Artist: Steel Clover ( Sue Borowski) Album: In the Celtic Spirit Genre: Celtic Folk/Ballads Mood: Easy Listening Tracks: 1. Gone Are the Days 2. The Loving Time 3. Glen of Aherlow 4. Longing for Home 5. The Pride of Ireland 6. Oh Rowan Tree 7. Rocky Road to Dublin 8. The Fisherman’s Wife … Continue reading »
Qristina & Quinn Bachand: Relative Minors
Album: Relative Minors Artists : Qristina & Quinn Bachand Genre:Folk/ Celtic/ World Type: Instrumental Place of origin: Victoria, British Columbia Tracks: 1. Spootiskerry/High Road to Linton/Big John McNeil 2. Extra Bar in Paddyland / The Smirnoff Gigolo 3. Jigs in A (Rosewood Jig/Teviot Bridge/Who’ll be King but Charlie/The Canadian Club) 4. The Frenchies (Fil et … Continue reading »
A Moment with Brian Gilligan of The Celtic Reggae Revolution (Interview)
Now it can be told! With the release of The Celtic Reggae Revolution’s new album, The Celtic Music Fan is intrigued about the ideas behind the creation of the album. On top of that, Brian Gilligan has really outdone himself in boldly going where few Celtic musicians go: the fusion of genres that’s rarely heard … Continue reading »
Taking your Druid to a Salsa with La Unica
Band: La Única Album: Self-titled Members: Gonzalo Bernal [ vocals / fiddle ] Matt Giles [ bass / vocals ] Cory Padin [ guitar / vocals ] Neil Reedy [ irish tin whistle / trumpet / flugelhorn ] Matt Tredwell [ drums / percussion ] with Camilo Diaz [ percussion ] Brian Falkowski [ saxophone … Continue reading »
I Am, We Are by The Human Empire
Band:The Human Empire Album: I Am, We Are Genre: Afro-Celtic Rock Location: St. Paul, MN Members: Adam Azra’el – Vocals, Guitar, Percussion Caiti Laszewski – Flute, Vocals Michal Sinak – Vocals, Guitar, Whistle, Mandolin, Accordion, Bozouki Daniel Brakke – Bass, Vocals Doug Waguespack – Percussion Fraser Wills – Percussion, Vocals Rebecca Lynne – Violin, Vocals … Continue reading »
Barbara Tresidder Ryan of Iona Speaks About The Music of the Celtic Nations
Silver is the new album by Celtic band Iona. With amazing arrangements of tracks and interesting choices of materials, I am sure listeners would like to hear the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of this album. And of course, the band as whole. It is quite an achievement to maintain that rush of creativity for decades.Barbara … Continue reading »
Susan Borowski, Steel Clover
The music of Susan Borowski would feel at home in the grand halls where people are in colorful flowing attires. There is something grand about her style that calls to mind the beauty of old music. She is a respected name in the Pittsburgh Celtic music circle. I don’t have one of her CDs yet … Continue reading »
Lexington Field: No Man’s War.
Band: Lexington Field Album: No Man’s War Members: Beau Gray – Vocals, Guitar Cami Smith – Violin Bryan Hane – Lead Guitar Casey Jones – Bass Vincent West – Drums Hometown: San Diego CA Mixing Punk, Americana and the melodic strains of Celtic music: these are the things you can pick up when you … Continue reading »
Awesome New Album by The Celtic Reggae Revolution!
Anyone who picked up a copy of Paddyrasta’s album knows the great voice of Brian Gilligan. I am glad he continues his foray into the world of groove, sunshine and beaches in this amazing album ‘Everything comes to those who wait’ from Celtic Reggae Revolution. This album also features the talent of Northern Irishman Jarlath … Continue reading »
Meet Maxim Cormier, Fresh From the Nova Scotia Celtic Music Scene (Interview)
Instrumental music is the rage again as Celtic musicians release fantastic albums this year. One of them is this young man from Cape Breton. His name is Maxim Cormier. He just released a self-titled album which I really enjoyed and wrote about in my review. His music is filled with youthful energy and the serenity … Continue reading »
The Folkalists: Warning, Irish Humor at Work!
