Tannahill Weavers - Leaving St Kilda

The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scottish music’s most consistently exciting bands, known for their blazing, high-energy combination of highland pipes, flutes and percussive guitars. The five-piece band that recorded Leaving St. Kilda [1996] is the Tannahill Weavers’ most versatile lineup ever. Their new member, Duncan Nicholson, is another in the line of Tannies’ pipers that has also included Allan MacLeod and Kenny Forsyth, and his masterful playing of the highland pipes is matched by his skill on the Scottish smallpipes. Band stalwart Roy Gullane (guitar, vocals) is getting better with every passing year. His singing, rich and craggy, is an integral part of the hallmark Tannahill Weavers sound. Phil Smillie, the band’s other original member, plays the flute and whistle, and adds the thunder of the bodhran to the group’s driving arrangements. Les Wilson’s fiercely strummed bouzouki, atmospheric keyboards, and booming bass pedals are indispensable to the Tannahill sound, while John Martin (formerly of The Easy Club and Ossian) brings the lift and swing of the Scottish fiddle into the group’s arrangements. All together, these boys make a mighty sound that shouldn’t be missed!

1 Good Drying Set: Good Drying/The MacFarlanes/The Whistlebinkies Reel/Mulhair's Reel...
2 Hieland Harry: Hieland Harry/The Wee Highland Laddie (2nd Part)/Lieutenant Colonel D.J.S. M
3 The Rigs O Rye
4 The Athol Gathering: The Arthol Gathering/Donald MacLeod Reel
5 St. Kilda Set: Leaving St. Kilda/Major W. Knox, M.C./The Highland Brigade At Magersfontein
6 The Shearin's No For You
7 The Three Healths
8 Crann Tar Set: Angus G. MacLeod/Crann Tara/Fiona MacLeod
9 The Wars O' Germany
10 Islay Charms Set: Donald MacLeod/Islay Charms/Alena MacAskill/Donnie MacGregor
11 Last May A Braw Wooer
12 Farewell You Silver Darlin's

link to the free album

Tannahill Weavers - Leaving St Kilda

David Hammond - I Am The Wee Falorie Man. Folk Songs Of Ireland

This classic Folk album from 1959, features the vocals and guitar of influential Irish singer/ filmmaker/ David Hammond, the Belfast native credited with introducing the singer Van Morrison to Irish traditional music. In the early 1960 s Hammond developed a career with the BBC in Belfast, making radio and television programs which were quickly recognised as something revolutionary new and completely out of the ordinary. During more than two decades at the BBC Hammond produced award-winning documentaries and wrote books and pamphlets on music. He also collected folk songs and traditional ballads and involved himself in theatre, and was a fixture of the local music scene. His vintage album, "I Am the Wee Falorie Man," is a classic example of his song collecting skills, from the well-known to the obscure, delivered by a true craftsman.

1 "B" For Barney

2 All Round The Loney-O

3 Green Gravel

4 The Doffin Mistress

5 The Maid Of Ballydoo

6 I Know My Love

7 The Dark-Eyed Gypsy

8 Will Ye Go Lassie, Go?

9 Tis Pretty To Be In Ballinderry

10 Cruise Of The Calabar

11 As I Roved Out

12 The Wee Falorie Man

13 Rockin' The Cradle

14 I'll Tell My Ma

15 I Wish I Was A Maid Again

16 The Gallant Forty-Twa

17 Early, Early All In The Spring

18 When I Was Single

19 The Irish Girl

20 Fan-A-Winnow

link to the free album

David Hammond - I Am The Wee Falorie Man. Folk Songs Of Ireland

Donovan - Celtia [Unreleased Album]

