Biography...
Sheelanagig
Sheelanagig is the combined talents of Aaron Catlow, Adrian Sykes, Kit Hawes, John Blakeley and Dorian Sutton
Aaron has played violin in many different bands encompassing a vast variety of styles. Heavily influenced by folk and jazz fusion his playing has a unique and eclectic feel that also draws from eastern European and Indian music.
After playing for several years in orchestras and string quartets Aaron moved away from his classical training to pursue other musical styles. While playing with folk rock, singer/songwriter and funk outfits he joined the medieval group Paescod, which became his main focus for four years. During this time he also composed for contemporary dance and continued to do session work for various artists and theatre companies.
Since completing a degree in music he has played with folk rock band Mad Dog McCrea and gypsy jazz and bluegrass group The Badgers. He is currently involved in several projects which include electro folk group Elephant Talk and playing with singer songwriter Dave Sanders. Aaron has played violin in many different bands encompassing a vast variety of styles. Heavily influenced by folk and jazz fusion his playing has a unique and eclectic feel that also draws from eastern European and Indian music.
Adrian went to Leeds College of Music where he studied the flute and the tabla. As well as Sheelanagig he has performed and toured with Elephant Talk for 12 years and written music for several theatre companies including Black Cat theatre company. He has also contributed as a composer for the Bradford film festival. He has a particular interest in Celtic, Indian and Eastern European music.
New boy Kit is a virtuoso player with a unique sound and stage presence. He joined Sheelanagig in 2011 after working extensively both as a solo performer and with Bristol band the Carnivillains.
Kit also has a background in circus and performing arts and his gravity-defying balancing acts have become a highlight of Sheelanagig sets.
John has been playing drums for 15 years starting with a passion for rock and blues. He then went on to experiment with jazz fusion and found himself studying a degree in music at Dartington College of Arts where he explored folkloric music of West Africa, India, Brazil & Cuba culminating in travel & exploration of Cuban music in 2002.
Now residing in Bristol john performs with various jazz/world projects as well as being a frequent player on the city’s vibrant jazz scene.
Dorian grew up in Newcastle and was immersed in the folk scene of the North East from a very young age – he was playing in Ceilidh bands and Irish sessions from the age of 10 and has been attending folk festivals for as long as he can remember. Later he moved away from folk music to play guitar and occasionally sing in succession of dodgy punk, metal and indie bands.
Dorian moved to Bristol to work in IT but was soon seduced by the city’s eclectic and vibrant music scene. Over the next few years he played electric bass in a variety of ska, reggae, funk, trip-hop, and afro-beat bands before the great British bassist Arnie Somygi encouraged him to learn double bass and concentrate on playing jazz.
Outside Sheelanagig Dorian plays with Medicine Creek and the Mike Collins Trio. He has also played with many notable jazz musicians including Dennis Rollins, Andy Sheppard and Gilad Atzmon.
