Poor Man's Fortune

Poor Man's Fortune fuses the modern world with traditional Breton dances and creates a new vision of Celtic Music. No fairy tales, just fiery tunes that happen to be a century or so older than your average hip-hop jam, arranged for modern ears and played on traditional instruments with verve and exuberance. This is not “Celtic Rock”, nor is it “Pure Drop.” Poor Man’s Fortune plays Breton music with passion and creativity that surpasses genre and history.

Schottishes and congas, jigs with didgeridoos, gavottes & gaitas, a haunting ballad with soaring bombardes. A two-step in four time and a six-step in seven. Bagpipes, flutes, pennywhistles, accordions, dulcitares, electric fiddles and electric darbukas, delicately combined to explore the endless possibilities of old and new music alike. Poor Man’s Fortune is present testament to the past and future… living proof of what any lover of traditional music will tell you: What's old is always new again.

WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE SAID:

"Stomping dance music— Irish jigs and Breton gavottes—mingle with heartfelt songs and delicate waltzes in this universe where anything is possible. While others are content to imitate to a fault, Poor Man's Fortune strikes out into places most bands fear to tread. Unusual time signatures, odd turns of the musical phrase and challenging mixtures of modern instruments (electric bass, drums) with ancient sounds (the bombarde, hurdy-gurdy, fiddle and biniou) -it all somehow works.”
Bill Galbraith, KPFT, FM 90.1, Houston Public Radio
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“Poor Man's Fortune demonstrates a refreshing curiosity to make something new out of traditional material. Their music gives strong testimony that Celtic roots run deep in Texas.”
Gert-Ove Fridlund, Hallandsposten, Gotteburg, Sweden
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"One of the best interpretations of Breton music I've heard from American musicians - from deep in the heart of Texas... Clearly they understand the Celtic musical heritage of Ireland and Scotland as well and its presence in North America, and this is a great inter-Celtic mix interpreted by skilled musicians in a unique way."
Lois Kuter - Bro Nevez #103
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“The musicians of Poor Man's Fortune made the effort to immerse themselves in our repertoire of traditional melodies and came out with a beautiful selection. Their keen musical sense did the rest ... "
Jean-Michel Veillon
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“This is a CD filled with energy... Not one of those mothproofed trad albums. (On Blow Hard) Poor Man's Fortune deliver fresh and enthusiastic interpretations. One can really enjoy the impetuous virtuosity of the musicians.”
José Ruiz, Accordéon Magazine
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“The astonishing outfit known as Poor Man's Fortune gives a four star performance on the humorously titled Blow Hard. The band balances Irish and Breton music--the jig beside the gavotte, the reel by the plinn—with delightful results.”
Margaret Moser, Austin Chronicle