Two very cool groups... favorites of several of us in Celtic Cross... have recently released new CDs that are must listens for folks who love Celtic/Irish music.
The Duhks are a cool folk funk Celtic playing group from Manitoba that have put out several great records over the last year. Awesome songwriting is their hallmark... especially in "Dance Hall Girls" & "You and I" from a previous release... both of which remain in my iPod most played tracks.
Their new release is called Fast Paced World is a great listen... grungy and tough and well played, and so well written. The track "You Don't See It" has literally been played dozens of times on my iPod already. Very very cool trad playing on this... groundbreaking stuff in a time when so much new Celtic stuff is so so neopunk influenced. This is much more New Orleans funk meets Seattle grunge meets Nashville folk.
And the masters themselves... Solas also have a brand new record out called "For Love and Laughter." No one plays Celtic or Irish traditional music better in this writer's humble opinion... and Solas is at the top of their game in this new CD. The harmonies played between Winifred Horan's fiddle and Mick McAuley's accordion actually send chills up my back. Interestingly, members of the Duhk's actually played with Solas on several tracks... and you can hear essence of these two groups dovetail elegantly. An awesome pairing of two great styles.
Both are must have records... and both are on iTunes or available through the band websites above. Enjoy...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Shores reviewed on celticmp3s.com...and what a cool review it is!
We really love this one!!
http://www.celticmp3s.com/free/2008/08/review-shores-of-america-by-celtic.shtml
A great review from Catherine Tully... and a great website for celtic music lovers... make sure you check them out.
P
http://www.celticmp3s.com/free/2008/08/review-shores-of-america-by-celtic.shtml
A great review from Catherine Tully... and a great website for celtic music lovers... make sure you check them out.
P
Friday, August 8, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Our Frankie McCormick at Catskills Irish Arts Week
A nice story about the recent Catskills Irish Arts Week which features our mandolin/banjo player Frankie McCormick.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200808030230/LIFESTYLE01/808030316
Attaboy Frankie...
P
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200808030230/LIFESTYLE01/808030316
Attaboy Frankie...
P
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Where To Hear Cool New Celtic Tunes?
I have to admit my increasing boredom with the endless rehashing of the same old same old Irish music that our parents and their parents listened too... not necessarily done any differently or better. Sure there are splashy new over produced groups and gorgeous new singers busting out their take on Red Is The Rose, but I always hunger for something new... something creative. Personally, the next "new" cover version of the Fields of Athenry may put me over the edge...
Interestingly, this is really not so in the traditional arena, where even the most popular and cherished tunes can be played by a new talented player, and given entirely new life, edge and groove.
I really think that the early versions are usually the more interesting renditions. Recently, on Larry Kirwin's Sirius Celtic Crush radio program, I caught an old Clancy Brothers live recording of The Patriot Game from the early 60s... likely one of the initial recordings of that song. The passion in that track was so intense and palpable, clearly driven from the then current historical events that inspired the song. I suggest that there may not be a singer or group alive who will sing that with the same raw passion and purpose the way they did in the 60s.
Oh but I am sure they will try...
But there is hope... courtesy of Internet and satellite radio. If you long for something new like me, there are a number of regular programs of new, different, or obscure Irish and Celtic music recordings available... often just a click away.
In just the last year or two, I have been turned on to a bunch of new and innovative Celtic/Irish groups... including Green Man, Enter The Haggis, The Elders, Peatbog Fairies and Greenwich Meantime to name a few. There are tons more... there is hope folks. Here are a few ideas...
First, you can download and listen to brief shows called podcasts either on your PC or iPod. There are literally thousands of podcasts available on any topic you can think of, including Celtic music. Podcasts are a timely and fresh way of hearing new groups from across the country and the world. Here are my favorites...
www.celticmusicnews.com
Hosted by Aaron Drake.
Subscribe with iTunes.
www.celticmusicpodcast.com
Hosted by Marc Gunn.
Subscribe with iTunes
www.clevelandcelticpodcast.com
Hosted by Wendy Lee Donahue
You can sometimes even hear Celtic Cross on these podcasts... which we are always grateful.
As I mentioned earlier, for those of you who have Sirius Satellite Radio... don't miss the Celtic Crush program, hosted by our friend Larry Kirwin from Black 47. This program on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings always offers a different perspective on interesting Irish and Celtic music.
So... check these spots out and see if you can find something new. Also... make sure to comment about where you find your new music, spread the word!
P
Interestingly, this is really not so in the traditional arena, where even the most popular and cherished tunes can be played by a new talented player, and given entirely new life, edge and groove.
I really think that the early versions are usually the more interesting renditions. Recently, on Larry Kirwin's Sirius Celtic Crush radio program, I caught an old Clancy Brothers live recording of The Patriot Game from the early 60s... likely one of the initial recordings of that song. The passion in that track was so intense and palpable, clearly driven from the then current historical events that inspired the song. I suggest that there may not be a singer or group alive who will sing that with the same raw passion and purpose the way they did in the 60s.
