Introducing Loes & The Celtic Link
“Celtic culture” might be a myth (discuss!), but for these four musicians from different countries, their love of music from various Celtic traditions was the link that brought them together. Loes van Schaijk (NL: vocals, guitar), Honza Bartošek (CZ: vocals, fiddle), Caolán O’Neill Forde (IE: vocals, guitar, mandolin), Emil Riumkin (RU: flutes and whistles, tenor banjo, bouzouki) and Tomáš Novák (CZ: bodhrán) play original compositions spiced up with Irish/Scottish/English ballads, instrumental tunes, old-time and bluegrass, and on occasion some classic pop hits.
The main singer and songwriter of this outfit is Loes van Schaijk, who grew up in a tiny village in the South-East of the Netherlands, studied and worked in Rotterdam, and then emigrated to Prague in 2018. You can recognize her by her warm voice, natural presence, heartfelt delivery, a big tattoo, and an even bigger smile. She played all over Europe with the bluegrass/folk band Red Herring, released her debut album “All I Ever Really Seem To Say” with original songs in 2021, and won the renowned Porta competition in that same year.
One of the first people Loes met when she came to Prague was Honza Bartošek, an eclectic, intelligent, and hyperactive violinist who was born in Litoměřice and boasts Moravian roots. He won various prizes with the bluegrass band Twisted Timber, there isn’t a mountain he won’t climb (as long as it’s on his mountain bike), and he has fabulous curly hair.
Caolán O'Neill Forde, a multi-instrumentalist (founding member of indie duo Bookie Baker) and singer from Ireland’s County Clare, spent some time in China before moving to Prague, where he is now an in-demand musician and actor. He has a unique, gritty voice, plays virtuoso solos with ease and elegance, and is the owner of what is possibly the most adorable dog in Prague.
Tomáš Novák is a professional drummer who feels quite comfortable on all kinds of stages: whether he’s playing the Rudolfinum (one of Prague’s most renowned concert halls for classical music) with world music group Bardolino, rocking the socks off a crowd of 800 people with his alternative funk band The Strýc, or squeezing into the corner of an Irish bar with his bodhrán, Tomáš is always happy to learn new things and it is quite likely that the world will end before his groove does.
The latest addition to the Celtic Link ensemble is Emil Riumkin, the trad-wizard who never sleeps. Over the course of his 13 years of experience, Emil has embarked on many musical journeys, played Irish, Breton, Scottish, and Russian music with various bands on six instruments. His balfolk band Folk Knock recently released an album of original compositions and Emil is currently working on a solo album.
Originally formed as a house band for The Irish Times Bar in Prague, Loes & The Celtic Link are making their way onto larger stages, with Keltská noc, Střelák, Midsummer Tunes, Skotsko v Kostelíku, and a support show for The Scratch in Cafe v Lese among their highlights. In the summer of 2025, they went on a 7-week tour to 7 different countries, including Ireland. Don’t miss this band if you love solid rhythm, vocal harmonies, and meaningful lyrics.
They organize sessions at Sally O'Brien's Irish Pub in Letná (sporadically, but always on Sunday afternoons) and the next one is planned for Sunday, September 27, from 2-6pm.
Lineup:
Loes van Schaijk (NL): vocals, double bass, guitar
Honza Bartošek (CZ): vocals, violin
Caolán O'Neill Forde (IE): vocals, guitar, mandolin
Emil Riumkin (RU): flutes and whistles, tenor banjo, bouzouki
Tomáš Novák (CZ): bodhrán
Links:
Click HERE for a short video introducing the band.
Here is “Tell God and the Devil” (Solas cover) and their long medley (Lau cover, followed by two traditional jigs, and then an original song and instrumental) the “Lovely Set.”
The band's social media links (website, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) are HERE.
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