MP3: “You’ll Wish You Had Danced” by The Blarney Rebel Band
Hailing from beautiful Central New York, the Blarney Rebel Band is surrounded by an area that is a hotbed for Celtic musicians and has a love of traditional Irish music, including pub songs, traditional folk fare, sea shanties, ballads, rebel songs, jigs and reels. The talent of the Blarney Rebel Band is immediately evident through their musicianship. Whether at a festival, party, or pub, the Blarney Rebel band is always set to perform their very best. This trio puts on one amazing show and is talented beyond words.
Hometown: Utica, New York, USA
Website: The Blarney Rebel Band
Download MP3: You’ll Wish You Had Danced
Buy CD: Beneath the Surface
Similar Artists: Wolfetones, Chieftains, Clancy Brothers
Review: “Buy My Soul” by The Blarney Rebel Band
Artist: The Blarney Rebel Band
Album: Buy My Soul
There’s nothing quite like a sincere Celtic band from New York. The Blarney Rebel Band is the perfect example of what happens when everything just goes together right. Both lively and delightful, this CD is a great one to add to any Celtic music lover’s collection. You’ll hear all the good instruments here, including the expected–fiddle, bodhran and flute–to those that are a bit more unusual, like the concertina.
This album offers four traditional songs as well as seven originals, and it makes for a nice blend. In terms of the “mood”, there’s a little something for all tastes here, from the pretty to the peppy. This makes it tough to choose a favorite–but they are all good. I might be slightly partial to “Roddy McCorley”, with its percussive vibe, but that’s really just a matter of personal taste.
The enthusiasum for the music shines through, and the musicians are all quite capable. It’s a nice little collection of tunes that provides variety and quality music to listen to when you are in the mood for Celtic but just aren’t sure what to put on.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
Review: “A New Beginning” by Darragh McGann
Artist: Darragh McGann
Album: A New Beginning
Darragh McGann, who’s made a name for himself as The Singing Taxi Driver, offers a collection of crossover classics on his first solo album, A New Beginning. The album occupies a point on the Celtic music spectrum near that of, say, Celtic Woman (minus Máiréad Nesbitt’s frenetic fiddle work) or The Irish Tenors—with an emphasis on strong vocals and dense musical accompaniment, though McGann does best when singing with spare adornment, as on “Sally Gardens.”
Possessing a rich baritone voice that can call to mind Roger Whittaker, McGann has chosen a wide range of material, from John Denver’s plaintive “For You” to Jimmy McCarthy’s wistful “The Contender”. His version of “Blowing in the Wind” owes as much to The Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling” as it does to Bob Dylan. Though covers dominate the album, McGann contributes two original songs, which he wrote. One of them—”Make a Wish”—was released as a single to benefit the charity GOAL.
Two songs that weren’t included on the album but which can be heard on his Web site ably showcase McGann’s talents: a powerful rendition of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables and the obligatory “Danny Boy.” Songs such as those clearly hit his sweet spot. And while the tracks on A New Beginning occasionally take him outside his comfort zone, he consistently delivers easy listening pleasure.
Walt Campbell is an avid listener of Celtic music and an occasional performer. A former journalist and technical writer, he now writes mostly for fun and is much happier that way.
MP3: “Heather on the Moor” by Three Mile Stone
Three Mile Stone is a trio composed of Erin Shrader, Marla Fibish and Richard Mandel. Together, they perform traditional Irish music with lift, drive and sparkle. Their debut album contains beautiful airs, traditional songs, and poems set to breathtaking melodies performed by Fibish. Traditional and talented.
Hometown: San Francisco, California, USA
Website: Three Mile Stone
Download MP3: Heather on the Moor
Buy CD: Three Mile Stone
Similar Artists: Altan, Danu, Planxty
MP3: “September Reel” by Whalebone
Whalebone offers up a distinctive and creative sound that meshes different generes, from Celtic to blues to traditional tunes, with a hint of rock. Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe this instrumental trio. Whalebone’s music is best described as “a marriage of Celtic folk music and classic British guitar rock played on acoustic guitars and fiddle, combining upfront spellbinding musicianship, infectious driving rhythms and exuberant presentation.” Whalebone are masters of seduction, as any audience who has seen them perform will attest to. In fact, what makes their sound so unique is the dexterous finger work and energy of the band. Whalebone has been featured on BBC Radio and have made numerous live radio and television performances. They are also well known on the UK festival circuit. Check them out because they are more than worth the listen.