Genre: Irish and contemporary folk, bluegrass and country Members: Dee McIlroy, Eugene Glenn, Barry Skeff Hometown: Belfast It’s hard for me to listen to The Folkalists without giggling. From afar, the music maybe pleasant, warm and even inviting because of the efforts placed in the arrangements. Up near you get the lyrical wit and sarcasm … Continue reading »
Whiskey Tonight by The Indulgers
Band: The Indulgers Album: Whiskey Tonight Location: Boulder/Golden Colorado Members: Damien McCarron – Vocals, Guitar Mike Nile – Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Harmonica and Electronic Bagpipe Renee Fine – Fiddle/Violin Aaron Haywood – Bass Francesco(Cheech) Mannone – Drums Guesting on occasion: Neale Heywood – Guitar Ryan Bunnell – Guitar Tracks 1. Whiskey Tonight/2. Ceili Mor /3. … Continue reading »
Self-Titled Debut by Maxim Cormier
The debut album by Max Cormier forms a cuspate between traditional and original tunes. He does this with seamless transition and freshness. Artist: Maxim Cormier Album: Maxim Cormier Genre: Folk: Celtic Folk Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Tracks : 1. In Anticipation 2. Fathers Know Best 3. Danielle 4. Tunes With Dad 5. Home 6. Hornpipes for … Continue reading »
Kevin O’Donnell: The Irish-American Music Experience with Deep is the Well (Interview)
For years, singer/songwriter Kevin O’Donnell devoted his artistry on the stage and writing. The past fifteen years have been productive so far, spawning books called Fado and prior to that, he founded the Irish-American folk group Arranmore. He also played leading roles in several plays including Twelve Angry Men, The Sensuous Senator, The Complete Works … Continue reading »
Iona Celebrates 25 Years of Celtic Music with Silver!
IONA is THE pan-Celtic band iof the Washington, DC metro area: Barbara Tresidder Ryan (lead vocals, bouzouki, bodhran, pieds and guitar) Bernard Argent (flute, whistles, vocals and percussion), Chuck Lawhorn (bass guitar, vocals low whistle), Jim Queen (fiddle, banjo, vocals) and Kathleen Larrick (dance, vocals), formed in 1986. Tracks: 1.Les Mardi Gras/Reuben’s Train/Le Reel … Continue reading »
Introducing Athrú
Members: Michael Og McCloskey – Bodhran Roisin McCloskey – Whistles/Flutes Cormac Crummey – Fiddle/Banjo/Bouzouki Niall McIlroy – Whistles/Flutes Damian McIlroy – Guitar/Fiddle Athrú:Another traditional Irish band from Antrim Northern Ireland. The exuberant tunes and brilliant musicianship are not to be missed by lovers of Celtic music. The Last Pint which is the first track off their … Continue reading »
Romeo and Juliet EP by Aisling Jarvis
Artist: Aisling Jarvis Album: Romeo and Juliet Style: Acoustic Location: Dublin Romeo and Juliet is an excellent recording work by Aisling Jarvis in several aspects. And we will explore them in a bit. First of all, who is Aisling Jarvis? Here’s what I gathered: she started writing songs at an early age through the moniker … Continue reading »
Eve Williams:On Songwriting and Meeting Moya Brennan(Interview)
Twenty Miles from Home debuts from Northern Ireland through singer/songwriter and vocalist par excellence Eve Williams. She piqued my interest after I heard the song Oblivion. It’s a kind of song that’s hard to ignore due to its unique style. The subject of her voice is one of the things that’s covered here. What gave way … Continue reading »
Babel Pow Wow by Dom Duff
Album: “Babel Pow Wow“ Artist: Dom Duff Location: Brittany Original Release Date: April 18, 2013 Tracks: 1. Buan yann buan 2. Bitter Lands of Llydaw 3. Noa 4. Chikoloden groove 5. Floc’h ar jabadao 6. A-du gant an avel 7. Babel pow wow 8. Houarn & lêr 9. Buzhug’o’matik 10. Koroll gouez 11. Treizh 12. … Continue reading »
Defecatio Imperatrix Mundi by Barbarian Pipe Band
Album: Defecatio Imperatrix Mundi Band: Barbarian Pipe Band Hometown: Biella, Italy There comes a time when you just want a single type of instrument to stand up. And also everything that’s composed around and about it. This is the case of The Barbarian Pipe band. Pure bagpipe richness dipped in spices and good to the … Continue reading »