WOMAD

Devana

From Ireland (Irish Republic)

2001 BiographyTenderness and power are often the key in successful music making and Devana have both in abundance. The group comprise two fiddle players including All-Ireland Champion Donall Donnelly from Country Tyrone, guitarist Jim McKee, the American flautist Nicole Rabata and double bassist Colin Fletcher. Devana are based in Dublin, the home of the group’s main arranger and composer Imogen Gunner, who moved to the Irish capital from Reading. Imogen also plays the fiddle alongside Donall and both are members of the eighteen-piece fiddle orchestra Fiddlesticks, which is led by the Donegal fiddler Liz Doherty. Eclecticism and originality are highly favoured by all five of these ultra talented instrumentalists and their music explores folk traditions from all over the UK, Ireland, France and beyond. Devana’s peculiar edge, however, comes from their impressive song writing skills, which give their repertoire a rare originality. The group were winners of the Irish Student Music Awards and have been blazing a trail through the Irish music scene ever since.Biography by Andy Morgan, June 2001