Lúnasa

The song featured on our homepage is "The Merry Sisters of Fate" from the album of the same name by Lúnasa. A fantastically inventive and supremely talented group of musicians, fiddler Seán Smyth, flutist Kevin Crawford, bassist Trevor Hutchinson, guitarist Donogh Hennessy, and uillean piper Cillian Vallely have earned rave reviews worldwide. Lúnasa has been dubbed by The New York Times as "a jam band for Irish music lovers" and as noted by The Boston Globe, "they bring a fiery, almost rock-like energy to their alluringly complex arrangements." http://www.lunasa.ie/home.php

Rose in the Heather

Selections from their first CD, By Any Other Name are featured on two of our pages. On the Scotch-Irish page, you are listening to "Doon the Brae-Battle of Aughrim."  The selected cut on the Recommended Reading page is "Ships are Sailing - Wind that Shakes the Barley." This exciting musical group from Portland, Oregon plays and records Irish, Scotch and American traditional and contemporary folk music.  Visit their website to sample and purchase these tracks and other fine cuts at www.shamrockgold.com/rose.

Shantalla

"John Riley," from the brilliant CD, Seven Mornings, Seven Evenings, is a song based on the true story of an Irish Catholic immigrant who led a group of deserters against the U.S. Army in the 1847 Battle of Churabusco.  Unfortunately for Colonel Riley, he met a terrible fate. However, his story  provides the background for a great song. Four members of Shantalla are Irish, while singer Helen Flaherty is Scottish.   Listen to additional songs and purchase CD's on the band's website at  www.shantalla.com.

Old Blind Dogs

"A Wild Rumpus" from Play Live by the Old Blind Dogs, is the song heard on this page. It was recorded during their Spring tour of the U.S. and Canada in 2004. The Dogs were recently named Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards, while lead vocalist Jim Malcolm picked up the coveted Songwriter of the Year award. For more information about this group and to download this and other songs, visit the website below.

http://www.greenlinnet.com/shopping/search_detail.cfm?ProductID=1067 

Young Dubliners

This band, which has a unique and distinctly Celtic rock sound, is a personal favorite of Melinda's. "Banshee"  is from the group's newest album, Real World and can be heard on our Links page. Presently completing a tour of the States, we caught their gig at

the Atlanta Celtic Festival in April of 2005. These guys absolutely brought the house down! Visit the Dubs at

http://youngdubliners.com.

Cross o'th Hands

This Scottish group is based in Derbyshire and records traditional, contemporary, English and European tunes.

The name is taken from the illegal bare knuckle fist fighting matches that  occurred there in the nineteenth century. The selection you hear on our Endorsements and Sponsors page is "Waters Deep" from the band's second CD, Maidens Prayer.  Check them out here:

 http://www.cothrecords.co.uk/

Uilliam hAicéad

The piece that you hear on our "Project Staff" page is   "Lark inthe Morning" written by this well-known Glasgow piper and musician. You will find this and many other great selections on the following website: www.tinwhistletunes.com

Charlie Daniels Band

Only one song would be appropriate for our "Irish in Georgia" page. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"  tells the story of  a young fiddle player competing against the Devil himself.  In the end, the young man wins the contest along with a fiddle made of gold and manages to retain his immortal soul. Johnny obviously was a Scots-Irishman.  

http://www.charliedaniels.com/flash.htm