Universal Hall, Findhorn
Thursday 5 September 2024, 7.30pm
Still holding fast to their reputation as major musical innovators, Flook have an enviable trademark sound.
Formed 29 years ago by four friends, the whistles and flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weave and spin traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination.
There is no shortage of virtuosity amongst the members of Flook, but the unique impact of this iconic Anglo-Irish band stems from the wholly intuitive, almost symbiotic, exchange between the various flutes, frets and skins.
A frontline of three flutes and whistles isn’t the kind of thing to guarantee success, even in the folk field, but that’s what Flook opted to do when they formed in 1995. Brian Finnegan, Sarah Allen, Michael McGoldrick & Ed Boyd had joined forces for a short run of shows, but such was the positive reaction to their sound, they decided to carry on.
The line-up was preserved on their 1996 album, Flook! Live! (“the ultimate modern flute album.” The Irish Times)- a daring first move for an unknown quantity and an indication that Flook absolutely refused to play it by the book. It quickly became all change as McGoldrick moved on.
The masterstroke in replacing him was to bring in another Mancunian, John Joe Kelly, a virtuoso on bodhrán, who added a completely different dimension to the sound. Over the next 3 years, the foursome refined their sound, with a dual frontline of Finnegan’s whistle and Allen’s alto flute & accordion, while Boyd & Kelly took on something far more important than a mere supporting rhythmic role.
In 1999 they released Flatfish (“quite simply one of the most stunning contemporary Celtic albums you’ll hear this or any other year” – Songlines), a mix of original & traditional compositions that covers the spectrum of instrumental music in a thoroughly thrilling fashion. Rubai followed in 2002 (“an extraordinarily good record” – fRoots).
They gigged all over the world & in 2005 Haven appeared, a further refinement & expansion of the twin-flute sound that was uniquely theirs (“in the pantheon of Irish/English folk groups they don’t come much more revered than Flook” – The Irish Post).
Flook took a break from 2008, and in 2013 there started some live shows, but it wasn’t until 2019 that Ancora arrived, along with renewed touring, dubbed by The Irish Times “a luminous reunion”, while fRoots magazine said: “class is indeed permanent.”
Says Peter Vallance of Universal Hall Promotions, “still at the height of their game, Flook return to Universal Hall with their sensational musicianship – we can’t wait! “
Ticket pricing is £18 General Admission, £16 Concessions and £10 Under 16s and can be booked in advance, bought in person from The Phoenix Shop, Findhorn, or purchased from the Box Office on the night.
Universal Hall Promotions offer a free carer/companion ticket for any disabled or wheelchair-user audience members for all their own shows. It is helpful if this is booked in advance via the WeGotTickets website, to ensure that there is adequate accessible seating reserved on the night of the event.
Praise for Flook
‘An absolute powerhouse, a flute and whistle-led, eight-legged jig machine. Jigs, reels and waltzes whirl by. Each as glorious as the last, the musicianship as extraordinary, the mood never any less than euphoric’ FATEA Live Review, November 2023
‘Nothing short of transcendent… No other band sound like Flook and the new material has pushed them to new, exhilarating heights’ Songlines
‘Flook’s role and influence in the exploding excellence of instrumental folk music of various persuasions on these islands shouldn’t be underestimated… as vital as ever … Class is indeed permanent’ fRoots 2019
‘Virtuoso playing abounds … the most creative bodhran player on the planet … superb technique plus a genuine feel and some stonking tunes is a powerful recipe’ MOJO
‘Iconic, ground-breaking, progressive and all-round brilliant’ BBC Radio Ulster
‘Four brilliant musicians. Four times as much brilliant music’ Time Out
‘Sheer musical magic…Stunning technique, impossibly agile rhythm work and virtuoso flights of jazzy improvisation add up to one of the most enthralling sounds around’ The Scotsman
‘Multi-layered, rhythmically sophisticated and meltingly beautiful’ Glasgow Sunday Herald