Amid social distancing, lockdown, and anxiety, I wanted to put together some music that might quicken your pulse rate, raise your mood, and maybe cause some physical movement, like toe-tapping, hand-clapping, even dancing!
So much has happened in the last 50 years to take what was a sleepy set of ethnic traditional music into the mainstream by incorporating elements of rock, jazz, bluegrass, and country. We can't be together right now to celebrate the power of this music, or the uplifting nature of it on each other, but we can bring it to you here in a playlist specially created for our WGBH audience.
Crank the volume, roll down the windows, dance to it, and please share. The energy from this kick-ass Celtic playlist should be spread far and near.
The details are below. Again, if you like something, please go to the artists' websites and tell them so. And while you are there, maybe buy a CD or merchandise if they have it, or tell them you'll come and see them in concert when they are coming to your area. More than ever, artists need support. We love to hear from you, celtic@wgbh.org.
00:00: "The Ballygar Jigs," Mick McAuley and Win Horan, Serenade
04:18: "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves," Dervish, Traveling Show
07:33: "Music for a Found Harmonium," Patrick Street, Irish Times
10:10: "Shetland Fiddle Diva," String Sisters, Live
16:22: "Bold Jamie," Cara Dillon, After the Morning
21:10: "The Atlantean," John McSherry, The Seven Suns
25:31: "Johnny Don't Go to Ballincollig," John Spillane, The Wells of the World
28:09: "McBrides," Moving Hearts, Live in Dublin
35:18: "Stand By Your Guns," The Full English, The Full English
38:46: "The Blacksmith," Planxty, Live 2004
43:40: "Darkness, Darkness," Solas, All These Years
48:21: "The Kesh Jig," The Bothy Band, Old Hag You have Killed Me
52:49: "Ireland's Green Shore," Tim O'Brien, The Crossing
57:04: "Bag of Spuds," Gerry O'Connor, No Place Like Home
01:01:13: "The Galway Girl," Sharon Shannon and Mundy, Live at Dolans
01:04:02: "There is a Power in a Union," Billy Bragg, Must I Paint You a Picture
