A Global twist

Café Minor are a Galway based four piece that take folk traditions from across the world and fuse them into something unique and beguiling. The band formed three years ago when Ola Persson and Peter Akerstrom came to Galway and met fellow Swede Werner 'V' Gladh. Finnish violinist Juliana Erkonnen saw the trio busking and joined up soon after. Their first gig as a four piece was on Inisbofin Island, where they have returned several times since."It was in one of those pubs that never closes!" Ola recalls fondly.Trying to describe Café Minor's style involves criss-crossing oceans and continents and a lot of input from the group members. "We play lots of Eastern European tunes gypsy tunes from Hungary, Ukraine and a bit of Swedish tunes as well but we mix that with songs," explains fiddle-playing V."A lot of American songs, a lot of traditional songs; Dylan, Neil Young, Doc Watson," says Ola, Café Minor's mandolin player. "And even a few Swedish songs," adds V. "And Finnish too!" interjects Juliana.Café Minor enjoy being part of the vibrant folk and trad scenes in Ireland with V observing that "Irish people in general appreciate music a lot”. "In Finland there wouldn't be as many pubs and there wouldn't be so much live music" Juliana points out. "There's a very .......................Cafe Minor play in St Nicholas' Church tonight, Lohan's, Salthill tomorrow and Massimo's on May 28