The Tiris band was made up of 8 members. There were 4 women- lead singer Shueta and 3 who sang, danced and played the traditional floor dum called Attubl- and 4 men, of which 3 were musicians playing piano, electric guitar and tidinit and Mufeed, who was the male lead singer.
Initial support for the festival came from surprising sectors. The first backing came from the Trade Unions starting with Ruth Winters who was the head of the Fire Brigade Union at the time. More followed from UNISON, UNITE and smaller unions and a grant from the Arts Council gave us the wings we needed to fly.