THE GOLD RING  is an instrumental act specialising in live traditional Celtic music for weddings, corporate events and other private and public functions, featuring Celtic harpist Chris Knowles.

We specialise in performing traditional Irish and Celtic instrumental background music for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate functions and other events. We are also available for concerts, recitals, folk festivals and clubs. Our repertoire contains a large number of Irish tunes, but also many Welsh and Scottish and other pieces, the proportions of which can be adjusted to suit our clients' wishes. We are available for bookings throughout the UK.

The act offers various options:

1) SOLO CELTIC HARP: Chris Knowles.
Repertoire - as well as Irish music, if required Chris can include much Welsh & Scottish traditional music as well as some Breton, Cornish & Manx tunes.
In addition to the traditional music, he can offer a selection of popular airs and tunes from films etc. and if you have a special tune in mind you'd like to walk up the aisle to, Chris is willing to learn it specially for you, as long as it is suitable for the instrument.

For variety if required, in his solo performance Chris can also offer airs, jigs and reels played live on whistle and low D whistle, accompanied by celtic harp backing using recorded loops.

Chris has worked as a professional musician for 24 years, specialising in traditional Celtic music, and as well as public performances in concerts and festivals etc. this has included very many background music performances at weddings, corporate events, art gallery exhibitions and various events, in many varied venues including country hotels, manor houses, castles, churches etc. In addition to celtic harp Chris also plays several other instruments including Irish bouzouki, whistle and low D whistle.

 

2) DUO with fiddle: Chris Knowles (celtic harp, bouzouki, whistle, low D whistle) plus fiddle player Gary Matthewson.
Gary is a very fine fiddle player specialising particularly in traditional Irish music. If you want plenty of lively jigs and reels during the reception this duo is a good option.

 

3) DUO with flute, whistle and uilleann pipes: Chris (celtic harp, bouzouki) plus Ben Walker (limited availability).
   The original Gold Ring duo of Chris & Ben is still available on a limited basis; for some weekends, and for weekday evening bookings in the North-West England / Midlands area. Ben is an excellent flute player, uilleann piper, and whistle player, and is also very accomplished on several other instruments.

4) Trio- either of the above duos plus Birgitta Knowles on bodhran.

 

Weddings

We can play music for your wedding ceremony, reception, or both. The Celtic harp is a very melodic and atmospheric instrument for background music at such events. Combined with the flute or low whistle the effect is quite magical. The fiddle duo combination is a great choice for lively jigs and reels during the reception.

For weddings we usually play during the wedding reception, from the guests' arrival, through the meal up to the beginning of the speeches. Often we are booked to play for the wedding ceremony itself; for the guests' arrival at the ceremony, the bride's entrance, and during interludes such as the signing of the register. We can offer this instead of, or as well as, performance at the reception.

The music varies from beautiful magical evocative airs, to lively jigs and reels. If you have a particular tune in mind to walk down the ailse to, we are willing to learn & arrange it especially for you, if it is not already in our repertoire.

SEE OUR LINKS PAGE FOR A LIST OF GREAT UK WEDDING VENUES WHERE WE HAVE PLAYED.

----------------

You can download some samples of our music from our MP3 samples page - or, if you are interested in booking us, you can email us with your postal address for a free demo CD of complete tracks which will give an idea of the range of our material and different instrumentation. The demo CD contains straight recordings played live in the studio, so they give an accurate impression of how we actually sound live.