ELDRIDGE, Iowa — Quad City Arts is bringing trans-Atlantic folk band Skye Consort & Emma Björling to the Quad Cities area.
The band creates their folk sound with singing, fiddle and cello, banjo, percussion and traditional instruments.
The four-member group performs songs and tunes from Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, England, Québec and Scandinavia.
"Emma has long experience in Scandinavian music and the rest of us have long experience in Celtic and Québec music," musician Sean Dagher said. "It's not too challenging to put the styles together because it really is a natural fit."
As part of the Quad City Arts' Visiting Artist Series, the band is giving several free performances:
- Tuesday, Jan. 24th at 6:30 PM
Moline Public Library
3210 41st St., Moline - Thursday, Jan. 26th at 2:30 PM
Wesley United Methodist Church
400 Iowa Ave., Muscatine - Thursday, Jan. 26th at 7:00 PM
Bettendorf Public Library
2950 Learning Campus Dr., Bettendorf
Skye Consort & Emma Björling will also have a premier ticketed performance as part of Quad Cities Arts' Performing Arts Signature Series:
- Wednesday, Jan. 25th
6:00 PM Cocktail Reception, 7:00 PM Performance
St. Ambrose University
518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA
The band is also playing at various schools in the area. On Jan. 23 they performed at North Scott Junior High in Eldridge.
The musicians said they're excited to share its culturally diverse music with area youth and inspire them to experience more of the world.
"We want to challenge their ears and eyes, and make them see everything in maybe a little broader perspective, and experience stuff that they would never experience maybe just living in this community," musician Emma Björling said. "I think that's really important for me, to just show what's out there."