As summer evolves into fall, it brings with it celebrations of Celtic culture in many parts of North America. Often these celebrations include Celtic games of strength and endurance, along with traditional food and libations. For this show, we’ll celebrate … Continue reading →
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190664673″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] We’ve visited the UK’s thriving old-time scene before, but for our first trip to Scotland we visit multi-instrumentalist Rob Clamp. Rob focuses his musical attentions on his Scottish and American heritage. His original … Continue reading →
BRIAN McNEILL and FRIENDS The Falkirk Music Pot Greentrax 383 www.greentrax.com What is Scottish music? Once one accepts the reality that what is glibly labeled “Celtic music” is more useful for marketers than ethnomusicologists, … Continue reading →
ANNA FALKENAU Féileacán na Saoirse Scroll Music 1401 www.annafalkenau.com The Irish-to-English translation of Anna Falkenau’s solo fiddle album is, roughly, “Butterfly of Freedom,” an apt descriptor. It reminds me of Kevin Burke projects in … Continue reading →
TEMPEST The Tracks We Leave Magna Carta 9121 www.magnacarta.net Tempest plays Celtic music with a rock edge, but they shade their arrangements with hits of the blues, country and Cajun two-steps, Arab rhythms and … Continue reading →
Alasdair Roberts Alasdair Roberts Drag City 613 www.dragcity.com Alasdair Roberts’ handsome Stirlingshire voice, ancient new lyrics and honed Bert Jansch-acoustic style make this a pearl of an album, as lost and found love haunts … Continue reading →
KATHERINE FIRST and THE KITCHEN PARTY Dancing Tables and Dancing Chairs Fiddle First Music 002 www.katherinefirst.com In Ireland, one of the greatest honors a family can bestow upon a visitor is to invite that person into … Continue reading →
Lynched Cold Old Fire Lynched www.lynchedmusic.com Lynched is the brainchild of Dublin bothers Ian and Daragh Lynch, who once prowled the city’s punk rock scene. These days they’re more likely to be found in … Continue reading →
The Alt The Alt Under the Arch 002 www.thealtmusic.com The Alt is an accidental trio that came together with a glorious result. Irish-born musician/vocalists John Doyle (guitar/bouzouki/mandola), Nuala Kennedy (flute/whistles), and Eamon O’Leary (guitar/bouzouki) … Continue reading →
CLANNAD The Essential RCA/Legacy legacyrecordings.com The word “essential” can refer to something that is absolutely necessary, its deepest essence, or even both at once. Whether or not this two-disc collection satisfies either definition is … Continue reading →
