Willos'

Willos’ started in Siena (Italy) in January 2001 with a repertoire of Irish and Scottish folk music. The Italian Canadian folk band interprets, composes and produces a “fresh” sound and a unique style, experimenting with original compositions mixed with trad and folk.

In Italy it’s a well-known fact that every great recipe has a secret ingredient! Recently journalists and radio dj’s are also applying this idea to the music Willos’ plays, defining “From Now On'' as an exceptional example of Celtic music with a strong Irish and Scottish base along with hints of something indescribable, an extra flavor that gives a new rich quality to the music.

What does Willos’ mean?

The original band name was Will o’ the Wisp. Irish folklore says that the wisps are the lights used to guide mortals to the places where the fairies danced. Some time ago, after a great review from a French journalist that named the band “les willos”, it was decided to start using this shorter and easier version of the name.

The band consists of:

• Stephanie Martin – fiddle – Belfast (IRL)
  Fiona King – voice & keyboards – Toronto (CAN)
  Lorenzo Del Grande – flutes – (ITA)
  Luca Mercurio – folk guitar & bouzouki – (ITA)
  Giulio Putti – percussions – (ITA)
  Massimo Giuntini – uillean pipes, irish bouzouki, flutes – (ITA)

Over the years the band performed nearly 700 gigs in Ireland, Italy, France and Switzerland being in the line up of some great events like All Ireland Fleadh, Folkest, FIMU festival, Celtica Valle d’Aosta, St. Patrick Ball at the Irish Embassy in Rome, Les Roches Celtiques, Triskell, Nyah Festival, Festival Air d’Irlande.

Willos’ offers a powerful and energetic gig with fun vibes, an uplifting show with lively dance and songs that involve the audiences and is perfect for any type of festival or fun family event.