‘The Irish band, Lúnasa, to appear at Bodles on Jan. 20

Chester — The band Lúnasa is celebrating the release of album No. 6, “Sé” (Irish for 6, pronounced ‘shay’), to be released in February, with a string of U.S. tour dates, including an appearance at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, at Bodles Opera House in Chester. In less than three years, Ireland’s all-star quintet has become a sought-after band on the international Irish music scene. Inspired by Ireland’s great 1970s group The Bothy Band, Lúnasa uses melodic interweaving of wind and string instruments, pairing flutes, fiddle, whistle and pipes in arrangements. The band’s inventive arrangements and bass-driven grooves are steering Irish acoustic music into new territories with its teaming of the upright acoustic bass and percussive guitar. Their music, though Irish in flavor, touches on jazz and other improvisational music forms. According to the Washington Post, “Ireland’s new all-star quartet … Lúnasa manages to marry jazz-rock bass lines and an expanded harmonic sensibility to an older rural music … determined to drag Irish folk music kicking and screaming into the 21st century.” The Irish Voice claimed they are “the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet.” The band is termed “earthy, soulful, and instinctive” by Mojo, and “frighteningly good … Lúnasa, sooner or later will be ranked amongst our canon of national treasures. Brilliant,” by Hot Press. “Five stars. Absolutely unmissable,” stated The Irish Times. “Moving, pulsating and thrilling to the very marrow,” read Folk Roots. “Not since the debut of Solas has an Irish traditional band been as lavishly praised … Lúnasa brings the world of traditional Irish music some sweet fruits indeed,” concluded the Boston Herald. Tickets are $25. For more information, call 469-4595.