Oh but I am sure they will try...
But there is hope... courtesy of Internet and satellite radio. If you long for something new like me, there are a number of regular programs of new, different, or obscure Irish and Celtic music recordings available... often just a click away.
In just the last year or two, I have been turned on to a bunch of new and innovative Celtic/Irish groups... including Green Man, Enter The Haggis, The Elders, Peatbog Fairies and Greenwich Meantime to name a few. There are tons more... there is hope folks. Here are a few ideas...
First, you can download and listen to brief shows called podcasts either on your PC or iPod. There are literally thousands of podcasts available on any topic you can think of, including Celtic music. Podcasts are a timely and fresh way of hearing new groups from across the country and the world. Here are my favorites...
www.celticmusicnews.com
Hosted by Aaron Drake.
Subscribe with iTunes.
www.celticmusicpodcast.com
Hosted by Marc Gunn.
Subscribe with iTunes
www.clevelandcelticpodcast.com
Hosted by Wendy Lee Donahue
You can sometimes even hear Celtic Cross on these podcasts... which we are always grateful.
As I mentioned earlier, for those of you who have Sirius Satellite Radio... don't miss the Celtic Crush program, hosted by our friend Larry Kirwin from Black 47. This program on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings always offers a different perspective on interesting Irish and Celtic music.
So... check these spots out and see if you can find something new. Also... make sure to comment about where you find your new music, spread the word!
P
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Celtic Cross on Music Road
We are thrilled to have had our new CD mentioned on a wonderful music blog called Music Road...
Music Road: now playing: Celtic Cross: Shores of America
Check it out, comment, and visit it often!
P
Music Road: now playing: Celtic Cross: Shores of America
Check it out, comment, and visit it often!
P
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Great Canadian Bands Electrify East Durham's Saturday Night
Just getting back from a great couple of days at the East Durham Memorial Day Weekend Irish Festival... IMHO the granddaddy of Irish festivals... simply the most venerable and authentic Irish culture massing you will find. Great weather, great crowds, and fantastic live music.
Our band Celtic Cross appeared twice yesterday in a lineup that we were thrilled to be part of. Our sets alternated with the 17 Grammy Award winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra... I think more Grammies than Michael Jackson.
But I completely enjoyed the two exceptional groups from Canada that performed after us... Greenwich Meantime and Enter The Haggis.
This festival stage has hosted legend after legend from Irish and Celtic music... the likes of Black 47, Saw Doctors, and Hothouse Flowers in recent years. It was fantastic to see these two Toronto groups that I have been a fan of for a while headline the evening.
Greenwich Meantime were better than ever, with a new lineup and an electrifying tight set. I have loved the songwriting and performance on their two Cd's, but I have to say that their live show last night took my appreciation of these guys to a new level.
Then ETH performed a rock show that was as polished, explosive and fun as any that I have seen in our scene. I really think these guys are the new kings of Celtic music. First of all, they rocked hard. But they are intricate and sophisticated arrangements reminding me of Dave Matthews in spots. Musically, they are intense and impressive.
And both bands could not be cooler to meet and hang out with.
From chatting with folks at the show, it surprisingly seemed that many in the crowd (predominantly NYC/NJ/CT) were seeing GMT and ETH for the first time. I am sure that these great bands have thousands of new fans coming from their fantastic performances last night.
Definitely check out their websites: Greenwich Meantime and Enter The Haggis.
Our band Celtic Cross appeared twice yesterday in a lineup that we were thrilled to be part of. Our sets alternated with the 17 Grammy Award winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra... I think more Grammies than Michael Jackson.
But I completely enjoyed the two exceptional groups from Canada that performed after us... Greenwich Meantime and Enter The Haggis.
This festival stage has hosted legend after legend from Irish and Celtic music... the likes of Black 47, Saw Doctors, and Hothouse Flowers in recent years. It was fantastic to see these two Toronto groups that I have been a fan of for a while headline the evening.
Greenwich Meantime were better than ever, with a new lineup and an electrifying tight set. I have loved the songwriting and performance on their two Cd's, but I have to say that their live show last night took my appreciation of these guys to a new level.
Then ETH performed a rock show that was as polished, explosive and fun as any that I have seen in our scene. I really think these guys are the new kings of Celtic music. First of all, they rocked hard. But they are intricate and sophisticated arrangements reminding me of Dave Matthews in spots. Musically, they are intense and impressive.
And both bands could not be cooler to meet and hang out with.
From chatting with folks at the show, it surprisingly seemed that many in the crowd (predominantly NYC/NJ/CT) were seeing GMT and ETH for the first time. I am sure that these great bands have thousands of new fans coming from their fantastic performances last night.
Definitely check out their websites: Greenwich Meantime and Enter The Haggis.
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