Biography

Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana (USA) mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds in Hildaland. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken wends through Scottish, oldtime, and Swedish inspired music intertwined with contemporary compositions. Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly.

Setiawan has won such accolades as the 2014 National Mandolin Championship, the 2017 RockyGrass Mandolin Championship and has shared the stage with the likes of Julian Lage, Darrell Scott, Bryan Sutton, Mike Marshall, Tony Trischka, Darol Anger, Casey Driessen, the Steel Wheels, Don Stiernberg, Matt Flinner, and Jacob Jolliff.

Bichan has won awards for her compositions and playing, and has travelled far and wide to perform in various line ups since a young age. She has appeared at the likes of the BBC TV's Hogmanay Live show, Edinburgh Castle, Reading Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Lorient Interceltique Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival and Sligo Live festival. In 2016 she released her first solo album, Out of My Own Light, to great acclaim.

Tagline

Appalachian and Scottish traditions, intertwined with contemporary compositions.

Booking

Sassafras Hill Productions

PRESS

Innes & Campbell Communications
Hannah Innes
hannah@innesandcampbell.co.uk

UK

record Label

USA

Adhyaropa Records
Joe Brent
adhyaroparecords@gmail.com

complex production and powerful vocals
— Folk Radio UK
Song of the Day (4th Oct 2023)
Outstanding.. powerfully played
— Alex Monaghan, Folkworld
Review (12th Nov 2023)
a perfect meeting of different musical worlds
— Celtic Music Radio
Album of the Week (21st Oct 2023)
Airplay (29th Oct 2023)
Fantastic
— BBC Radio Lincolnshire
music that feels entirely genuine
— Mandolin Cafe
Review (3rd Nov 2023)
Airplay (7th Oct 2023)
lovely stuff
— Black Dog Radio
a captivating fusion of folk traditions
— Tradfolk
Review (1st Nov 2023)
Airplay (29th Oct 2023)
Excellent!
— BBC Radio Wales
Fantastic
— Anna Massie, BBC Radio Scotland
Live studio session (1st Feb 2024)

The Bluegrass Situation

Video premier Trains/Fin’s (25th Sept ‘23)
Video premier The Selkie of Sule Skerry (25th Oct ‘23)

Beguiling
— Hannah McMaster, Radio Lewes

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

2024

Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk live
Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY

2023

Bellingham Folk Festival, Bellingham WA
Club Passim, Cambridge MA
The Robin Theatre, Lansing MI
Bangor Celtic Crossroads, Brewer ME
Take Five Jazz Club, Stockton CA

2019 - 2022

The Robin Theatre, Lansing MI
The Burren Backroom, Somerville MA
Chandler Centre for the Arts, Randolph VT
The Dance Hall, Kittery ME
Next Stage Arts, VT
Valley Stage, VT
The Stone Church, Rockingham VT

Live video

Releases

Sule Skerry

Released Nov 3rd 2023 on Adhyâropa Records

Singles

TRAINs/FIN’s

Released September 26th 2023

The Selkie of Sule skerry

Released October 25th 2023

The Silver Dollar

Released August 22nd 2023

Debut release

Our self-titled EP was released digitally in October 2019, prior to naming our duo.