Named after the famous Manx summit, where legend says the ancient Celtic God Manannan Mac Lir stalked his mighty fortress, Barrule fuses three distinct musical forces – Mabon frontman and accordion wizard Jamie Smith, gifted 20 year-old fiddle-player Tomás Callister and versatile accompanist Adam Rhodes (Mabon and King Chiaullee) on bouzouki. Together this compact but versatile acoustic unit create a powerful and wholly distinctive sound to put the small island in the Irish Sea firmly on the map. 

Their eponymous debut album, due to be released next week (May 20), is funded by the Manx Heritage Foundation and showcases a rich collection of material from rousing marches, jigs and reels to sorrowful slow airs and beautiful songs sung in both English and the Manx Gaelic language.

Elevating the Isle of Man’s native music to a new level of performance and musicianship, the trio with the big band sound have already impressed audiences at the internationally renowned Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Edinburgh’s Scots Fiddle Festival and in 2013 will take their unique sound to venues and festivals across Europe.

Says Jamie: “I’ve been involved in the Isle of Man folk scene for about 10 years and have strong ties to the island through family and friends and a burgeoning passion for Manx music. “The Isle of Man has an extremely rich and diverse musical heritage, yet when compared to its Celtic cousins, Manx music is often not given the recognition it deserves. We’re hoping to change that and put Manx music in front of as many people as possible, both on the island and, most especially, off it.”

As the heaviest snowfall since 1963 recently hit the Isle of Man causing catastrophic livestock losses during the lambing season, Barrule made The Sheep Under The Snow available on their website as a free download, inviting people to make a donation towards the Isle of Man Agricultural Benevolent Trust to benefit Manx farmers and raised more than £6,000 in a short period.

Barrule’s debut album will be unveiled at album launch gigs in both England and Wales. It will be released on the Easy on the Records label and distributed by Proper Distribution. A free download single from the album She Lhong Honnick Me (“I Saw a Ship Sailing”) is available on the band’s website Watch Barrule here...

2013 BARRULE GIGS May 14 GLASGOW - Stereo Bar. Supporting Rua Macmillan Big Band www.stereocafebar.com

May 30 ENGLAND ALBUM LAUNCH Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8pm - with special guests

May 31 CARDIFF, Wales Millennium Centre – Glanfa Stage, 6.15pm

June 5 RUGBY Roots - The Merchants Inn, 5-7 Little Church Street, Rugby, CV21 3AN. Doors 8pm. Tickets £10, available online from www.rugbyroots.com or by mail order.

June 6 House concert Stiwdio Felin Fach, Abergavenny. Private invitation

June 16 WALES ALBUM LAUNCH at Gower Folk Festival, Gower, Swansea

June 22 PEEL, ISLE OF MAN - Centenary Centre

July 21: Sheffield, Yorkshire: The Folk Forest @Tramlines Festival, Endcliffe Park 

August 24-25 Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 

September 1 Fylde Folk Festival, Fleetwood, Lancashire Sept 8 Scottish Weekend Alden Biesen, Bilzen, Belgium.