Derived from an Asturian expression meaning “collecting small fruits from the forest and the sea”, Guieldu was born from a passion for mystery, myth, and Celtic culture.

“We love creating and performing music that transports listeners to another world,” shares the band’s chief composer and multi-instrumentalist Héctor Aneiros via email from his home in northwest Spain. “We bring soundscapes to life that connect us to our roots, and our music is a tribute to nature, the ancient forests, the flowing rivers, the winds that whisper legends, and the stones of ancient ruins that hold stories.”

While the group’s sound echoes with ancient melodies, Guieldu’s repertoire is firmly rooted in the modern musical mainstream.

“We perform classic Celtic music with a millennial twist,” explains Aneiros. “We have a deep admiration for Celtic music from the 1990s – which, at the time, was as popular as the biggest pop and rock stars on the charts. That era of Celtic music was a turning point, and we wanted to pay tribute to those artists and songs by creating original compositions that bring the genre to the present. So, our sound can be described as a mélange of new age with early 90s funk-style basslines and the power and energy of rock.”

Formed in 2019, the sonic septet evolved quickly, overcoming the delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We took that time to refine our sound and have since been reinventing our performances by incorporating new instruments and arrangements. Mixing other musical styles into what we do has certainly enriched our sound, but Celtic music is still very much at the core of who we are.”

Ironically, the band’s commitment to their Celtic musical identity has resulted in a connection to the diversity within the culture itself. As their name suggests, “Guieldu” is an Asturian allegory for collecting traditional music from the Atlantic arc and then reinterpreting it for contemporary audiences.

“With Celtic culture, we are dealing with two very different worlds; on one side, there is the historical and archaeological Celticism, which tells the tale of the Astures – the people who lived in our region during the Iron Age and were the last in the Iberian Peninsula to resist the powerful Roman legions. Contemporary Celticism, however, is a bridge that strengthens Asturia’s cultural ties with the other Celtic nations, mostly through music…”

The connection between Celtic nations – however divergent – is apparent, given that those situated on Europe’s central-western mainland celebrate their heritage with as much fervor as Celts to the north.

“Asturias has had its own delegation at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Bretagne) each year since 1987, and Asturian bands regularly participate in Celtic Connections in Glasgow. The great Irish musician Phil Cunningham has produced Asturian groups, and (Irish trad band) The Tannahill Weavers have Asturian songs in their repertoire. Other Irish bands like The Chieftains, Lúnasa, and Flook have dedicated songs to Asturias, and many traditional Asturian songs are well-known at jam sessions in both countries.”

Setting aside the varied geographical groupings and stylistic nuances, Guieldu’s accolades reveal more about the band’s musical legitimacy than any discussion of cultural precision.

“One of our biggest highlights was the reception we received from 3,000 people at the Ortigueira International Celtic World Festival – one of the most important Celtic music festivals in Europe. We also won the “Best Folk Song of Asturian Music” award in both 2023 and 2024.”

Citing influences that include Clannad, Loreena McKennitt, and Alan Stivell, among others, the band is equally inspired by international Spanish musical artists Carlos Núñez, and Nightnoise. Ultimately, however, Guieldu has succeeded in cultivating their own distinctive presence as performers and will release their first full-length album in 2025.

“With Celtic music, the energy, charisma, and authenticity of the musicians is very important. A band that is emotionally invested creates an enthusiastic environment. It is our job to inspire people – to lift them up – and a good recording or live concert will do that.”

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