 Celtia is an unreleased album that was recorded in February 1990 at Sulan Studios, Ireland. There's no record of this album until 2003, in issue number 17 of Pat Hehir's fanzine, Donovan's Friends. Suddenly, in that year of 2003 the album is supposed to be on sale, under the fictitious Durga Records label. There's no reliable proof about this fact, and there is no evidence that Durga Records ever released Celtia, you run into the same story over and over again on the Internet when looking for information about this album. According to Pat Hehir, after the disappointment of One Night In Time not being released, he took Donovan to Ireland to start a new project: Celtia. Hehir and Donovan went into Sulan studios, in southern Ireland, with a bunch of magnificent but not at the time very well known musicians, to join Donovan. Like in the old times, it took them just eight days to record the whole album. These songs were more rehearsal songs never intended for issue, until Hehir decided otherwise. The album was arranged by Maire Bhretnach and engineered by Dan Fitgerald.

Musicians:
· Donovan: acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals.
· David Gilmour: guitar.
· Nigel Kennedy: violin.
· Sharon Shannon: box accordion and fiddle.
· Noël Bridgeman: congas, drums and percussion.
· Anthony Thistlewait: mandolin and slide mandolin.
· Colin Blakey: whistles and flutes.
· Eleonor McIvoy: violin and backing vocals.
· Maire Bhretnach: violin, celtic strings, backing vocals and electric violin.
· Dan Fitgerald: tambourine.
· Steeve Cooney: bass, didgeridoo, lead acoustic guitar, bass and finger picking guitar.
· Mandy Murphy: backing vocals.
· Astrella Celeste: spoken.

01. Watching The Sun Go Down

02. Moon Over Clare

03. Glasgow Town

04. The Ferryman's Daughter

05. Ghost Of Pagan Song

06. Where Are You Now

07. Living On Love

08. Madrigalinda

09. Lake Isle Of Innisfree

10. I Love You

11. Wahine

12. Down By The Harbour

13. Against Your Will

14. Rock Me

15. Lover O Lover

16. Awakening Year

17. Everlasting Sea

link to the free album

Donovan - Celtia [Unreleased Album]

Spriguns Of Tolgus - Jack With A Feather

Mike and Mandy Morton formed Spriguns of Tolgus as an acoustic duo at their own folk club in Cambridge in 1972. They took the name "Spriguns" from a malignant Cornish pixie and Tolgus from a tin mine in Cornwall. Initially the band relied on traditional songs, particularly ballads, from England, Scotland and Ireland and were similar in sound to Steeleye Span. The Mortons were joined by Rick Thomas (fiddle) and Chris Russon (electric guitar), producing soft-focus electric folk on a self-financed tape recording, Rowdy, Dowdy Day (1974). This drew them to the attention of Steeleye Span's Tim Hart, who produced their first vinyl album, Jack with a Feather (1975), contributing the song "Seamus the Showman", beside traditional material such as the Child Ballads's "Flodden Field" and "The Twa Magicians" (the last of which Steeleye Span had recorded the year before) and the Irish songs "Let no man steal your Thyme" and "Curragh of Kildare". The album, despite a very short run of pressings, together with Hart’s involvement, helped increase the band’s profile sufficiently to gain attention from a major label.

1 Lambton Worm

2 Let No Man Steal Your Thyme

3 Derby Ram

4 Jigs: Rakes Of Malo / St. Patrick's Day / Ten Penny Bit

5 Flodden Field

6 Troopers Nag

7 Curragh Of Kildare

8 Keys Of Canterbury

9 Twa Magicians

10 Seamus The Showman

11 Barren Banks Of Aden

link to the free album

Spriguns Of Tolgus - Jack With A Feather

Mirk - Tak A Dram (Afore Ye Go)

Mirk were a splendid Scottish Folk trio that released two albums, "Moddan’s Bower" in 1979 and "Tak a Dram Afore Ye Go in" in 1982. Mirk was formed in the mid-1970s in the far North of Scotland (Thurso in Caithness to be more precise) by Ian and Marjorie "Margie" Sinclair and Ray Crompton, later supplemented by Jim Sutherland, who went on to Edinburgh to form The Easy Club. A nice album with strong vocals mainly supplied by Margie Sinclair backed up by fine music.

