Linda Marr
Singer, composer, instrumentalist, arranger and teacher, Linda is one of the world music scene's most respected and talented personalities. She is the lead vocalist and plays oud, guitar, frame drums and tapan in Keklik Aile. Acknowledged as a fore-runner in bringing world music to a wider audience in Australia, Linda has appeared on more than 20 CDs and toured Australia and overseas many times over the last 20 years.

Linda is a founding member of Blindman's Holiday (who have toured Western Europe 3 times, released 4 albums and performed throughout Australia) and has been with the group for over 15 years. She also performs with Tokakros, a vocal and percussion group playing original material (self-titled CD) and The Far Seas with Davood Tabrizi. Keklik Aile grew out of the pioneering world music group Nakisa (3 albums 1986 -1991).

Linda currently performs for children with Zingari Voci (BMH) and Keklik Aile in schools around Australia. She also works on performance, song writing and recording projects with various groups in the community including migrant, youth and disadvantaged.

"Linda Marr, lead singer with Nakisa, performs the vocal gymnastics necessary for ... the songs with consummate ease." Mike Jackson- Canberra Times

Elias Ellis
Elias has been playing professionally for more than 20 years. He is a well recognised percussionist in the jazz, Latin, funk and world music scenes. He was a member of Wak Attack percussion ensemble formed by Greg Sheehan and Blair Greenberg. This original ensemble was the precursor to the acclaimed Utungan Percussion.

Elias has played and recorded with bands such as Tiramisu - Latin Jazz ensemble, Brassov - gypsy brass band, Toni Nation - original world funk and Voices from the Vacant Lot - world music choir. Elias performed on the Voices album "Dance on your Bones" which was nominated for an Aria Award (Best Album Category) in 1999. Elias has toured internationally with Stalker Theatre Company performing at Singapore, Europe and the US, winning a major street performers festival/competition in Japan in 1994. A member of KA for the past 3 years he plays a variety of drums including darbuka, frame drums, djembe and congas.

Yuri Halay
Of Russian descent, Yuri has been involved with a number of diverse musical styles and instruments. During the 1970's he performed with the Sydney Domra Ensemble playing Russian folk and classical music on domra and balalaika. He was also in seminal Sydney folk group Steam Shuttle, who presented lesser known early Australian music in a more contemporary form. Testimony to this is the classic Larrikin recording Traditions in Transition (LRF 018) to which Yuri contributed violin, mandolin and recorder. He was also involved with medieval and renaissance music at this time playing crumhorn, medieval fiddle and rebec.

In the 80's his interest in the music of Eastern Europe and eventually the Middle East led him to add the following instruments to his repertoire. Arabic oud (lute), Turkish baglama (lute), Turkish zurna (oboe), Bulgarian gaida (bagpipe), Bulgarian kaval (end blown flute) and clarinet played in a Greek/Turkish style. He has performed and recorded with Compania Azziz, Drum Arabic and Nakisa in this genre.

As well as performing with Keklik Aile, Yuri's current recording and performing project is of original material with Zaffa the Alchemist.