Celtic MP3s Music Magazine: 11/2006

The Celtic MP3s Music Magazine is a free monthly Celtic music magazine featuring free music downloads of Celtic, Scottish, Irish music from around the world. Here, you will find free music downloads from independent Celtic artists. Some MP3s are time sensitive. So download them now. All of the latest MP3s are available for at least a month. As always, if enjoy the music, please help the artist out and buy their CD. Serving Celtic music fans since 2000!

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"Dream" by Wicked Tinkers

Wicked Tinkers' music will have you on your feet wanting to dance. Not only is it alive with vibrant energy, but the drum beats keep the pace of the music. The band's music resembles that of which you might have heard hundreds of years ago at a Scottish wedding celebration, or perhaps around the campfire of a Highland raiding party. The raw and exciting sound touches the listener on a more primal level. Being described as "a sound powerhouse," Wicked Tinkers lives up to the title and even play the music that helped bestow the title to them. Their music is a powerhouse - one that continually urges the listener to get up and dance.

Hometown: Glendale, California, USA
Similar Artists: The Rogues
Influences: The piper was influenced by great pipers such as Donald MacLeod, Gordon Duncan & Mark Saul. Druming was infuenced by Eastern and Middle Eastern styles.

Website: Wicked Tinkers
Download MP3: Wicked Tinkers on MySpace
Buy CD: Buy Wicked Tinkers and Buy Wicked Tinkers at Amazon

Posted by Karen J. Brady, Friday, November 24, 2006.
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"Fair Play To You" by Bow Triplets

by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Bow Triplets
Album: "Fair Play To You"
Year produced: 2006

Packed with 16 wonderful songs, this is one of my favourite listens in a while. The Bow Triplets music manages to be traditional and exciting all at the same time. The musical arrangements really capitalize and highlight the skill of the musicians, which is considerable. Most of the players began studying music as children or have taught music at some point, and you can definitely hear it in the expertise of their playing.

The songs on the CD range from slow, melodic tunes with dreamy vocals such as "The Fisherman" to lively spins like the first track, "The Butterfly and Fermory Lasses." Thinking back a previous CD of theirs, "One Spot On Earth," where I expressed a preference for their vocal tracks, I have to say that on this effort, I enjoyed both equally. The instrumental tracks were truly thought through--and beautiful--whether fast or slow. They stand side by side with the other songs on this CD as excellent. The mix of vocalists makes for an interesting listen as well. You are never sure if it will be the yarn spun by delicate woman's coos, or a friendly man's voice singing.

It is always a joy to see a group grow and progress; reaching out beyond previous efforts. It is even more lovely when the band is really good to begin with and just keeps getting better. The 16 tracks make for a good, long, listen and leave you feeling satisfied. The last song, "Follow The Heron" is a perfect endcap to a truly great CD. Smashing.

Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2006

Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, November 14, 2006.
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"Weave the Yarn" by Mary Knickle

At an early age, Mary Knickle was drawn to both music and storytelling. As she grew older, she worked on develping both of these skills to incorporate into her own work, creating a unique sound that represented her. And to Knickle, writing songs was like finding a piece of her that had been missing.

She quickly found an audience through both her engaging performances and her heartflet writing. She recorded her debut album "On the Wind and the Sea" in 1991. Her sophomore effort, "Who Will Take the Throne?" followed in 1992. Soon after, she found a band and they meshed perfectly. Now going on performing together for eight years, the band put together her latest CD, "Weave." With its release, Knickle looks forward to sharing her music once again.

Hometown: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Influences: Helen Creighton, Nova Scotia folk songs, traditional Irish, Scottish & English folk songs, Stan Rogers, Irish Rovers

Website: http://maryknickle.com/
Download MP3: Weave the Yarn
Buy CD: http://cdbaby.com/cd/maryknickle/from/celtic/

Posted by Karen J. Brady, Tuesday, November 07, 2006.
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"Congress Reel" by Poitin

It seems an odd combination...Celtic music from a Czech band, but it turns out that in the 1990s, the Czechs were just beginning to rediscover their Celtic roots, especially in the west, where the ruins of a Celtic fortress still remain. The history of the land is as interesting as the music of Poitin, who perform not only dreamy ballads, but also rollicking pub sing-a-longs, scintillating jigs, and thundering reels from Ireland, Scotland and England.

Since they formed, Poitin has undergone a metamorphasis as far as their sound, incorporating more progressive elements into their traditional repertoire. With their new album having caused a bit of controversy with the addition of a saxophone, the band promises something that even traditionalists will enjoy. Nothing wrong with a fresh sound. And that is precisely what Poitín brings to the world of Celtic music.

Hometown: Pilsen, Czech Republic
Similar Artists: Flook, Solas, Planxty, Steeleye Span, Chieftains
Influences: Flook, Solas, Planxty, Steeleye Span, Chieftains

Website: Poitin
Download MP3: Congress Reel

"Ramble to Cashel" by Mark Davies

Mark Davies has been a freelance professional musician for 20 years in Sydney, performing on a variety of instruments, including lutes, classical and Spanish guitar, Celtic harp, and flamenco guitar. In fact, Mark designs and creates his own harps. In addition to that, he runs a studio and recording facility in Sydney where he spends time arranging and recording backing tracks for singers, composers and instrumentalists. Mark is also the preferred harpist in and around Sydney for weddings and corporate functions.

His first CD, "The Celtic Harp" is available in Australia, and his follow up CD, "Tunes From a Highland Stream" is due out by Christmas.

Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Similar Artists: Derek Bell, Alan Stivell, Kim Robertson
Influences: Celtic, Flamenco, Renaissance

Website: Mark Davies
Download MP3: Ramble to Cashel

"Wings of a Gull" by Connemara Stone Company

Since forming in 1995, the Connemara Stone Company is Celtic music straight out of Germany. It was their intention from the start to rearrange traditional Celtic music and transform it into folk-rock songs and tunes. In doing so, they were able to bring this style of music to the younger generation. But their fans don't stop with the younger crowd.

Their first CD dropped in the spring of 1997. "From Celtic to Rock" brought them two years of touring in clubs, pubs, festivals and town halls. Their follow-up CD, "For One Ireland" was released in 1998, which also brought about some of their own song writing, as well as performing in larger venues. Their third CD, a live recording at a gig in Mülheim, Germany, was released in 2001. In 2004, their fourth CD, "Birds & Beasts" was released and they continued to tour. By the following year, Connemara Stone Company began to promote their music worldwide.

What makes this band so interesting is that even though they travel from town to town, they haven't forgotten their Celtic roots.

Hometown: Essen, Germany
Similar Artists: Pogues, Runrig, U2
Influences: Pogues, U2, Dubliners, Runrig, Flogging Molly

Website: Connemara Stone Company
Download MP3: Connemara Stone Company on MySpace

"Never Go Home Again" by Charm City Saints

Described as Celtic punk rock, the Charm City Saints bring an edge to the world of Celtic music. The unique combination of the punk sound and Celtic music seems to blend well for them as they take on an original sound in this style of music. What it boils down to is the Charm City Saints, seasoned veterans of east coast punk and hardcore, play Celtic fueled rock 'n roll...and they do it well. They make no claims of grandeur as far as their musical innovation. They are what they are. And what they are is - interesting.

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Similar Artists: Real McKenzies, Dropkick Murphys, Flatfoot 56
Influences: Bellhaven Scottish Ale, Guinness, Miller Lite

Website: Charm City Saints
Download MP3: Charm City Saints on MySpace
Buy CD: Never Go Home Again