Lyrical waltzes and scorching bourreés from the French dance-floor, the driving rhythms of a Breton fest-noz, classic numbers and original melodies ~ the music of Deux Sans Frontières knows no boundaries.
Mike Gulston: octave mandola and guitar
Mark Prescott: violin
DSF were delighted to recently play for the first BalFolk in Bristol, following a series of successful workshops leading up to the night of the Bal. They are already looking forward to a future return!
Here is an update of the band's experiences last summer...
“Beautiful, entrancing...”
“They gave the best French Dance gig I've ever heard”
“Your music was so beautiful I fell in love with every man I danced with...”
Deux Sans Frontieres were simply blown away with peoples' responses to their music this summer, these are but a few quotes from dancers who spoke to them after their many summer gigs.
Mike and Mark returned late August from playing a number of major dance festivals in France – including their first appearance at St Gervais (the sister festival of Gennetines - Grand Bal de L’Europe), and the response was awesome. Audiences felt completely awakened by their music, and moved to the core by the sheer emotional depth and beauty of their music.
Mike and Mark were booked along with Jessica Fletcher to teach and play for dancing - specialising this summer in tuition for assymetric waltzes and in bringing together interpretation and dance movement for individuals and couples.
As well as their St Gervais booking, they also performed at Gennetines, Festiv’allier, Marsinne (Belgium)
As UK based musicians, playing alongside the very best of contemporary European dance music talent on the French festival circuit was always going to be a great experience for Mike and Mark, but to receive the reception they did and to make so many new friends and fans was just a delight and a welcome indication of the quality of their music.
Mark's new solo CD was also enthusiastically received, with gushing reviews reported by those who bought a copy early on and returned again to hear them at more than one festival. Again, knowing the feelings captured on his disc had been conveyed and appreciated so directly to listeners really touched Mark. His music is all about emotional connection with his audience, staying true to the spirit of the music and his own heart – it was so precious to have this affirmed by audiences in the home of French dance music!
Deux Sans Frontieres will shortly be finalising their schedules for this year. Time permitting they will confirm further European bookings and will continue to be pleased to play more across the UK.
They would love to hear from you about your festival experiences this summer. Also please do get in touch with them if you would like to book them for the next season.
Many thanks
Mark and Mike
Mike and Mark have played together for some years as a duo and in other collaborations.
They specialise in the dance music of Brittany and central France, but are also accomplished musicians in concert and informal settings.
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