So it took me almost two years to finally listen to the Blazin' Fiddles lead man's latest solo album (the previous ones are from quite a few years ago). But who cares about time when the music is timeless, right? This is the kind of modern Scottish folk I really, really love: the tradition is … Continue reading Bruce MacGregor’s “Road to Tyranny” is a jewel
Tag: folk music
Can’t help it: the silent jingle faithful snow season is here, and so is the music
...and so it is (almost) Xmas - but the horrific war not too far from our doorstep has been going on for almost two years now - maybe not enough people want it to be over? Let's just say that with that nightmare, and a few other tragedies around the world, I'm finding it extraordinarily … Continue reading Can’t help it: the silent jingle faithful snow season is here, and so is the music
RURA: Dusk Moon
Dusk Moon was released in March 2023; this review was written eight months later due to many long periods of non-activity in this blog in 2023, caused by personal circumstances. It was all of five years between In Praise of Home and Dusk Moon. During that period, RURA released a live album and a tribute … Continue reading RURA: Dusk Moon
Genticorum: Au coeur de l’aube
The magnificent Quebec trio of Yann Falquet, Pascal Gemme and Nicholas Williams (who replaced Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand a while back) have come up with an album that rocketed into the #1 position in my Genticorum albums ranking.Not only does Au coeur de l'aube (At dawn) have beautiful cover art, the music itself is warm and … Continue reading Genticorum: Au coeur de l’aube
Graham Mackenzie: The Dawning
It's been quite a few years since Highland fiddler Graham Mackenzie's debut album Crossing Borders - that was actually way back in 2016, amazing how time just disappears. It was a very, very good outing by a massively talented young musician and I remember listening to it and wondering where all this new talent in … Continue reading Graham Mackenzie: The Dawning
Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
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
Lissa Schneckenburger: Falling Forward
I have enjoyed the American fiddler-singer-composer's recent albums a lot. Her career arc has been one of steady development, from the fairly uneven first outings to over 20 years ago to the masterful musician she has been for a quite a few years already. Falling Forward is her first full-length album since 2019's Thunder In … Continue reading Lissa Schneckenburger: Falling Forward
Celtic Connections 2023: Ross & Ali Trio, with Startijenn and Beinn Lee
The evening of Sunday 29th at St Luke’s was a nicely balanced three-layer cake of music. We caught most of the Hebrides band Beinn Lee’s set and were duly delighted and entertained by the solid performance. Their trad stylings lean occasionally towards pop and, for me, it sometimes works for them and sometimes not so … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: Ross & Ali Trio, with Startijenn and Beinn Lee
Celtic Connections 2023: John McCusker and friends; Beth Malcolm
Our Sunday’s CC menu consisted of two concerts decidedly less loud but just as enjoyable as the gigs on two previous days. Celtic Connections’ New Voices series has always showcased brilliant upcoming artists and Beth Malcolm’s song cycle on theme of growing up and finding yourself was no exception. She is an immensely talented songwriter: … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: John McCusker and friends; Beth Malcolm
Beinn Lee: Deò
The band full of still quite young Hebridean talent released their second album a year ago already but for reasons I cannot explain, I only listened to it now. This is weird because Osgarra, the debut album from 2018, was so ready and together for a young band’s opening salvo and I really liked it … Continue reading Beinn Lee: Deò
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