A number of albums released this year and last have has strong thematic links to the Easter Rising. Rising Black Bank Folk A debut album years the making, Rising, tells the human stories of historic heroes, an idea inspired by musician John Colbert’s personal connection to the rebellion through his great uncle, Con Colbert, one of the executed leaders of the Rising. John … [Read more...] about Music Reviews
Music Archives
Playing in the Band
For the perfect pairing of Grateful Dead and traditional Celtic sound, look to Wake the Dead, a California group of experts musicians. For almost 17 years, Wake the Dead has dug deep into the canon of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, releasing their fourth album, Deal, this past fall. Founding member Danny Carnahan, vocalist, fiddler, and Grammy-nominated songwriter, explains. … [Read more...] about Playing in the Band
What Are You Like?
Keith & Kristyn Getty
The Northern Irish duo reinventing the hymn.
Keith and Kristyn Getty have written music together since 2001 (and have been married since 2004). Both born near Belfast, they now live between Nashville and Portstewart, Co. Derry. The transatlantic life is an apt parallel to their musical style, which combines classical, folk, traditional Irish, and contemporary genres to form a … [Read more...] about What Are You Like?
Keith & Kristyn Getty
Music Reviews
New music of Irish and Irish American interest. ℘℘℘ Legacy, Volume 2 Celtic Thunder This familiar, favored collection of incredible talent begins with an extraordinary rendition of the other-worldly “Now We Are Free” featuring Keith Harkin, who later in the album sings his original “Lauren & I,” a beautiful song made more interesting when learned it was written at the … [Read more...] about Music Reviews
Beyond the Bog Road
The first new album in 10 years from fiddle virtuoso Eileen Ivers traces traditional Irish music to Canada’s Nova Scotia, and through the Scots/Irish root of Bluegrass and Old-Time music of Appalachia, and on to the Cajun sounds of the South. “The bog roads of Ireland were paths into ancient sod fields, laboriously farmed to provide an essential source of fuel and … [Read more...] about Beyond the Bog Road