celtic

Yarrow Acoustic Sessions is a bold and tender piece of art; current and timeless. It takes songs heard before into new and exciting dimensions with cultural integrity and authenticity.

Scotland’s Dàimh announce their seventh album The Rough Bands, set for release on Goat Island Music on 27th May 2018; exactly 20 years to the day after their first ever gig. The release coincides with an album launch tour.

Subtlety and grace abound in this album. There is something about voices in harmony that make you feel good – and Landless have this to perfection. There are no airs and graces, just beautiful harmonies, their sound uplifting and spiritual, even ethereal.

In the latest video from Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes, they are joined by author James Robertson who reads his short story ‘Imagination’ as they perform their musical response. They are on tour this month.

A new Folk Show that is very much an Irish music showcase from the likes of Lankum, Landless, The Bonny Men, James Patrick Gavin, Ensemble Ériu, The Spook of The Thirteenth Lock, Ye Vagabonds, Aidan Connolly, Paddy Keenan, Sweeney’s Men and more.

Utopia and Wasteland explores a formidable range of human emotions and political ideas, and one that flits easily between the minuscule detail and the grand statement. An exceptional album from one of the most exciting duos not just in folk but in any genre.

Watch the latest video from Alasdair Roberts, Amble Skuse, & David McGuinness for “The Fair Flower of Northumberland” from their new album “What News”. Filmed at the University of Glasgow it features the otherworldly presence of Glasgow-based performance artist Sgàire Wood.

It is the combination of attention to detail in every aspect, plus a great idea and considerable skill from a reliably exciting pair of musicians, that results in 365 being an excellent piece of work from the ground up that gently bewitches the listener with subtlety and pathos and lasts in the mind well after the final note has rung out.

Brother Wind is the newest release from Scottish folk band Gnoss a four-track EP available now via Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music. Don’t miss their UK Tour dates.

While it’s unfair to single out any one band to carry forward the torch that Planxty lit all those years ago, the music Pat Broaders, Liz Knowles and Kieran O’Hare are making can certainly hold its head high in such exalted company. The Joyful Hour gives out its joy in abundance and deserves a place in anyone’s collection.

Michael McGoldrick releases ARC, his new solo album, next month, his fifth in 22 years. We caught up with Mike in Manchester to chat about his new album, his championing of future generations of Irish traditional music players and to find out how he manages to balance his busy time as a musician.

What is so impressive about this release is the level of immersive intimacy that the quintet achieves in a live setting. Only the audience appreciation at the end of each track reminds you that they aren’t playing just for you. This is music deeply rooted in its time and in its space yet played without borders – and it’s all the better for it.