Tango Volcano, Lakeside
"As a music genre that has emotion in its heart and soul, there could be few more perfect ways to spend Valentine's Day than listening to this amazing quintet.
Tango Volcano are at the cutting edge of the emerging British tango scene and their passion for it was clear not just from their accomplished playing but also from the informal and unpretentious way they engaged their sell-out audience with stories behind the pieces they played.
Their set included several moody and explosive works by renowned Argentinian 'tanguero' composer Astor Piazzolla. But as well as traditional tango, there were pieces written especially for the band. Riveria Waltz, by its guitarist, Nigel Woodhouse, perfectly captured the playful essence of a walk by the sea.
Another, by Graham Lynch, Milongo Azure was evocative and atmospheric.
At times, the band was joined by professional dancers Peter Baldock and the glamorous Claire Loewe in fantastic red shoes. As a recent tango devotee, watching their fluid technical expertise was awe-inspiring. But I felt their dancing was a little sanitised and lacked the earthy rawness that I associate with the dance.
There was no lack of ardour in the world-class violin playing by group founder Lucy Waterhouse who achieved a fantastic depth and range. All five, including Lucy Hare (double bass), Roger Davison (piano) were excellent. Special mention to Ninon Foiret who made playing the bandoneon (a kind of squeeze box) sound deceptively easy."
Lisa Cherry-Downes, Nottongham Evening Post
"Maria de Buenos Aries"
"Tango Volcano delivers Piazzolla’s music with real punch... You probably won’t hear tangos better played anywhere. And that must be the chief reason for catching this show as it does the festival rounds. Next stop Bath, then Buxton."
Richard Morrison, The Times, May 14, 2004
Summer 2002
"Tango Volcano is taking the country by storm"
Ham & High
"Dizzy with this fabulously sensual music"
El Once Tango
"The Daffodil (restaurant) certainly hummed that night!"
Cheltenham Festival
"In all my 20 years in the business I have never seen a group of people so captivated by the music"
Neil, General Manager, Swinfen Hall Hotel, Staffs
"You really are brilliant, please lets organise another!"
Lichfield Festival
"Devils & Angels"
"Dynamic.... and soul wrenching"
Sunday Express
"A sell out, with the fine acting of David Graham"
El Once Tango
Previous Events
"An intoxicationg mix of talents and styles"
MP Chris Smith
"Tango Volcano band was marvellously received by a packed house.....a brilliant launch, a truly splendid event"
Sir Henry Beverley (Director Churchill Memorial Fund)
"Lucy's enthusiasm for tango music is so genuine, it's infectious... everyone in the audience felt it"
Victoria Varshavskaya
"The talk of the town"
GWW (poet)
"A great way to start the evening, a feeling of mad dogs and English men as we all piled downstairs to have our tango lesson"
"I really really really didn't want to schlep across London on Sunday evening but I was really really really glad I did"
"I can't wait to see Tango Volcano's name up in lights"
Robert Lee (writer)
"I was enchanted by the music, and the dancers were a stroke of genius"
EW (musician)