THE NORTH STRAND KONTRA BAND
The North Strand Kontra Band (formerly the north strand klezmer band) have been a welcome addition to the live music scene in Ireland ever since they first emerged in the winter of 2005. Performing original music influenced by various genres and styles, most notably that of the Balkans, their line up includes…Clarinet, Saxophone, Trombone, Piano Accordian, Banjo/Guitar, Tuba and Drums.

TXUTXUKAN
A few years ago, in the old-town market of Lille (France), Joakim, Joseph and Dylan used to busk on Sunday mornings. At the end of the day they’d found they’d been given many precious treasures: saucisson, cabbages, encounters, etc.! On the 28th of December 2008 an old van left France with four guys for a one-month trip with this one goal: record a CD!! 18 hours on the ferry ‘Oscar Wilde’: they sat down around the piano bar, and started playing. In Ireland they were amazed, everyone seemed to like music!! After two days playing together, they got their first gig in Cork on New Year’s Eve, calling the band “Meskach” which means “Melt” in Breton. The magical mystery tours had started… Guinness, gigs, parties, travelling around the West of Ireland, meeting so many friendly and welcoming people, sometimes playing in the van while driving, and finally recording in their first album in UL studio where Dylan was studying music technology. They released the album in september 2008 with a launching tour in Ireland. Then they were named “Txütxükan” (pronounced tchutchukan) which means “DIY” in Basque language!” In January 2009 they did a residency in Brittany. Then they started touring in France with a new member in the band, playing double bass. They played in Toulouse, Nantes, in Brittany, in Paris, in Lille… they did a 3rd tour in Ireland with the new combo and found it as a revelation: they had to come back and settle there !!  They now have played more than a hundred gigs, and traveled through 7 countries in Europe. They have played in all kind of places: streets, pubs, art gallery, festivals, theatres, boats… They are planning to settle in Ireland for a while, to record a new album, and work on a new a version of the band: Electric Txütxükan !!