Family Tradition. Bold Innovation. Hidden Fifth.
From the extended Family of Celtic Spring, Hidden Fifth brings energy and youthful exuberance to a new generation of folk music tradition reaching back through family roots. Celtic Spring fiddler / dancer Deirdre Wood and husband Max Becher lead the group through innovative renditions of Irish and North American folk music with contemporary rhythm and drive.
The band was born out of Deirdre and Max's love for folk music and dance, beginning in their teenage friendship and evolving into the current band today. Deirdre incorporates the fiddling and dancing of her Celtic Spring family heritage, while Max and the band add new instruments and their own musical twist. At its roots, Hidden Fifth is a family endeavor. Deirdre and Max take the tradition one generation further, bringing their own young children with them on this exciting musical adventure. With dynamic flute-fiddle duos, rhythmic step dancing, and rich piano/guitar accompaniment, Hidden Fifth's music stirs the soul, and puts the call to dance in your feet.
The band was born out of Deirdre and Max's love for folk music and dance, beginning in their teenage friendship and evolving into the current band today. Deirdre incorporates the fiddling and dancing of her Celtic Spring family heritage, while Max and the band add new instruments and their own musical twist. At its roots, Hidden Fifth is a family endeavor. Deirdre and Max take the tradition one generation further, bringing their own young children with them on this exciting musical adventure. With dynamic flute-fiddle duos, rhythmic step dancing, and rich piano/guitar accompaniment, Hidden Fifth's music stirs the soul, and puts the call to dance in your feet.
The Band
Deirdre Wood Becher brings a lifetime of talent and exuberance to Hidden Fifth with her driving fiddling and powerful step dancing. Deirdre has toured across the country and internationally with her family's fiddle and dance band Celtic Spring. When she is not playing with Hidden Fifth, she is teaching both fiddle and Irish step dance classes through her own studio, Bows and Toes. She has written a book with a companion CD for beginning Irish fiddlers, and is featured on Hidden Fifth's self titled album.
Max Becher plays Irish flute with the band, and co-runs Bows and Toes school of music and dance with his wife Deirdre. Having picked up the tin-whistle as a kid, Max formed an Irish band in high-school and has been playing and performing ever since. His playing can be heard on Hidden Fifth's album.
Margaret Ryland plays double role with guitar and Irish flute. In 2011, she won a competition for her flute playing in New York, which sent her to the All-Ireland as an American competitor. Margaret plays guitar on Hidden Fifth's album.
Tom Becher, brother of Max, plays the keys and provides vocals. Tom takes influences from jazz and folk and provides a spectrum of accompaniment spanning from lyrical waltzes to crashing reels. He studied jazz piano for a year in 2014.