Group:
Cittern, Bass, Mandolin, Bodhrán – Jim Sutherland
Electronic Bagpipes – Andy Corsie
Vocals, Fiddle, Guitar – Ian Sinclair
Vocals, Guitar, Mandola, Mandolin, Harmonium – Ray Crompton
Vocals, Harmonium, Autoharp – Margie Sinclair

Why Should I?

Dowie Dens O Yarrow

Lady Charlotte Durham

Bonnie Wee Lassie's Answer

Och Hey, Johnnie Lad

PM George Ross's Farewell To The Black Watch/Capt. Lachlan MacPhail Of Tiree

Glenlogie

Cairn-o-Mount

Fareweel To Cape Helles

Glasgow Caithness Centenery Gathering/Eighth Black-Watch On Passchendale Ridge/John Keith Lang/Bill Powrie

Tak A Dram (Afore Ye Go)

link to the free album

Mirk - Tak A Dram (Afore Ye Go)

De Danann - Live in Bielefeld 1989

The mighty De Danann captured live in Bielefeld Germany in 1989 for a local FM radio broadcast. This album was recorded live at the Museum Bochum, Bochum; the Ravensberger Spinnerei, Bielefeld; the Schloss Kirchheim, Kirchheim/Bayerisch Schwaben; in Germany December 10, 1989. That's all i know about this gem and would appreciate any additional information.


De Dannan: 
Eleanor Shanley (vocals);
Alec Finn (guitar, bouzouki);
Frankie Gavin (fiddle, flute);
Aidan Coffey (accordion);
Colm Murphy (bodhran).

01 Announcement.

02 The Rights Of Man & The Pride Of Petravore

03 Announcement

04 Joe Derrane's Reel, Galway Rambler, Jerry Hollands Reel

05 Announcement.

06 Taim I Mo Shui.

07 Frankie Goes To Degen.

08 Announcement.

09 Rambles Of Bach.

10 Announcement.

11 Widowed & DEad.

12 Announcement.

13 Up And Away, Patsy Towhey's Jig, Doberman's Wallet

14 The Call And The Answer.

15 Announcement.

16 Hard Times.

17 [Unknown Instrumental].

link to the free album

De Danann - Live in Bielefeld 1989

Emmet Spiceland - First

Emmet Spiceland was an Irish folk band formed when brothers Brian Byrne and Michael Byrne of the Spiceland Folk Group joined forces with Dónal Lunny, Brian Bolger and Mick Moloney's Emmet Folk Group. Emmet Spiceland hold a special place in Irish music history as the first of their kind, bringing what was, at the time, a modern sound, to the previously stiff and conservative national airwaves. They were known for beautiful harmonies, pin-up good looks, Mod style and previously unheard of contemporary arrangements of Irish classics. The band enjoyed screaming Beatlemania-style scenes at public appearances after a number of chart successes, with the single "Mary from Dungloe" hitting number one. The single was taken from their album, The First released in 1968 featuring songs by Shay Healy and Christy Moore, with orchestral arrangements by Phil Coulter. Christy Moore praised the band in a documentary of his life.

1 Reynard The Fox

2 My Lagan Love

3 Stór, Stór A Ghrá

4 Lover's Ghost

5 A Couple O'Jigs

6 Bunclody

7 Mary From Dungloe

8 Autumn Has Come

9 Pretty Susan

10 Slieve Gallion Braes

11 O'Carolan's Concerto

12 The Curragh Of Kildare

link to the free album

Emmet Spiceland - First

Pererin - Haul Ar Yr Eira

Pererin, meaning "Piligrim" in Welsh, are to Wales what Runrig  has been to Scotland. They perform traditional and traditionally inspired original material that combines spiritual and romantic themes with a strong helping of Nationalistic pride and a desire to preserve their own unique culture. They sang only in Welsh, and even English sleeve notes are even hard to find. Their original
LPs command a high price, but recent CD reissues have guaranteed their accessibility and their legacy.

