Sin E' are an innovative and original six-strong Irish fusion band who look set to explode onto the UK music scene this autumn. Whilst the word 'fusion' is a hackneyed term often used throughout the music industry, Sin E' draw on a genuine diversity of influences across world, jazz, rock and pop music which dynamically blend together, brimming with confidence and integrity.

Sin E' was formed in the UK in 1994, with the three original band members in the current line up, Steafan Hannigan, Mike Cosgrave and Taz Alexander. The newest member of the current line up joined in 1998 - fiddle player and musician Gerry Diver. As Taz affirms: 'this line-up is how Sin E' was meant to be'.

In the beginning, Sin E"s music was rooted in the more traditional side of Irish music. Through plentiful experimentation with unusual sounds and grooves, it has gradually metamorphosed into producing the "superb1 funked-up, jazzy Celtic music" (Time Out) that it does today, by infusing the diverse, global influences brought to the band by each member. The result is a thrilling, funked-up multicultural sound, supported by fiery grooves and slick pop arrangements.

Steafan Hannigan is a multi-instrumentalist who plays a range of unusual instruments - including woodwinds, Percussion strings and a large assortment of bagpipes - and has performed with artists Bjork, Afro-Celt Sound System, Depeche Mode, Gary Barlow and Loreena McKennitt.

Taz Alexander, the band's vocalist came to the band after working with John Otway and Christy Moore. She demonstrates a voice of incredible power, range and style, and writes songs for the group as well exploring ambient trance with groups like Juno Reactor in Japan and the Sun Kings in Europe.

Mike Cosgrave brings inventive keyboard and guitar textures compositions and arrangements drawn from his rich musical minimalism and contemporary to jazz and hi-life.

An eccentric, long-established jazz drummer, Ben Clark is also a virtuoso tabla player, studying under Indian master Sharda Sahai.

James O'Grady is a master piper and fiddler who absorbs diverse musical elements while maintaining deep roots in Irish tradition. In addition to achieving All-Ireland Champion on may occasions, James has moved to the forefront of innovative piping during his extensive tours all over Europe, North America and Australia.

Gerry Diver has worked with artists like M.C. Ignite and Laurie Anderson as a guitarist, fiddler, bassist and keyboard player.
Each of the band's members use their diverse musical experiences outside of Sin E - as session musicians, television producers and arrangers, composers - to further enhance the musical attitude of the band as a whole.

Sin E' has toured extensively around the world including Italy, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Canada, New York, Ireland, and at major UK festivals - Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Festival, Irish Festival (Manchester), Sidmouth Festival and Queen's Festival, Belfast. Later this autumn the band will perform at 10 dates across the UK, including a date at the South Bank as part of the celebrated London Jazz Festival (see dates below). Spring 2000 marks the start of a run of European live dates to coincide with the band's album release debut across the continent.

Sin E's reputation is consistently reaching new ears via press, radio and word of mouth and consequently, they already have many high profile fans. Michael Flatley asked them to perform both at the launch of the Lord of the Dance video and at the closing party for the Lord of the Dance tour. Pierce Brosnan was serenaded at his birthday party held at Sting's London residence in May and both Van Morrison and Nick Mason joined them on stage. Robbie Coltrane is also a supporter.

Deep Water Drop Off - released in September 1999 - is their third album release and label debut for Wicklow Records.

Their 1997 Rhiannon release (and second album) It's About Time - reflected an increased complexity in the percussion and a growing comfort with one another; "We've played together so long," Hannigan explains, "that we can experiment even more with the rhythms." It's About Time won raves with critics. "This one creeps up on you- -it slips into a startling array of different gears and surprising grooves to keep you on your toes, literally and metaphorically," wrote Col in Irwin in Folk Roots. "Tabla appear as if by magic, slick jazz arrangements slip enticingly in and out of the action, and with some good old-fashioned folk-rock thrown in, there are even some throwbacks to Moving Hearts." Hot Press applauded Sin E' as a "true magic of the senses; every note, every vocal turn is a little gem."

In 1998, the buzz surrounding the band's independent album and live gigs throughout Europe attracted the attention of Chieftains' front man and Wicklow Records founder, Paddy Moloney, who quickly signed them to an exclusive worldwide recording contract.