MP3: “The Wild Ones” by Oona McOuat & Dream Deep

A beautiful voice that is accompanied by a beautiful instrument. There is no better way to describe the musical stylings of Oona McOut and Dream Deep. Her songs encourage the listener to dig deep inside them, where inspiration lies dormant just waiting to be discovered. Her music is not just moving, but defines her love of music and her passion for the unexpected and the inspired.

Hometown:  Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
Website: Oona McOuat & Dream Deep
Download MP3: The Wild Ones
Buy CD: Honey and Holy Water

Similar Artists: Loreena McKennitt, Karen Matheson, Cecile Corbel

MP3: “Clouds” by Catya Maré

Catya Maré is a force to be reckoned with.  Originally from Denmark, this California musician has a long list of accolades to her name.  She’s a critically acclaimed, multiple award winning songwriter, violinist and music producer.  Since her early childhood, Maré has been performing as a classical violinist, which she excelled at.  In 2005, she began to compose and produce her own music.  Her brilliant musicianship has won her nominations for the Hollywood Music Award in November 2008 and a win at the Billboard World Songwriting Contest in 2009.  In 2009, Maré won the prestigious Hollywood Music in Media Award.  This year, she won 8 Editor’s Choice Awards on Revostock, one of the leading music licensing sites.

Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
Website: Catya Maré
Download MP3: Clouds
Buy CD: Destination Love

MP3: “Belfast Mill/Miller of Drohan” by Headland

Robbie Kirwan is the voice of Australian Celtic band, Headland.  The band offers up a lively mix of contemporary Irish music as well as traditional tunes.  Their music is an eclectic mix of jigs, reels, blues, and their own original songs.  Creating the music for Kirwan, Headland features the vocals, songwriting, and guitar work of John Gallagher, instrumentation and vocals of Kevin Tierney, traditional Irish whistle, flute and cittern by Mark Feeney, and features Dane Clarke on harmonica and mandolin.  Together, Headland offers up great music and a lot of remarkable musicianship.  Their sound is not to be missed.

Hometown:  Woolgoolga, Australia
Website: Headland
Download MP3: Belfast Mill/Miller of Drohan
Buy CD: Long Time Coming

Similar Artists: Christy Moore, Dubliners

MP3: “Galway Shawl” by Liz Madden

If anything sets Liz Madden apart from other Celtic/Folk singers, it’s her authentic and amazing voice.  Never before has so much passion, energy and emotion poured out of a singer in every song.

Madden was formerly half of the Irish duo RUA before she decided to go solo.  “My Irish Home” is her third solo album release. 

What the album offers is a tapestry of her musical talents, woven with rich Irish musical tradition , heritage, and her incredible music and lyrics.  Her songwriting skills will astound you.

Hometown: Kildare, Ireland
Website: Liz Madden
Download MP3: Galway Shawl
Buy CD: My Irish Home

Similar Artists: Loreena McKennit, Moya Brennan, Enya

MP3: “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” by Round the House

Round the House is a traditional band that isn’t afraid to be a little untraditional.  That’s what gives this group their authentic sound.  Playing high energy Irish tunes, this band drives home the beat, the sound, the feel of Celtic music.  Round the House is known for playing great tunes with excitement and personality, making all of their shows an adventure.  Fun and traditional – oh, yes…it can be done!  And Round the House does it best.

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Website: Round the House
Download MP3: The Wind That Shakes the Barley
Buy CD: At This Stage

Similar Artists: Dervish, Beoga, Danu, Altan

MP3: “Time Machine” by The Malarkeys

The Malarkeys  hail from Kelowna, British Columbia.  They are most recognized for their live performance Celtic mash-ups that combine traditional pub songs into unlikely melodies of modern rock songs.  Their debut CD, Bloody Brilliant, is now available.  Their music is as fun and entertaining as the band itself.  Check out their mad lyrical skills.

Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Website: The Malarkeys
Download MP3: Time Machine
Buy CD: Bloody Brilliant

Similar Artists: Great Big Sea, Spirit of the West, Irish Rovers

MP3: “Foggy Dew” by Cady Finlayson & Vita Tanga

The pairing seems unlikely and unconventional.  Cady Finlayson, a talented fiddle player, and Vita Tanga, a sought-after composer and brilliant guitar player.  Unconventional as it may seem, however, these two talented musicians bring a new spirit and flair to the Celtic music scene.  The team met at the First National Tour of Almost Heaven.  Both were hired to do the tour…and after meeting and entertaining themselves with a variety of songs at the soundchecks, the bond was formed and the rest is history.  Together, they offer the Celtic music scene spirited fiddle playing with a global twist.  Fascinating.

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA and Paris, France
Website: Cady Finlayson & Vita Tanga
Download MP3: Foggy Dew
Buy CD: Electric Green

Similar Artists: Eileen Ivers, Ashley MacIsaac, Martin Hayes

MP3: “Who’s Yer Paddy” by The Brazen Heads

The Brazen Heads are a raucous, bawdy, fun-loving band that makes a name for themselves with their high energy “Celtic mayhem.”  This group takes traditional and Celtic rock-styled tunes and puts their own twist into the tunes.  This band is not afraid to take things to the next level, which is why they have been credited with setting the bar of excellence for the Irish music scene in Arizona.  This band has been described as a “cross between the cheeky fun of the Barnaked Ladies and the roguish impact of The Pogues.”  This description is definitely accurate as The Brazen Heads brandish the ability to connect with any audience with through humor, politics, and their Celtic mayhem.  High energy is what they promote and their music will make you want to get out of your seat and join the party.

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Website: The Brazen Heads
Download MP3: Who’s Yer Paddy
Buy CD: Curse of the Hag

Similar Artists: Great Big Sea, Luka Bloom, The Saw Doctors

MP3: “Drink ‘Til Morning” by Stout Pounders

If there is one thing you can tell from the Seattle based Celtic folk band, Stout Pounders, it’s that they put on a good show.  Not only that, they bring a fantastic line-up of original music and traditional Irish and Scottish music, filled with their own brand of energy and comedic twists.  This is what makes their music so much fun to listen to.  Their latest CD, “Live Drunken Nights” was recorded during their St. Patrick’s week tour in 2008.  Listen to their music, and you’ll find yourself dancing, singing, and drinking along.  If music gave you a reason to party, then Stout Pounders provide the soundtrack.

Hometown: Seattle, Washington, USA
Website: Stout Pounders
Download MP3: Drink ‘Til Morning
Buy CD: Live Drunken Nights

Similar Artists: Dubliners, Clancys, Pogues, Irish Rovers, Iron Maiden

MP3: “P Stands for Paddy” by Fergus

Hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, Fergus emerged as a five-piece contemporary Irish group.  What Fergus brings to Irish music is not only traditional songs from the Irish songwriters of old, but also original songs and arrangements that cement their sound in the genre.  They blend the elements of jazz, funk, rock and country  and world music, into their music, making their Irish sound a little more wordly.  And that’s what sets them apart from the rest of the groups.

Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Website: Fergus
Download MP3: P Stands for Paddy
Buy CD: Green St.

Similar Artists: Grada, Mary Black, Karan Casey, Dolores Keane, Danu