Scottish folk band Breabach might brandish not one but two sets of bagpipes, yet double bass player James Lindsay says the quintet offers moments of quieter contemplation amid the clamour. Boasting pipes, flute, whistles, bouzouki, fiddle, guitar, double bass and vocals, augmented by traditional step-dancing, Breabach has earned a reputation as one of the United Kingdom's most dynamic bands, winning ''Folk Band of the Year'' at the MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Awards in 2012 and following that success with the ''Live Act of the Year'' award at the same event in 2013.
Comprising Lindsay, Calum McCrimmon, Megan Henderson, Ewan Robertson and James Duncan Mackenzie, Breabach arrives in New Zealand next week on a rapid-fire tour that includes a concert in Dunedin tomorrow night.
''It's certainly a rare privilege getting to visit so many places, meet so many people and learn from other cultures along the way,'' Lindsay says.
''We generally have a great time together on tour. There are no major personality clashes, which is probably quite rare in a band.
''Our gig is partly designed to get people moving once the pipes and step-dance get going but it is fair to say that the show is diverse with more contemplative moments throughout, including songs in both Gaelic and Scots.''
Lindsay, who was awarded the 2014 Martyn Bennett Prize for traditional music composition, says Breabach attempts to push boundaries with its approach to arranging traditional music while remaining respectful to the original source.
''We also perform self-penned melodies. We have a lot of modern influences in our lives which are fun and important to include in the crossover, but we always attempt to orchestrate these tunes in relation - or in contrast - to the traditional material that we perform.
''The bagpipes have a large stereotype to overcome, but we are regularly reminded of how important the instrument is to a wide variety of folk. Scottish music and a lot of Celtic culture resonate with people all over the world.
''It is important to the band that we treat the piping tradition with respect and pay homage to ceol mor [literally, ''big music''], which is essentially the foundation for bagpipe music spanning hundreds of years.
''We would like to introduce new listeners to this deeper element of traditional pipe music with a modern twist.''
Evidence of that mix can be found on Breabach's latest album, Urlar, which contains instrumentals as well as a few tracks with vocals.
Regardless of approach, all seem to hold a story within them, which begs the question: is it more difficult to tell a story, or convey a message, by instruments alone?
''This album was an important one for us in bringing together stories and inspiration from all our home communities,'' Lindsay explains.
''We feel that if the right intention is behind a piece of writing, whether vocal or instrumental, you can convey that meaning to an audience. Obviously, it's nice to get some background for the instrumental music, but it's also interesting to see how a listener reacts purely to the music itself.''
SEE IT
• Breabach performs at Coronation Hall, Maori Hill, tomorrow, from 8pm.
