Nuala Kennedy
Nuala Kennedy grew up in Dundalk, Ireland where she was a member of the ceilidh band Ceoltoiri Oga Oghrialla. In 1995 she moved to Scotland and she now lives near Kincraig in the Highlands. She is best known for her work with trio Fine Friday, with whom she has toured extensively and recorded two critically acclaimed CDs, "Gone Dancing" (2002) and "Mowing the Machair" (2004). An accomplished and versatile musician, with a wide repertoire of Scottish traditional and contemporary music...
Gordon Duncan
Gordon Duncan (1964-2005) was one of a young generation of Scottish pipers who opened up the piping scene to a more innovative approach. He began playing at the age of 8, taught initially by his father and his older brother Iain Duncan, himself a successful piper and Pipe Major. He was a highly successful junior competitor, but at the age of seventeen stopped competing regularly to focus on the folk scene. He recorded with a number of bands, including Wolfstone, The Tannahill Weavers, Ceolbeag, and the Dougie MacLean Band.
Tarras
From the Scottish Borders, Tarras provide a blend of the Celtic tradition subtly fused with a range of other genres, not least The Blues and classical. Only two Albums were released: Rising (1999) and Walking Down Mainstreet (2001).
The original line up:
Rob Armstrong - Cittern, vocals
Joss Clapp - Acoustic & Electric Bass, guitar, mandolin, vocals
Emma Hancock - Violin, whistle, vocals
Ben Murray - Accordian, vocals
Jon Redfern - Drums, percussion, guitar, flute & vocals
Lau
Lau have been described as a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today; Kris Drever (guitar and vocal), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle).
The Bushburys
Salsa Celtica
Salsa Celtica - an 11 piece world music fusion band coming from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed in 1995. They have released four studio albums so far.
Brian Kennedy
A protege of Van Morrison, this Belfast boy is an Irish singer-song writer with a unique, gentle voice, and he puts it to good use in his many ballads. He represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. Born in Belfast on 12th October 1966, Brian Kennedy as a singer has perfect pitch and is often described as having ‘the voice which charms angels’. His first album was 'The Great War of Words' followed by 'A Better Man' in 1996 which gained quadruple platinum sales in Ireland. This led to awards for 'Best Irish Male Album' and 'Best Irish Male Artist’.
Tony DeMarco
Tony DeMarco is one of America’s finest folk fiddlers. A Brooklyn native of Irish and Italian decent, he is among the worlds leading exponent’s of the sophisticated County Sligo style of Irish fiddling. Tony’s playing has all the characteristics of great Sligo fiddling: swinging rythmic drive, a wealth of bowed and finger ornamentation, and a high degree of improvised melodic variation. Sligo fiddling has been closely associated with the New York Irish musical tradition for many yesrs.
Jackdaw
Back around St. Pat's of 2000 Tim and George (friends since birth) and Tommy formed a band which put a hard rock edge on traditional Irish faire. Taking inspiration from a passage in Angela's Ashes, they called themselves Jackdaw. Several months later, they were tapped to open for Black 47. Seeking to beef up their sound, they met up with a pierced kid who played pipes for the Erie County Sheriff (Mr. Moore) and a fiddle virtuoso, already a legend amongst traditional Irish circles (Mr. Davies).After that, they probably got a beer or something.