobro & Bass:. He grew up in Bergenfield NJ playing Country Rock and Bluegrass in local bands. He continued studying music theory at Ramapo College where his interests moved toward Jazz. For 15 years in the late 80’s and 90’s he work with the band Spectrum at local clubs and social events. Currently Kevin resides in New Britain and is enjoying playing music with some of the finest musicians in CT.
Their Music:
Their debut release “Celtic Enchantment” is a gentle blend of 16 hauntingly beautiful instrumental Celtic Aires, Jigs & Reels consisting of Brian Horton on acoustic guitar & keyboards, Sandra Lynn on Appalachian dulcimer, Alex Miglowiec on flute & piccolo Kevin Gallagher on bass & mandolin, Linda Umstead on Celtic harp & Arlene DeMaris on fiddle.
Currently, Birch Creek are in the studio working on their 2nd cd release to include a few Turlough O'Carolan tunes along with some contemporary Irish & Scottish pieces. The band has scheduled many outdoor gigs for the summer of 2010 throughout New England and look forward to adding more & more tunes to their répertoire by researching Celtic pipe and fiddle tunes and the older styles that inspires them and seeking out the roots of where it originated.
Influences: Al & Amy Petteway, Kevin Crawford, The Duhks, William Coulter, Tony McManus, Neal Hellman, The Coors, Dervish
Read more...