This is a review of a fairly recent but not brand new album. This album was released in 07/2022. I have often noted how there is inner strength and power in the quiter Celtic music. Lossan features, for the most part, just two women: a voice and a Celtic harp and little else - it's … Continue reading Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
Tag: Celtic
Celtic Connections 2023: FARA, Celtic Odyssée
The big CC23 event on Thu 26th was the concert in the RCH main concert hall. In my opinion, it was the opening act that stood out. I think this was the third time I have seen Orkney’s FARA live. They have always been fun and bright but now, with their thid and so far … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: FARA, Celtic Odyssée
Jeremy Kittel: my latest fiddle fave!
Sometimes you just remain unaware of great music and musicians for years. And when you do discover them, there’s always a great “where has this stuff been all my life!” moment. This happened to me a few days ago when I first heard the Michigan fiddler, composer, all-around great musician Jeremy Kittel. I was totally … Continue reading Jeremy Kittel: my latest fiddle fave!
Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022: Natalie MacMaster, Mishra, James Harper, the olllam, Eabhal
Master fiddlers are one of my favorite things in this world and Natalie MacMaster 🇨🇦 is one of the greatest. I love the energy in her playing; so much light and joy there. Her 2019 album Sketches was just the right soundtrack for a leisurly walk in the sunny and warm Finnish Saturday. I've never … Continue reading Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022: Natalie MacMaster, Mishra, James Harper, the olllam, Eabhal
Album Review / Cara: Grounded
It’s absolutely fab to see Cara are active and keep producing lovely albums! I haven’t seen them live but hope to, one fine day, when we can all breathe more freely than now. Grounded is yet another covid album, as the band informs us on their website. Maybe that’s why it’s, if not subdued, then … Continue reading Album Review / Cara: Grounded
Album Review / Bèolach: All Hands
As a non-professional music blogger, I sometimes simply miss a new release and notice it only after some time has passed. So it was with this one; All Hands was released in late 2019 but I got up to speed with it only a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully, my tardiness takes nothing away from … Continue reading Album Review / Bèolach: All Hands
Album Review / McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle: The Reed That Bends In The Storm
Motörhead. I am sorry if that confuses you - as it indeed may - but it just came to me as I was listening to the last tunes on this album. So please let me explain. The trio is the primal incarnation of a band. Two is a duo, three is a band. Anything more … Continue reading Album Review / McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle: The Reed That Bends In The Storm
Album Review / Rowan Leslie: Escaping the Dawn
One thing that keeps astonishing me about the Celtic music scene is the way it produces brilliant young musicians who refresh and vitalize the culture. Some do it by expanding and experimenting and stretching the limits of the music, while others own the old traditions and recharge them as if they invented them. Young Irish … Continue reading Album Review / Rowan Leslie: Escaping the Dawn
Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 2
Tue 21 The Big Fling aka Scottish Dance Band Extravaganza: hugely entertaining evening, expertly hosted by Gary Innes himself. At some points felt like in a time machine with the music evoking mental images of dance halls and cèilidhs long gone. Tom Orr's Mega Cèilidh Dance Band, put together for this event and with a … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 2
Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 1
Jan 18-19 Our second CC adventure began on Sat 18th, two days after the launch of this year's festival. Having left Finland on a morning flight on Fri 17, we arrived in Glasgow on Friday afternoon but had no gigs to go to that day, as we had realized too late Duncan Chisholm was giving … Continue reading Notes from Celtic Connections 2020, part 1
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