Oscar West & Rennie Pearson - Polytropos
Multi-instrumentalists West and Pearson are masterful, passionate players of Celtic music arranged i
Polytropos - meaning “the thing of many twists and turns” or “the much-wandering thing” - drives the spirit of West and Pearson’s unique instrumental arrangements and represents the journey each set creates for the listener. It also acknowledges the music’s own odyssey from the hills of Ireland and Scotland to the rugged, natural landscapes of New Zealand. Their playing weaves together the tones o
10/10/2023
Tonight at Open Studio, SOLD OUT! really looking forward to bringing the vibe to Open Studio once again. We are both feeling so blessed and lucky to have had such incredible responses from our audiences here in Australia. This week has been spent getting some fresh new sets dialed in and ready for your ears, so if you've already got your ticket, kick back, relax and let us take you on a wild and twisting journey of Celtic music
What an epic time performing in Montsalvat last night. Really is a special place and was just the perfect fit for our music. In case you missed out, here is a little clip from the show. Next up Open Studio on the 10th of October! head on over to eventbrite to grab your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/polytropos-celtic-music-of-many-twists-and-turns-tickets-716695484487
21/09/2023
Tonight in Montsalvat! These boys are awfully keen to bring a mesmerizing selection of tunes, songs, stories, banter, history and humor to really give you the Friday night you deserve.
Head on over to the Montsalvat website for details.
https://www.montsalvat.com.au/whats-on-1/2023/9/22/polytropos-duo?fbclid=IwAR1-J9YzPnsxEMFseAx-P60Uy-u9CIbdW86Myb7GfD8sqtOzqlcE0pTRBhM
10/09/2023
Having just finished a tour with the Irish dance show Celtica around the North and South Island of New Zealand for the last 3 weeks we are counting down to our special appearance at the Great Hall Gallery at Monsalvat in Melbourne! It's just 12 days away on Friday 22nd September, 7pm!
Having been travelling through some of the most spectacular landscapes the last few weeks we can't wait to share our music in the spectacular landscape of Monsalvat on what we think will be a truly special evening. 🙂 Tickets can be booked through the following link and are only $30 for adults, $25 for concessions and under 18s. See you there! ❤️
https://www.montsalvat.com.au/whats-on-1/2023/9/22/polytropos-duo
Or here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1092404
Just a few weeks till we are playing in the beautiful and historic venue of Montsalvat in Eltham! This will be the perfect space to experience the music we play which draws from all corners of the Celtic traditions and mixes humour, history and storytelling into the fold. True to the meaning of of our name 'Polytropos' we combine the voices of many different instruments playing many tunes from many times and places, with many stories to accompany them. We hope you'll join us for a night of magic at Montsalvat on Friday the 22nd of September at 7pm.
Get your tickets here: https://www.montsalvat.com.au/whats-on-1/2023/9/22/polytropos-duo?fbclid=IwAR1-J9YzPnsxEMFseAx-P60Uy-u9CIbdW86Myb7GfD8sqtOzqlcE0pTRBhM
Tuesday Night on High St!
What a joy to be back in the saddle, sharing our music with the wonderful people of Melbourne. A massive thank you from both of us to everyone who came out to surport us. It was so great to have so many new and familiar faces there and a full house no less!
Our next gig is at Montsalvat on the 22nd of September. Stay tuned for that one!
This Tuesday at Open Studio! Looking forward to delivering some great music, banter and stories with to you all! Grab your tickets from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polytropos-celtic-music-of-many-twists-and-turns-tickets-663394008337?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
28/06/2023
Rennie is going live on Air today from 12pm with Melbournes 96.5 Inner FM . He will be chatting about the music, playing live in the studio and talking about our upcoming show Polytropos: Celtic music of many twists and turns on tuesday July 11th at Open Studio
You can also tune in to listen online here: https://innerfm.org.au/
What an amazing time National Celtic Festival Australia Official over the weekend! We were overwhelmed with the audience response to our concerts which spanned from the morning to the late evening over 3 days of festival fun. Such a lovely crowd for each and every show! Here's us in Parks Hall on the Saturday night feeling the lovely vibe from the audience. So many stories to tell! 📷 by Rachel Van Der Heide
Polytropos is back baby! and we are playing next weekend at the National Celtic Festival Australia Official 9th to the 12th of June. So happy to be reunited now that Rennie has moved to Melbourne. There has been an abundance of fun during our practice sessions and we cannot WAIT to share some great banter and great music with you all.
17/04/2023
POLYTROPOS will be making their Australian festival debut in Portarlington for the National Celtic Folk Festival 2023 June 9th - 12th! It's a fantastic festival and from the looks of the line-up it's going to be an absolutely party of bands and sessions. Hope our banter goes down well... oh, and the music of course! If you're coming don't forget your warm jacket as that Portarlington sea breeze can get bitey! Unless you're in the Polytropos concerts in which case you definitely won't need your jacket :) See you there!