Pererin evolved from a more overtly progressive rock group named Bran that released three albums between 1975 and 1978, to release three of their own from 1980 to 1982. While Pererin emphasized the folk element, they were no less progressive, thanks to thoughtful arrangements that featured plenty of mellotron and mildly acidic electric guitar, imaginative percussion, ambitious song structures, and various mood shifts. The variety of styles explored was impressive, from very traditional to symphonic to country flavoured to just plain eclectic, so unless you have a real aversion to folk or non-English songs, you will find something to like among Pererin's rich if abbreviated legacy.

A 4th album was released on cassette only but is nearly impossible to find information about, let alone obtain a copy.

Haul Ar Yr Eira

Titrwm Tatrwm

Dechrau Y Gân

Cân Y Melinydd

Ni Welaf Yr Haf

Royal Charter

Glöyn Byw

Llongau Caernarfon

Hiraeth Y Môr

Pan Ddaw Y Brenin Yn Ôl

link to the free album

Pererin - Haul Ar Yr Eira

JSD Band - Travelling Days

The JSD Band were an influential Scottish-based Celtic and folk rock band primarily active from 1969 to 1974 and then again briefly from 1997 to 1998. The band released five full-length albums, and numerous singles and special releases, many of which are still sought after by collectors from around the world. The JSD Band formed in 1969 and derived its name from the first letter of the first name of each of its three founding members: Jim Divers, Sean O’Rourke, and Des Coffield. Chuck Fleming and Colin Finn also joined the group rounding out the five-member lineup. Travelling Days released in 1973 was a high point in the groups career and was to be their last release for over 20 years.

"Galway Races"

"Fishin' Blues"

"Sarah Jane"

"Travelling Days"

"King's Favourite"

"The Cuckoo"

"The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow"

"Down the Road"

"Young Waters"

"The Green Fields of America"

link to the free album

JSD Band - Travelling Days

Natalie & Buddy MacMaster - Traditional Music From Cape Breton Island

Tradtional Music from Cape Breton Island is a straight-ahead recording of classic Cape Breton medleys played as duets by two of Cape Breton 's finest fiddlers Buddy MacMaster and his niece Natalie MacMaster.

Natalie MacMaster explains the thinking behind the recording of this masterful album "There is a cassette tape I often listen to of uncle Buddy and John Morris Rankin at the firehall in Mabou in 1986. It occurred to me one day that Buddy and I should record some of those tunes together in a studio, as we had never done so before. The music would be a keepsake for our family and we could have the option of using a track or two on one of our own future solo recordings.

After playing some of these great “Buddy tunes” together, we both felt quite good about the music and reached the conclusion that this recording should become its own CD – a permanent imprint of a family tradition passed down from uncle to niece. This tradition also includes my aunt (Buddy’s sister), Betty Lou Beaton on piano.

I have predominantly listened to Buddy’s fiddling throughout my life –on home recordings, at square dances and live at family gatherings and parties. He has influenced my fiddling immensely. This recording is a tribute to his music, our family traditions and to Cape Breton Island". ~~ Natalie MacMaster

Artists:
Buddy MacMaster: Fiddle
Natalie MacMaster: Fiddle
Betty Lou Beaton: Piano
Dave MacIsaac: Guitar

