Xabi Aburruzaga (Portugalete 1978), trikitilari and composer, presents his fourth album KeltiK. After navigating the seas of creation, updating his passion for tradition in Bizkaiko Trikitixa, and reaching Denboraren Naufragoa, Aburruzaga presents himself in musical maturity with Geure. A creator in endless search and tireless worker of the diatonic sound. He seeks to satisfy those who want to listen to a kalejira while achieving his goals. He has no limits. And he dislikes boundaries. Therefore, he has set himself a challenge beyond borders in this new work. His devotion to Celtic music is not new. His previous works already had a Celtic spirit, and it is no coincidence that he participated in the Ortigueira Festival several times, nor that he won its young talents contest Runas in 2014.

Now he has fulfilled a dream: he has brought the triki to the Celtic universe, and the musical tradition of Euskal Herria has sailed through the waves of Celtic music. To honor Celtic music, Xabi proposes a journey, taking a sailboat like the ones Basque fishermen used to go to Newfoundland, bringing us closer to those places he admires so much. And for our enjoyment during the journey, he has invited some musician friends: Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas (Scotland, UK); Brian Finnegan and Niamh Ní Charra (Ireland), John Joe Kelly, Ewan MacPherson, and Ed Boyd (England); Rua Mac Millan, Calum Stewart, Ross Ansley, and Martin O’Neill (Scotland); Youen Le Berre (Brittany); Anxo Lorenzo (Galicia); Oreka TX, Alos Quartet, and Jexux Aranburu from Euskal Herria. And he is accompanied by the crew composed of Aitor Antruejo (guitar), Mikel Artieda (bass), Igor Telletxea (drums), and Xabier Zeberio (violin). These sounds suggest many landscapes and tell many stories on this journey by this musician from the left bank, accompanied by the lyrics of notable bertsolari and navigator Jon Maia, and Iñaki Aurrekoetxea, a regular in Xabi’s adventures.

We will depart from Euskal Herria on this journey that is KeltiK, heading to those lands that make up the Celtic soul. Xabi is faithful to tradition, carrying in his blood the sounds learned from Rufino Arriola, bringing personality to the instrument. But we live in a journey, an endless search, and by not understanding borders, he finds those small and abundant treasures that enrich his music, elevating the folk universe of our Euskal Herria. Sharing Celtic music with the Basque essence. Or the Celtic essence with Basque music? Let’s embark on this universal journey to see if we find answers.