the members

the members

Hilary Coleman (vocals, soprano and bass clarinets)

Hilary is well known to fans of Cornish music at home and abroad, having been a founder member of much loved band Gwaryoryon and the ground-breaking Sowena. She is at the forefront of the revival of interest in the clarinet as a traditional instrument in Cornwall, where it was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hilary is now one of the leading authorities on Cornish traditional music and is currently producing Cornish music and singing resources through her Fenten project. She also co-founded the Cornish music promotion company Cumpas Ltd, and in 2004 became a bard of the Cornish Gorseth.

Neil Davey (bouzouki, mandolin, fiddle, vocals)

Neil and his brothers kick started the current revival in Cornish traditional music in the 1970s with their band Bucca, the first band to record a professional album of traditional Cornish tunes & songs. Neil went on to gain a wealth of experience with other bands in the wider Celtic scene, including The Lorraine Jordan Band and Anam. He has played throughout the world, appearing alongside legendary names in Celtic music such as Altan, Donal Lunny, Dougie Maclean, Martin Hayes, Solas and Patrick Street.

Bec Applebee (vocals, percussion, whistle, scoot dancing)

An engaging and astonishingly versatile performer, Bec is respected equally as a musician and physical theatre actor and director. She trained at Liverpool Polytechnic and Fooltime Bristol, and is now known internationally as a member of Kneehigh and Wildworks theatre companies and of course Dalla. She has also worked with Desperate Men, CScape Dance, and Rogue Theatre amongst others, and in recent years has directed and toured her own critically acclaimed one woman theatre show 'Oh Mary'.

Jen Dyer (viola, vocals)

Jen, although the youngest member of Dalla by some distance, has a rock solid pedigree in Cornish traditional music. She has been a member of various highly influential and innovative line-ups - not the least of which was Sowena, pioneers of the nos lowen approach to traditional Cornish music and dance. She is much in demand as a performer and recording artist in Cornwall, including guesting with other local bands, and providing music for theatre shows (most recently Miracle Theatre's 'The Death of Sherlock Holmes'.

Kyt Le Nen Davey (accordian, mandola, vocals)

Kyt needs no introduction to fans of Cornish music, having been involved from the very beginning of the current revival. He co-founded the near legendary Bucca with his brothers Merv, Andy and Neil, and later went on to form Anao Atao, who became very well known internationally through their festival performances, from Bratislava to Montreal, and recordings. He also set up the specialist Cornish music distributer Kesson, through which most Cornish artistes now sell their CDs and downloads throughout the world.