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Mànran Meshes Irish, Scottish Music to Create New Sound

The six-member Scottish group Mànranis a relatively new folk-rock band. What makes them different is they sing in Gallic, which the language spoken in the Highlands.They'll be showing off their linguistic prowess as well as their unique Scottish/Irish blend of music at Milwaukee's Irish Fest this weekend.

Mànran formed in June 2010 and released their first song January 2011. The group wanted to bring something new to the music scene. Since the members come from Scottish and Irish backgrounds, they decided to show the bridge between the two musical traditions.

Lead singer Norrie MacIver says the group is strongly connected to both Ireland and Scotland.

“We feel we exactly got that blend of the Highland pipes (from Scotland) and Uilleann pipes (from Ireland), but with a blend," he says. "Both lads play hustles and pipes as well.”

Mànran brings rhythms, tunes, languages (Gaelic, Gallic, and English), and instruments from each country and meshes them together to create their unique sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ0-gg_t4dU&feature=youtu.be

With some members of the band speaking Gaelic (from Ireland) and others, Gallic (from Scotland), they have learned to work with the slight language barrier. The members explained that many of the words are the same, but the pronunciation is different. However, melody is the main source of communication, especially if the group is playing a song written in the other language.

Mànran is starting its three-week U.S. debut tour at Milwaukee's Irish Fest. They have just released a new album, The Test, that can be purchased from their website.

Bonnie North
Bonnie joined WUWM in March 2006 as the Arts Producer of the locally produced weekday magazine program Lake Effect.