01. The King George Medley
King George the Fourth
The Old King’s Reel
The King’s Reel
Miss Lyle Reel
The Bridge of Bamore
   02. The Little Pickle
Pet of the Pipers
The Little Pickle
The Rosewood Jig
The Road To Skye
Scotty’s Fitzgerald’s (Sandy MacIntyre)
   03. Scourdiness
MacKenzie Hay
Scourdiness (Charles F. Sherritt)
Miss Baigrie
   04. The Red Shoes
Welcome to the Trossachs (Wilfred Gillis)
Miller O Drone
Miss Lyle Strathspey
The Devil in the Kitchen
The Margaree Reel
The Yetts of Muckart
Mrs. Margaret MacDonald’s Delight
The Red Shoes (Dan R. MacDonald)
Bonnie Nellie
05. The Dougall Creature
Mom’s Jig
The Soldier’s Cloak
Come Haste to the Wedding
The Inverness Jig (J. D. Kennedy)
The Man on the Moon
Tipperty Jean
Miss Campbell’s
The Dougall Creature
   06. Primrose Lasses
Niel Gow’s Lamentation for James Moray of Abercairny
Miss Ann Moir’s Birthday
The Duke of Gordon’s Birthday
The Primrose Lasses
The Bear in the Buckwheat
   07. Iona House (Buddy Solo)
Iona House (Wilfred Gillis)
Daft Willie Dawson
Willie Fraser’s (Donald Angus Beaton)
Lady Mary Stopford
The Lasses of Stewarton
08. The Stage
The Stage Hornpipe
The Tarra Broach
Laybourn’s Hornpipe
Blind Nora O’Neill
The Bonny Lass of Fisherrow
   09. The Leg Of The Duck
Jessie Ann’s Favorite (Gordon MacQuarrie)
The Rose Burn (Dan R. MacDonald)
Bain’s Jig
Mrs. A. MacGlashan
The Leg of the Duck
10. The Warlock
The Warlock
Bog an Lochan
Flora MacDonald
The Nine Point Coggie
Malcolm Finlay
Johnny Sullivan’s
11. The Bonnie Lass of Headlake
The Bonnie Lass of Head Lake (Gordon MacQuarrie)
12. Wilfred’s Fiddle
Wilfred’s Fiddle Jig (Dan R. MacDonald)
The Clay Pipe
Sandy McGaff
The Unfortunate Rake
The New Fiddle (Dan R. MacDonald)
   13.  The Ten Pound Fiddle (Natalie Solo)
The Bald Headed Bachelor
The Sunshine Hornpipe
The Ten Pound Fiddle
Mrs. Smyth of Methven’s

link to the free album

Natalie & Buddy MacMaster - Traditional Music From Cape Breton Island

Father O'Flynn - Father O'Flynn

Mighty fine and extremely rare album of Irish Folk music released in 1982 by believe it or not a group of German musicians. The group were active between 1982 and 1997 and released three solid albums this being their debut is made up of renditions of Traditional Celtic songs.

Kid On The Mountain
As I Roved Out
Polkas
Are You Sleeping, Maggie
Easter Monday
Lord Franklin
Rockin' Timour
Move Along
King Of The Fairies
Came Ye O'er Frae France
Dance, Dance
Calton Weaver
Birthday Cake

link to the free album

Father O'Flynn - Father O'Flynn

Carreg Lafar - Profiad (Experience)

This was the most impressive album from Welsh folk group Carreg Lafar. They had a strong line up in 2002, with impressive and passionate vocals, both female and male and a very accomplished instrumental line-up of fiddle, flute/whistles, guitar and assorted bagpipes/mandola/percussion. A good ear for a melody and some excellent arrangements make this stand out as one of the finest albums of Welsh music I have heard. The songs range from the spirited composition by Meic Stephens "Dic Penderyn", describing a Welsh working-class hero who was executed following the Merthyr riots of 1831, driven along by the guitar, with arabesques of melody from the other instruments interspersing the verses, to the haunting love song "Lloer Dirion" which makes excellent use of guest Claudine Cassidy's cello. Many of the songs are enlivened by tunes written by members of the band, and the slow air "Llanllechid" is a particularly fine duet between violin and Lawson Dando's beautifully judged piano. The band have been making great strides. [source Paul Burgess]

1 Dryw Bach

2 Profiad

3 Lloer Dirion

4 Dic Penderyn

5 Llanllechid

6 Y Gwanwyn

7 Dyffryn Cletwr

8 Seren y Bore

9 Cariad Cyntaf

10 Tri Pheth

11 Iechyd o Gylch

link to the free album

Carreg Lafar - Profiad (Experience)