Flook

Flook have returned to the Irish Cultural Centre countless times over the past 29 years of their existence – indeed it was the scene of one of their very first ever gigs and their first gig back after the pandemic. They are delighted to be back again this year!

Still holding fast to their reputation as major musical innovators, Flook have an enviable trademark sound; 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 3 flutes & 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 & 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 & 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 Havenappeared, 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. From 2013 there were 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.”