Celtic MP3s Music MagazineThe 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! Don't just download. "Never Drift Apart" by Maireid Sullivan
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Maireid Sullivan Album: "Never Drift Apart" Year produced: 2003 Ohhh, it's soooo pretty! The dreamy echoes of Sullivan's music and her yearning to connect with her listeners are all simply marvelous right off the bat with the first track here--which is also the title track, "Never Drift Apart." This CD nearly fits into the Celtic "new-age" genre, but allows its boundaries to flow to and fro, depending on the mood of the tune so it isn't exactly a neat box within which to place the songs. Her sound doesn't categorize easily--you can't compare her to Enya or McKennitt, because she doesn't sound like either, but she is just as captivating. A truly unique vocal artist. Interestingly, Sullivan also does a lovely job of covering a variety of tunes here--adding her own stamp to them. You'll find Clapton's "River of Tears" and others, but she knows how to make them her own. The music you will find here is comforting and soul-soothing; music to meditate to or unwind with after an especially harrowing day. You can feel that Sullivan is a deep and thoughtful soul--it comes through clearly in the vocals and choice of songs on the CD. Irish-born and the daughter of a tenor, Sullivan has also lived in the United States and Australia, where she currently resides. The vocalist avows an avid interest in Celtic history and is also a poet and writer. You won't find anything jarring or too energizing here--this is a CD to renew and refresh yourself, not one to get your feet moving. You can tell that each track is carefully crafted, and some have such depth as to almost sound like a hymn. Really, this is an outstanding and moving CD--one with presence. 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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com. Labels: cd_review_2007
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, April 26, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Far From The Hills of Donegal" by Oisin McAuley
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Oisin McAuley Album: "Far From The Hills of Donegal" Year produced: 2007 What do you get when you take a lead fiddler from a group like Danú and give him center stage and full reign? You get "Far From The Hills of Donegal," a 13-track CD packed full of top notch fiddle playing! In his solo debut, Oisín McAuley crisply outlines every sound that comes forth from his chosen instrument and it is truly a joy to listen to his considerable skill as he zips around the melodies. Far from limited to a virtuoso style, however, he is also able to call forth haunting, yearning sounds from his strings. McAuley has been at the helm of the fiddle since he was nine years old, and if you need proof, just hit play... he dives right in with zeal from the first track. While the music on this CD fits squarely within the rather broad definition of traditional, it also "tip-toes" across the boundaries and steps out of itself here and there. It seems when musicians reach a certain level of mastery, they bring something extra to the sound that only they hear in the music--their art. You'll definitely hear that type of sound on the tracks here. McAuley has played music, studied music and taught it--making for a wide variety of experience that has no doubt flavored his style. His roots trace back to West Ireland, and that plays a role here in the tracks as well. Those expecting a CD full of reels will be disappointed, but if you want to hear the fiddle stretch and reach and become something more than you typically hear--this is the CD for it. 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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com. Labels: cd_review_2007
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, April 24, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion" by Marc Gunn
by Catherine L. Tully
Artist: Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats Album: "Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion" Year produced: 2007 Marc Gunn delivers--with a follow up! This "companion" CD is designed to accompany the original--Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, so that you can fully appreciate the play on words "feline-style!" The fun part here is to listen to and consider the original lyrics, and then see what was done to include the kitties... You'll hear "Lord of the Dance" (Lord of the Pounce), "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" (When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling) and "Black Velvet Band" (Black Kitty Paw) among many others and the comparison is quite an enjoyable "exercise!" There is nothing quite like hearing the original version and then playing the parody--it just makes it far more amusing... and you just may hear a little "meow" here and there too! Gunn is his usual, likeable, enjoyable self on this CD, with the simple arrangements and terrific, laid-back yet energetic style he has become known for. Autoharp and guitar back the vocals and the mood here is light and fun. A joint effort between producer Ari Koinuma and Gunn, this is a great CD to own for the grouping and selection of solid Irish favorites--even if you happen to be a dog lover! 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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com. Labels: cd_review_2007
Posted by Marc Gunn, Tuesday, April 24, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Ain't No Comforting Me" by Patrick's Head
What happens when you fuse rootsy American music with traditional Irish songs and progressions? You get what Patrick's Head offers to the Irish music universe. With heartfelt arrangements and minimal instrumentation, their music allows for the hautning vocals of John Byrne to permeate each song to the core, along with the steady bodhran, with a core composed of acoustic guitar. Only occasional do other instruments make it into the mix.
This setup allows for gigs in small venues, up to large concert halls, having the crowd crying one moment and dancing and singing along the next moment. From instrumental background music, a'capela selections, haunting anti-war balads, to historical Irish accounts, feel good singalongs, to favorite dancing and (occasional light responsible) drinking songs. Their original songs blend perfectly the Irish-influenced American folk with traditional celtic melodies and storytelling. Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Website: Patrick's Head Download MP3: Patrick's Head on MySpace Similar Artists: Brendan Behan, Dubliners, Luke Kelly, Patrick's Head, Patty O'Reilly, Pogues Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Saturday, April 21, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Caber Loo" by The Trybe
The Trybe is one of those bands that successfully combine visual excitement with the fast, and furious, full scale, aural assalt that takes no prisoners. For them, there is only one volume setting. LOUD! They perform jigs, reels and marches, but not as you've heard them before. All instruments are played at breakneck speed and come together in a sound that classifies The Trybe as something all their own. Go to one of their shows...see if you survive!
