The creative net that Celtic music has thrown reaches far and wide…even to the Philippines. Trad Street is the newest Celtic fusion band to come out of South East Asia. They are heavily influenced by bands such as Flook, The Chieftains and Scottish instrumentalist Fraser Fifield. They combine jazz, folk and even Filipino flavour to their Celtic mix, giving you music like no other.
They are performing all over Manila and they are gathering materials that will become a recording in a not so distant future. If you are from Europe or pasrts of the United States and you are visiting the Philippines, look for Trad Street. And much better of you can get the guys to perform with your band for a live, acoustic Celticky performance!
Will Tun and the Wasters released a beautiful and surprising single Immigrants & Dissidents.
I think touring brings out the best in everyone. This is what happened to Will Tun and the Wasters with their new tune Immigrants & Dissidents. By the way if you go to soundcloud it is available as a free download. I suspect this is the direction that they taking if they are going to release an album in the future. Unlike their past recordings (which were geared towards punishing punk energy),this one is ‘sweeter.’ I see the arrival of a more textured sound that’s getting more and more sophisticated as they mature as artists.
You can hear the other instruments in Immigrants & Dissidents. It has a more acoustic feel. Since their break through, I’ve been following this band because of their distinctive sound. They bring something new to the music world. They fuse styles that would have been otherwise odd in the wrong hands. But they made it. They are going steady as they evolve, releasing tunes after another.
Kudos to Will Tun and the Wasters. They know how to give their fans a good time. You should see them live if you a chance!
“Fresh” pretty much sums up the sound of the new album by Poitin called Wish. I have listened again and again and I am definitely aware of the new recording approach in this album compared to their past efforts. Even their musical style has evolved. This is not to say that this is better than their past albums. All of their albums including my favorite Hot Days are still worth the spin. But this has a more refined sound in terms of capturing the soft edges of the sound( amplifying the nuances) while getting rid of the rough spots.
The music in general has a more ‘soft jazz’ appeal. I think this is due to the fine tuning that they have done with their sound and it is true they are masters of syncopation and polyrhythms. Poitin has always taken the ‘aggressive trad’ style in their recordings. Their sound has never been modest. It’s a force of nature that renders you enable to prepare yourself for some melodic impact. But listening to the opening track Toffee Jigs surprised me. For this is the new Poitin. This reminds me of recordings by Altan and Lunasa.
You can also note the wispy mix they introduced to their acoustic guitar sounds as in the case of the Broomfield Wager. Vocally, Jeremy King has beautifully covered traditional songs with his fine pipes in this album. And it just gets better and better as you climb your way into the track-listing. Rookery is a devilish charmer of a tune. It is a seductive instrumental with beautiful fiddle, flute and guitar parts.
Farewell Waltzes is elegant in its pace. The instruments weave seamlessly like curtains tangling and untangling in the breeze. I think Autumn Song is the best ballad they have ever recorded as a band. The poignant song about relationships like seasons speak with sheer honesty. If this song doesn’t move you then you are not a human being. There’s no weak track here. Wish is like a novel with chapters working together to form a beautiful story. A musical story. Blue Bear Polkas is just one of the many gems you will find if you listen to Wish.
You can really tell that a lot of love, hard work and passion went to the recording of this album. If this is the new Poitin then all the more reason for me to look forward to their next album!
That’s it. Bigger Man was an an indication for bigger and better things to come from Canadian singer songwriter Tristan Legg. His gig calendar is also full for the month of April. More shows are coming up next month.
Tristan Legg
He is known for his strong voice and passionate live performances. His influences range from bluegrass, Celtic, folk and rock. Apart from his amiable stage presence and excellent charisma, he also represents the beautiful thriving music of Eastern Canada. His favorite quote is “you know how to read music right? u know what a rest is…? trying using it every now and then” by John Ferguson.
When asked about his musical influences, this is what he has to say:
“My influences range from blues great’s such as B.B. king. Stevie Ray, Garrett Mason,Eric Clapton but also great celtic artist as the Pogues, Gerry O’conner, Planxty, Christy Moore.
Some local artists that have also influenced me not just musically but personally are Darren McMullen, Roger Stone, John Ferguson, Anthony Rissesco, Bruce Timmins, my father and the Gig Dogs. There are also many other great local artist’s that have had a great influence on me which i’am very thankfull for.”
We just have to wait and see for more musical goodies from Tristan Legg. In the meantime, enjoy the two videos below.
If you haven’t picked up Down The Irish Gravel Road by Dublin based singer/songwriter Tom Acton yet, then you better. Mr Acton has a wonderful voice and he loves recording happy tunes. I heard three full tracks so far: Sligo Fair (very catchy), The Great Johnny Doran and The Water Song. The latter is very close to my heart because of its beautiful, poignant and somber atmosphere.
I made friends with Tom Acton when I signed up with Live Ireland. I remember him as a friendly and jolly fella. It is great to discover that his talent has a timeless appeal. He has a voice that catches you right away. As if he is meant to be heard on the radio. There are people who are born that way I guess. They are so natural onstage and off stage.
His songs are wrapped up with beautiful instrumental arrangements. These are things that would make you compare the tracks to the likes of Planxty and The Dubliners. But Acton has an original sound. It is a confident style that transcends time. You should hear his album and listen to the lyrics. He has a lot to say. He has a lot to sing about!
Celtic Music Fan 