ALWAN MIDDLE-EASTERN GROOVES Alwan middle-eastern ensemble play sublime Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Sephardic and original music. Alwan is the Arabic word for “Colours”. Members are Yuval Ashkar (oud , vocals, percussion), Phil Carroll (quarter-tone accordion, ney flute, duduk) and Matt Stonehouse (percussion), all of whom have studied the music in the middle-east. Beautiful vocals, haunting oriental instruments and fiery drum solo's. Their first CD was released November 2010. http://www.myspace.com/alwanband Members(all Melbourne residents) Yuval Ashkar (Israeli oud player/singer/percussionist ) Phil Carroll (quarter-tone accordion, ney flute, duduk, zurna, vocals) Matt Stonehouse (percussion) Website:http://www.myspace.com/alwanband CLIPS: National Folk Fest : et dodim kala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6dXPrDS9Ms National Folk Fest : hicaz mantira http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wKfUyepROw Alwan at claypots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IJWFJD5Ovk&feature=plcp Alwan with Ayelet – Tammer Henna pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC2CialJneU Alwan with Ayelet – Tammer Henna pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaAd1yXv-TQ Alwan with zurna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SFKeJLshkI Performances have included: The National Folk Fest ACT , Cygnet Festival TAS, Viva Victoria Multicultural Festival ,Yackandandah Festival, , St Kilda Fest, Auburn Festival(Sydney), Camelot (Sydney) and support for Mercan Dede.. Residencies at Claypots Bar and Maha restaurant . CONTACT US: Phil Carroll Ph. 0412148906 (+61412148906) desertney@gmail.com http://www.myspace.com/alwanband P.O. Box 2119 Lygon St. Nth. Brunswick East Vic. 3057 AUSTRALIA QUOTES "a convincing Melbourne trio….. with plenty of interplay and improvisation……." Doug Spencer, ABC Radio National, The Weekend Planet “Cygnet festival director Steve Gadd, who named ... Camoon (now Alwan) ... as this year's best acts” Hobart Mercury, January 11, 2010 “Its totally beautiful. What a beautiful band. It's old world.”. Kavisha Mazella, ARIA award winning singer. "absolutely relaxing, beautiful music" Gabriele Urban, Trans-Europa Express , 3PBS-FM Yuval Ashkar (Israeli oud player/singer/percussionist ) trained with oud master Yair Dalal and has performed with sublime Ladino singer Yasmin Levi. He moved to Australia 6 years ago and recently moved to Melbourne from Byron Bay.Yuval has played in many festivals arround Australia with great musicians including Cleis Pearce, Greg Sheehan, Tunji Beier, Kurdish Earth and more. Phil Carroll (quarter-tone accordion, ney flute, duduk, zurna, vocals) has recently returned from living in Turkey where he studied ney and worked as a musician in weddings, cafes and sufi ceremonies. He was leader of the Melbourne middle-eastern band Yalla! for 10 years , who played festivals in every Australian state. Matt Stonehouse (percussion) has worked extensively throughout Melbourne to great acclaim in a variety of percussive styles. He has played with The Reefers, Unified Gecko and Fingers of Fury He studied drumming overseas in Turkey and Iran and travelled through the middle-east this year directing the feature length film ‘The Rhythmic East.’ Workshops Drum and middle-eastern music workshops are available from the group.