Friday, 17th of July, at 8pm in St.Mary’s Collegiate Church, the Polskadots will play their unique brand of European music. Tickets are E 10, available from Gallery 126. North Main St. Youghal.

The Polskadots are a world music band based in Cork City. Strongly influenced by the Finnish members of the band they play many a Scandinavian tune but also share a passion for gypsy music from Eastern Europe, South America, Russia and Turkey. Led by the highly accomplished and energetic Finnish violinist Marja Gaynor they take their audiences on a musical journey around the world.

As well as instrumentals they incorporate sweet and soulful songs from Macedonia, Bulgaria and Finland. Finnish box player, Piia Pakarinen, a founder member of the Dots is also a great composer and her tunes features on their current cd ‘Join The Dots’. The token male in the band is the very versatile George Norman from Georgia, US who adds the South American flavour with tangos and swing tunes on his mando blaster plus mind blowing solos on acoustic mandolin. Cork violinist, Cat O’Hora is also the percussionist in the band plus sings haunting Eastern European songs. Guitarist and singer Eileen Healy completes the line up with strong rhythm guitar and vocal harmonies. She recently released her own album ‘Secret Smile’ www.eileenhealy.net. The Polskadots have played at many festivals including the Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Belfast European Culture Fest and the Dun Laoghaire World Music Fest.

Band Members: Marja Gaynor..violin,bass/ Cat O’Hora..vocal,violin,djembe/ Piia Pakarinen..accordion/ George Norman…mandolin,mandoblaster,tin whistle/ Eileen Healy..vocal,guitar.

Influences: Influenced by great tunes and songs that we pick up from sessions,cds,friends who play shit hot music from all over the world Sounds Like Gypsy,Tangoey,stringy,dancy,melancholy,folky,rootsy,hauntingy..type of thingy