Bio
The Story of ‘The Spring of 2022’
Katus’ most recent album ‘The Spring of 2022’ is truly a world mix of influences, including English, Czech, Polish, Russian, Mandinka, her own improvised tongue, and her Chinese ‘Hulusi’ gourd clarinet. Supported by Arts Council funding, Katuš toured the UK in 2015 alongside a band of fantastic musicians and Gambian griot Yankuba Conteh.
In 2013, Katuš was booked to sing with Tinariwan at ‘Festival of the Desert’ in Burkino Faso. The festival was cancelled due to the war in Mali, and Katus, stranded in The Gambia, met fellow musician and griot, Yankuba Conteh . They spent a month singing together with the Kora, Guitarlele and Hulusi at naming ceremonies and weddings, and in fact, whenever a celebration was needed which is often amid the timeless West-African chaos.
From the dusty streets of The Gambia, where the album began, to the sounds of owls in Katuš’ garden, an announcement sampled from her native Prague Metro, crashing waves, and the clip-clop of horses pulling a wagon, ‘The Spring of 2022′ is a journey in sound through Katuš’ world. Also recorded with musicians Ben Monypenny -Fiddle, Tom Corda- Stanley -Double Bass , Hannah Flynn-Harmonies, and Rob Kitchen -Percussion.
Katuš’ Musical Journey in a Nutshell
Katuš has also toured with a Horse-Drawn Stage and Wagon. In 2015, she and partner Barny Maurice ran Wanderlusts Horse Drawn Holidays, and toured from Cumbria to France playing music and hosting in the “The Horse-Drawn Hotel”. Performers of all disciplines joined them as they travelled through England and France creating an ever changing Travelling Show.
Katuš has also toured with Seth Lakeman , supported The Levellers, played with Donovan and Nigel Kennedy, and toured with Czech Indie star Lenka Dusilova and Cechomor, to name a few.
Katuš recently appeared on channel 4’s ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’.
Katuš has toured all over the world in her thirteen year musical career and this year’s 2021 tour will result in recording her sixth music album.