Kiwi Multi-instrumentalists West and Pearson are masterful, passionate players of traditional Celtic music arranged in an adventurous, conversational style.
Their infectious stage presence and musicality as the duo Polytropos have been a hit with audiences since their debut concert at Wellington Folk Festival in 2011. Their playing weaves together the tones of the wooden flute, fiddle, guitar, small pipes, whistles and voice to produce arrangements of tunes and songs that are all at once curious, pure and full of storytelling.
Another exciting act joining us in June! 💃🏻
https://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/
09/05/2022
Check out this Cracker of a video! Filmed by Barrington West and Recorded by Primau Productions
Live at St Peters Village Hall, Paekākāriki
We are indescribably excited to bring the music of Polytropos to Melbourne this Thursday at the Last Jar.
Polytropos - Oscar West & Rennie Pearson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07ZbEtKDDM&ab_channel=RenniePearson
Polytropos: Paddy Squared Our final set from our show in Paekakariki, Rakish Paddy and Paddy's trip to Scotland or as we call it Paddy Squared. This was one of the shows in a monument...
Made it to the end of 2017!! :D
POLYTROPOS - The Pipe Bandit
Polytropos stirring up and smallpipe and flute frenzy!... The Pipe Bandit composed by the piper himself :)
Duo Oscar West (small pipes) and Rennie Pearson (wooden flute) play an original composition first as a jig then a reel with some improvised material in between.
POLYTROPOS - Paddy Squared
Paddy Squared as played at Thorndon Hall in Wellington. Spring is upon us! and there's certainly a spring in these reels.
A rousing set of reels. Rakish Paddy & Paddy's Trip to Scotland. [email protected] Filmed at Thorndon School Hall, Wellington, New Zea...
Polytropos at The Third Eye - Paddy Squared
Our 2 months of adventure and music came to a grand conclusion tonight in Wellington with a fabulous, warm crowd packed into The Third Eye. What an incredible experience it has been getting to travel around the whole country meeting you all! Hearts full, we'll leave you with tonight's rendition of our final set, Paddy Squared. Polytropos in full flight!
Hope to see you again soon!!
Oscar and Rennie x
The final gig of a 2 month long tour of New Zealand. An ecstatic rendition of one of our favourite tune sets performed at The Third Eye in Wellington on 30th...
Stunning photography by Josie Gritten in Mangawhai. We are delighted with her amazing work! This tour has been full of beautiful places and beautiful people and these images capture a lot of that feeling.
A few weeks back I had the great pleasure of spending time with the incredibly talented Oscar West and Rennie Pearson from Polytropos. The guys happily let themselves be accosted after a show and came to ours for a pot-luck music evening packed with laughter, music, chaos and delicious food and then more lovely music in the sunshine the following morning. Thanks guys!
Good musicians always wear their seat belts ;) Driving to New Plymouth this morning! 4th Wall Theatre tonight at 7:30pm... see you there!
Paddy Squared in Whangarei
More shennanigans from our Whangarei house concert. Wild fiddle and guitar on our final set "Paddy Squared"! :)
Oscar West - Smallpipes
Ladies and gentlemen, Oscar West on the smallpipes...
Waly, Waly and Dinky's Reel played on Walsh smallpipes in A. Filmed in Thorndon School Hall, Wellington, New Zealand.
Jackaroe at Whangarei House Concert
A wee video of us singing Jackaroe at Dave's House taken by Florence Varigault :)
Oscar West & Rennie Pearson - Polytropos's cover photo
Amazing Photos taken by Warren Watson from our Concert in Dunedin. Next up Raglan on the 14th!
Playing at the legendary Bunker tomorrow night! It's an absolutely fantastic folk venue and we can't wait to perform! Aucklanders, see you there! :D
Polytropos Winter Tour Video Part 1
We cut together a small video of some of the van-antics we've filmed since beginning the tour a week ago. As you can see we've already made one another cry with laughter many times! We're starting the next leg of the tour south tomorrow so very excited for the concerts ahead: Christchurch, Oamaru, Millers Flat, Alexandra, Dunedin and Gore you're next!
Day 6 of the tour and we've been enjoying recuperating at Rennie's parents' place in Takaka. Today we visited Wainui Falls!... just realised there are probably more photos of us on this page doing crazy things in wild environments than music but it is all part of the Polytropic way of life - we promise! We have to keep that wild inspiration flowing somehow!
Three concerts down and we are having a blast! Such amazing turnouts in Mapua, Motueka and just last night, Takaka. Thank you to everyone who has come and enjoyed our music so far, the comments we've been receiving each night are so heartening! Lots more to come - Christchurch next on the 15th!
South & North
We're connecting in Nelson today! The adventure begins and we are so excited. First gig in Mapua on Wednesday :D Making sure we've packed enough warm clothes and microphones. Stay tuned (at least in tune enough for folk) for updates...
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