Celtic Nots is a Spokane-based acoustic band playing music based on the Celtic Music traditions of improvisation, layered harmonies, and interspersed melodies. They draw from folk music traditions from England, Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Galicia, and America, throw in some Middle Eastern, jazz and rock influences, and add some humorous irreverence for good measure.
The Nots are:
Jeff McMurtery, a Spokane native and band teacher, joined the Nots in 2004 and plays bodhrán (Irish frame drum), cajón (box drum), and other percussion. He also sings.
Carlos Alden, host of the "Nacho Celtic Hour" on KPBX public radio and a well-recognized figure in the local Folk music scene. Carlos plays cittern (a 10-string bass mandolin thingy), guitar, banjo, percussion, and vocals.
James Hunter, another well-traveled Englishman, plays flutes, whistles, uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), didgeredoo, percussion, and lots of other things that clearly weren't intended for musical purposes. And he sings. Sort of.
The Nots formed in Spokane, Washington in 1995 and have performed hundreds of times in the region, becoming regular features at various local and regional festivals, and collaborators with an increasing number of artists in the region, including Columbia Ballet Theater, The Haran Irish Dancers, and Moments of Clarity. They currently have five CDs in their catalogue, which feature a wealth of original material as well as their unusual treatment of Celtic Traditional music: "Rope Tricks" (1996), "Not Music" (1998), "Deep Midwinter" (1999), "Untied" (2000), and "Why Not?" (2004). They are also featured on two live CDs from the Spokane World Music Summit ('98 & '99). They are currently working on the sixth album, which should be out mid-2007.
The Nots' music is driving and powerful and truly manly,
based on solid African and Celtic rhythms. Their performances
are intense, including furious and complex melodies, soaring improvisational
solos, warped humor, and occasional sets of Irish and British
sing-a-longs, and they encourage audience participation. In spite of this, there
are still some Celtic music lovers who haven't heard them, and
the Nots would like to invite them to "get notted" by
checking out the music or by coming to a gig...