Since being released July, 2002, "Current" has received radio airplay in Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, and Canada, as well as in more than a dozen states throughout the USA. The "Green Man Review" said it featured "enough power to bring a Tartanophile to tears." "Current," the second album by ROWAN, combines traditional Celtic music with contemporary songs written or recorded by artists such as Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention.
ROWAN is a three-piece, acoustic band based in Lawrence, Kansas. Their name comes from the Rowan tree, which has traditionally been considered among the Celtic people to be a powerful source of spiritual strength and protection from evil. In the six years they has been together, ROWAN has opened for internationally known Celtic groups such as "The House Band," "Patrick Street," and "Cherish the Ladies," and have appeared on the nationally syndicated radio program "River City Folk." They have also performed with a full choir, a university wind ensemble, and an Irish dance troupe. Their first album, "So Many Tunes, So Little Time," (1998) was followed in 1999 by "Grandfather's Horse," which is also available on this page.
Members performing on "Current" include:
Marianne Payette Carter, Fiddle, Bodhran, Vocals
Marianne, also known by her Renaissance Festival name "Matty Striker," is one of the top female vocalists in the Midwest as well as an accomplished musician on a variety of acoustic instruments. Aside from her solo work as a singer/songwriter, she was for many years the driving force behind the band "Full Circle." In addition to band recordings, she has released two solo CD's. Marianne received a grant to study traditional and contemporary French Celtic music in Brittany (northern France) during the summer of 2000. She is the owner of "Prairie Music" in Lawrence where she gives lessons on violin, guitar, acoustic bass, hammered dulcimer and voice.
Doug Harvey, Cittern, Guitar, Mandolin, Tenor banjo, Whistles, Vocals
Doug's musical life began with a rock and roll garage band in the early 1970s. The sound of the banjo and fiddle led him to the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas where he first heard the music of the Irish group "De Danann" and was enamoured by the sound of Irish traditional music. In the mid-'90s, Doug's motivation to study Irish music was rejuvenated. He traveled to St. John's, Newfoundland, where he was infected by the sense of place and folk traditions of "The Rock." An excursion to France brought Doug into contact with Breton and French folk music, and an appearance on a French radio program helped boost his confidence. He is also a solo performer of traditional and original tunes and songs.
Lance Zed, Fiddle, Concertina, Vocals
Lance's formal musical training started at age 6 at the keys of a piano, then violin in school music groups and orchestras. He eventually graduated to playing in honors and community orchestras, competing as a soloist, and performing paid gigs with a string quartet. He was first introduced to blue grass fiddling in 1994 by Kelly Werts of the Plaid Family. Soon after, he was jamming with a Wichita Irish music session, being inspired by a variety of traditional Irish and Scottish fiddling influences including "The Chieftains," Natalie MacMaster, and Elke Baker. In 1997, he discovered that fiddling a tune can become as much an act of creativity as it is a physical exercise when he joined other jam session musicians to form ROWAN. He also performs in the Kansas City Celtic band "Cavan."
Lawrence Carter: 6-string guitar, keyboard, vocals
Lawrence has performed in many bands over the last 20 years, playing various instruments in genres that have included rock, folk, jazz, children's music, new age and East-West fusion. Besides "Rowan," he currently plays guitar, piano, low whistle and viola "Forest Green" and performs original compositions & improvisations on solo piano.
Concert listings and additional information about ROWAN are available at their web site, www.RowanCelticMusic.Com.
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