Hometown: Shropshire, England, UK
Website: Whalebone
Download MP3: September Reel
Buy CD: Rootsy, Folky, Live and Funky
Similar Artists: Lau, Flook, Fairport Convention, Braeback
MP3: “Somewhere Over the Mason’s Apron” by Stanley and Grimm
Stanley & Grimm perform Celtic-influenced modern traditional music, comprised of jigs and reels straight out of Ireland, fiddle tunes from Scotland, Canada, Sweden, and the United States. These musicians celebrate the traditional style of Celtic music by performing old and new interpretations of jigs and reels. Their album, Another Round, was awarded the Celtic Radio Music Award for the 2008 Album of the Year, and also took top honors in the “Jigs and Reels” category. They are exhilarating and a definitely worth the listen.
Hometown: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Website: Stanley and Grimm
Download MP3: Somewhere Over the Mason’s Apron
Buy CD: Another Round
Similar Artists: Natalie MacMaster, Michael McGoldrick, Planxty
MP3: “Big Blue Sky” by Coast
From Southampton, England comes the very talented Coast, a Celtic rock band packed with great talented. Formed by Paul Eastham, Coast was inspired by the people, culture and music of the Outer Hebrides. Using this inspiration and melding it with Scottish, English, Irish and American influences, Coast brings a rockin’ edge to Celtic music. Their songs mostly focus on the barren lands and shores of North Uist to the cold and bitter hard working docks of their hometown, Southampton. Their sound is dynamic and potent and will leave you wanting to hear more.
Hometown: Southampton, UK
Website: Coast
Download MP3: Big Blue Sky
Buy CD: Coast
Similar Artists: Runrig, Dire Staits, Pink Floyd
MP3: “Raised on Black and Tans” by Gaelic Storm
Gaelic Storm are a force to be reckoned with. This band of five musicians is taking the world by…storm…with their latest release, due out on August 3, 2010. Utilizing influences from rock, bluegrass, Jamaican, African, and Middle Eastern music, Gaelic Storm plays a cultured and exciting form of Celtic music – not of the normal traditional vein. And that’s what makes them so much fun to listen to. Even more exciting is one of their shows. They will have you on your feet within the first three minutes and keep you there. Gaelic Storm definitely has the finest musicians in Celtic music. This is Celtic music at it’s foot-stomping, high energy, whirlwind best!
Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
Website: Gaelic Storm
Download MP3: Raised on Black and Tans
Buy CD: Cabbage
Similar Artists: Bottine Souriante, The Celtic Tenors, The Mckrells
MP3: “Lisdoonvarna” by Faerydae
Faerydae, which means “gift of the faeries,” is a three-part band from the Netherlands. The members, Jerina Welgraven, Anouk Platenkamp and Patrick Lieffers met by chance, while busking, and discovered a mutual interest in traditional music. From this basis, Faerydae firmly planted roots in the Celtic folk scene.
Using unique rhythms and non-Celtic instruments in their arrangements, the sound they create is completely their own, yet very Celtic, and very catchy.
Hometown: Elst, The Netherlands
Website: Faerydae
Download MP3: Lisdoonvarna
Similar Artists: Omnia, Faun, die Irrlichter
Review: “Heartwood” by Sora
Artist: Sora
Album: Heartwood
Sora refers to herself as both neoclassical and Contemporary Celtic, but neither of these quite capture the depth of her music. Some may even put her in the “new age” category. A mezzo-soprano, this woman’s vocals are pretty, pretty, pretty, and they capture a lot of emotion. This CD is filled with original songs, and you can tell that the Canadian artist has put thought and feeling into every moment here. It shows.
The singer also took some time to decide on the name she chose for herself as a performer. “Sora” was selected as she noticed that it had references to birds. Symbolism is something that this artist seems to take very seriously, and it is reflected in the words to her songs as well as her choice of name.
This album is worth listening to for the vocals alone. It is rare to hear a voice that just defines beauty. That said, the arrangement of the music provides the perfect foil and it all works together very smoothly. If you want to find a CD that will soothe you when things are tough, this may well be the perfect selection.
Some musicians are performers and some are true artists. It seems clear from every detail of “Heartwood” that Sora belongs in the latter category. Take a listen and you will be restored.
Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.
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Faerydae, which means "gift of the faeries,"...
