Uiscedwr Biography

Pronounced "ish-ka-dooer", Uiscedwr is one of the most innovative and exciting young trios on the British folkrock scene.

Formed in Manchester by Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne, Uiscedwr won the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2002. The following year they played Cambridge Folk Festival. In 2005 they performed at Fairport's Cropredy Convention and were nominated for the Horizon Award at the Radio 2 Folk Awards.

During 2005, Anna was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare disorder where bone marrow does not produce sufficient blood cells. Although Anna's treatment has progressed well, her illness cut back on the group's tour schedule and delayed their second album. Anna's treatment has included a bone marrow transplant in 2006. Since being diagnosed, she has worked tirelessly to fundraise for the Aplastic Anaemia Trust and to raise awareness of the importance of blood and bone marrow donation.

The band has released three albums: Everywhere (2004); Circle (2006) and Fish Cat Door (2009).

The 2010 Uiscedwr line-up is Anna Esslemont on fiddle and vocals and Cormac Byrne on bodhrán and percussion who perform as a trio with a supporting guitarist. From January 2010, guitar is played by either Nick Waldock or James Hickman (and Nick also plays bass guitar). James joined Uiscedwr at the end of 2007 and Nick first worked with Uiscedwr in 2008;
Uiscedwr's contemporary sound lends itself to a wide-ranging repertoire that includes percussive dance numbers, expressive laments, fiddle tunes and carefully-crafted songs.

Members

Brought up in Wales, Anna Esslemont took up the violin when she was six years old. She dropped out of the Royal Northern College of Music to pursue a freer musical style than classical training allowed. Anna's distinctive style of playing mixes expressiveness with dazzling technique.

Cormac Byrne has been a musician since his schooldays. Raised in County Waterford in Ireland, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting and accomplished bodhrán players in the world. Like Anna, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music. As well as touring and recording with Uiscedwr, Cormac has worked with Seth Lakeman and recently gained a BBC Fame Academy Bursary.

James Hickman joined the line-up in 2007. He is from Shropshire and has been playing the guitar and singing from childhood.. James studied music at Kidderminster College before joining the band Canvas with whom he toured Ireland where he became interested in Celtic music.

Nick Waldock is a guitarist and bass player whostudied at Leeds College of Music. He first worked with Uiscedwr during 2008. Nick’s jazz and world influenced style was fostered by renowned bassist Zoltan Dekany at Leeds. He has been actively involved in projects across the genres including traditional and free jazz, folk and pop.