PLANET WOMAN "From Celtic Roots To Oceanic Soul" An exciting musical collaboration of five musicians from both sides of the globe: Ora Barlow (NZ), Lorraine Jordan (Wales/Ireland), Kim Halliday (NZ), Mahina Kaui (NZ) and Sarah Beattie (Scotland). Together they create an eclectic and unique musical fusion of Pacific rhythms and harmonies with Celtic soundscapes. CD RELEASED "REELING IN THE PACIFIC" 2006 TOUR OF AUSTRALIA! Their exhilarating and awesome sound has captured the attention of many festivals and media representatives including: WOMAD UK, Sidmouth Festival, The National Folk Festival (Australia), Andy Kershaw’s BBC Radio 3 World Music Programme, "Folkest Festival" (Italy), BBC 4 Television  and Meridian T.V. Tracks from their new CD "Reeling In The Pacific" are featured on Air New Zealand International flights. THE BAND MEMBERS Ora Barlow (Aotearoa (N.Z) is an exciting musician, songwriter and artist featuring guitar, ukulele, percussion and vocals.  As one of the original members of the acclaimed pacific women’s trio ‘Manuhiri’ Ora has toured Europe, Australia, New Caledonia and Aotearoa and performed in major festivals such as WOMAD UK, Edinburgh Fringe and most of the festivals in Australia releasing two CD’s along the way. Voice, guitar, ukulele and percussion. Lorraine Jordan is one of the finest singer-songwriters resident in the UK today. Born in Wales to Irish parents, she was influenced from a young age by Irish traditional music: her father, being an All-Ireland flute champion and her uncle Frank Jordan a renowned flute player in Co. Roscommon. Her thoughtful, powerful and melodic songs reflect her Celtic heritage and embrace her contemporary musical tastes. She has recorded 3 CDs and has toured Europe extensively. She has played alongside Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainright III, Dick Gaughan, Capercaille etc. Voice, guitar, bouzouki and tin whistle.                   "A voice for the ages" - Sing Out (USA) Mahina Kaui  is an accomplished player and teacher of Taonga Puoro - koauau and nguru (maori flutes) and lead singer of the Big Belly Woman band who were finalists in the NZ Music Awards 2001.   Described as "... divinely voiced.." by the NZ Listener, Mahina is a moving and emotive performer.  She lives in the rural community of Hokianga far north, NZ. Voice, flutes, percussion. Kim Halliday (Rotuma, NZ Scottish) has studied and performed with some of the finest musicians in the world!  Having studied and worked with guitar greats such as Robert Fripp and Nigel Gavin, Kim has emerged with a style of guitar playing  and musicianship truly her own. Kim also plays piano, ukulele, percussion and sings and has been involved in many recording projects and bands, both in NZ and overseas. Guitar,voice, percussion. Kim, Ora and Mahina (aka "The Pacific Curls") perform a fusion of original contemporary and traditional music, blending rich vocal harmonies with pacific acoustic and rhythmic soundscapes... Sarah Beattie was born in Aberdeenshire in the North of Scotland, where she started playing the fiddle (violin) at the age of six. Though equally steeped in Scots traditional music, Sarah achieved her BA honours degree in classical studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Her career began with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, as well as playing in string quartets and as part of the ceilidh band the Jiggers. In 2003 Sarah toured Australia with the Brave Hearts of Scotland show - the final concert being staged at the Sydney Opera House. She has travelled internationally with various artists and orchestras and appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in England with Sydney based band Loonaloop, whom she toured Europe with throughout the Summer of 2004.  Fiddle, voice. Sarah and Lorraine play a mixture of Lorraine's original songs as well as traditional material.. including, from time to time, set of tunes made to get the feet tapping and the heart laughing....   Previous members of Planet Woman  included the wonderful musicians: Mesepa Eruera(Nga Puhi), Maea Martin (Waikato) and Gill Hunter.