Music diary, June 20, 2026 The Haas sisters are just something else. Natalie has become perhaps the foremost cellist in the folk music scene both in America and in Europe, known particularly for her long standing work with the legendary Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. Brittany has likewise made a great career that sees her among … Continue reading Natalie & Brittany Haas: North Node
Tag: contemporary folk music
Jim Moray: Gallants
Music diary, May 8, 2026 I had not listened to Jim Moray's excellent re-imaginings of British folktsongs in a while so I was happy to notice he has a new album out. At which point I realized I had totally missed his previous release, Beflean, which updated and re-arranged his older stuff. So the last … Continue reading Jim Moray: Gallants
Johanna Juhola & Lena Jonsson: The Power of Polska
Music diary, April 27, 2026 ...so here I am, trying to recover from some superflu, or perhaps Covid, that's been grinding me down for over two weeks now. It's actually going away but when you're getting older and something like that hits you, you're flat on your back for a while. And that's why it's … Continue reading Johanna Juhola & Lena Jonsson: The Power of Polska
Miguel Girão: The Northern Isles Suite, parts 1 & 2
Music diary, April 6, 2026 The name of Miguel Girão may not ring a bell to many folk music lovers - but it should. Originally from Portugal, he has lived in Scotland for many years already and his exquisite guitar playing has been heard in live shows and recordings by artists like Tern, pianist Amy … Continue reading Miguel Girão: The Northern Isles Suite, parts 1 & 2
Astro Bloc: Astro Bloc
Music diary, March 14, 2026 Well this was worth waiting for... I don't think I can call Astro Bloc a Celtic supergroup, but it's close, very close: fiddler Eryn Rae is a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician winner, fiddler Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín has a formidable career going as one of Ireland's foremost folk musicians … Continue reading Astro Bloc: Astro Bloc
Tangi Le-Gall Carré & Typhaine Corre: Gouloù mil steredenn
Modern Breton folk music scene is really cool. Great bands and artists: Ampouailh, Startijenn, Sylvain Barou, Xavier Boderiou, Alain Pennec... I guess the great Breizh folk revival of the 1970' and 80's - Alan Stivell, Tri Yann, Kornog, Gwerz - laid the groundwork for the Breton folk music of 21st century. The brand new album … Continue reading Tangi Le-Gall Carré & Typhaine Corre: Gouloù mil steredenn
Teija Niku: Tovi
Music diary, Feb 18, 2026 Teija Niku is one of Finland's leading folk musicians. She plays the chromatic button accordion, that massive thing with a zillion tiny buttons, with stupendous skill, style and passion. I've heard her playing live and it's just mesmerizing what someone can get out of an instrument that looks like a … Continue reading Teija Niku: Tovi
The Väsen duo’s brilliant “Vågor” proves that two musicians are sometimes more than enough
The Swedish nyckelharpa is a fabulous instrument. It combines the earthy, slightly rough sound that echoes from the medieval times with the fluid clarity and beauty of the classic violin. Since I first heard it when I was a teenager, already then fascinated by centuries past, I have been enchanted by it. That instrument, with … Continue reading The Väsen duo’s brilliant “Vågor” proves that two musicians are sometimes more than enough
Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy’s “Cosán Casta”: two masters create a unique musical presence
We humans love to label and categorize things. Be it animals, plants or historical periods, we like to see the world ordered and compartmentalized neatly into concepts that we can arrange and rearrange, that we can control. The same applies to arts where we slap labels of style and genre on to works whose creators … Continue reading Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy’s “Cosán Casta”: two masters create a unique musical presence
A happy surprise: “Moment in Time” by The Gothard Sisters
I've never been much taken with the Gothard Sisters, the talented Celtic trio from the American Pacific Northwest. They started their musical careers very young indeed and now, as they have released their 17th (!!!) full length album, they are still young. Amazing. But there was always been something about their music that kept me … Continue reading A happy surprise: “Moment in Time” by The Gothard Sisters
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