Hometown: Scotland Website: The Trybe Download MP3: Caber Loo Similar Artists: AC/DC, Albannach, Clan Wallace, Clann An Drumma, Robert Burns and Pipe Major Iain Matheson, The Trybe, Tinariwen Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 15, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Loch Lomond" by Ian Patton
Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Ian Patton brings his banjo stylings to a variety of different songs. His version of Loch Lomond is a new twist to the classic, played on his five-string banjo. It's a new way to look at Celtic music.
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Website: Ian Patton Download MP3: Loch Lomond Similar Artists: Bella Fleck, Ian Patton Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 15, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Safe Home" by Round The House by Catherine L. TullyArtist: Round The House Album: "Safe Home" Year produced: 2007 Traditional Irish music here, yes, and a lot of it too! Round The House has been doing this for almost ten years, and this solidly done, long 15-track CD gives a lot of variety as well as great musicianship and energy. You'll hear vocal music, (although not all of it in English, which is a nice touch), instrumentals and even a contra dance set--for they are also a contra dance band! This grouping of songs has a real mixture--you'll hear reels, a march and of course a jig--mixed with vocal tracks and some really well done instrumental work. The drum thump totally resonates and adds a "heartbeat" to the music often; it's lovely when this is highlighted like it is here in several songs. Always a shame to relegate it to the background as a mere force for keeping time--it's more than that. The band does a stellar job at focusing on instruments and showing them off, sounds rising, then falling as another takes the center stage. It makes the mix of tracks quite eclectic in terms of feel. The band doesn't really pin itself down to one sound per se musically, preferring instead to let each track highlight various musicians or vocals. Lovely. Particularly enjoyable were track 2, "Rory Og McRory," and the contra dance set which really lit things up, swirling and whirling its way through the set like their very lives depended on it. 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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com. Labels: cd_review_2007
Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, April 12, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Levantine's Spinning Barrel" by Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder The way Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder met is considered to be a momentous and fateful event where the two already widely esteemed performers produced a frenzy of creative inspiration which resulted in a colorful, exciting and completely unique approach to Roots-based progressive acoustic string music. In fact, they have a sound that has been dubbed as being all their own.Both champions in Celtic music, Laval plays violin while Broder plays mandolin. Each form a stunning instrumental duo that render traditional Irish, Scottish and Bluegrass music with hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. After meeting at an late-night jam session, Laval and Broder connected instantly on both a musical and personal level. Ever since, they have fueled each other's creativity in a non-stop musical exploration. Together, they create a sound that is so addictive, it leaves listeners hoping there is more to come. Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina, USA Website: Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder Download MP3: Jamie Laval and Ashley Broder on MySpace Buy CD: Zephyr in the Confetti Factory Similar Artists: Alasdair Fraser, Ashley Broder, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Jamie Laval, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 08, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Ellas Mari (Cornish)" by Navan Navan is a trio of Celtic traditional singers who perform exclusively in the native tongues of Ireland, Scotland, wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the isle of Man. Their songs range from Irish lullabies to spine-chilling Breton laments to euphoric, rapid-fire Scottish mout music. Navan's music and repertoire reflect not only their distictive sound, but also distinguish the sound that today we call "Celtic."Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin, USA Website: Navan Download MP3: "Ellas Mari (Cornish)" Buy CD: Lowena Similar Artists: Clannad, Enya, Mac-Talla, Navan, Skara Brae, The Bothy Band Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 08, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Sorry" by The Cows
The Cows is making their comeback after two albums which were recorded in 1999 and 2002. After many concerts played all around France, incluiding the Interceltic Festival in Lorient from 2000-2002, The Cows is more entertaining than ever. Their style is festive, with a combination of celtic rock 'n roll. Backed by the violin and harmonica, the band has created a musical style all their own. They are quite unique and helps to make their music fun and enjoyable.
Hometown: Pau Aquitaine, France Website: The Cows on MySpace Download MP3: Sorry Similar Artists: Bruce Springsteen, Red Cardell, The Chieftains, The Cows, The Pogues Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 08, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Got Blarnacles" by Blarnacles by Catherine L. TullyArtist: The Blarnacles Album: "Got Blarnacles?" Year produced: 2006 This acoustic Celtic folk band from the Cincinnati area delivers a nice song grouping here on "Got Blarnacles." The group's unusual name is actually a hybrid, mixing "blarney" and "barnacles" for a fun and catchy title. It reflects the group well--thoughtful, yet not too serious. They seem to like taking it light. You'll most likely find this group a bit eclectic, with a strong underlying Bluegrass influence that manages to keep things interesting without hijacking the CD. Still a rather young group (around since November, 2004), don't mistake their lack of time playing together as a group for them being novice players--at least two of the members go back about 25 years as musicians, and between them all, there are more instruments than one wants to count that they can play. The CD can really be described as "easy on the nerves," so those looking for something with a soothing, yet not boring sound will really take to the songs here. Although the Celtic sound is there, you don't get that overriding, thumping "gotta get up and dance" energy that one expects from a reel or other traditional favorites. This album is more of a "kick back and unwind after a day that beat the pulp out of you" kind of compilation. (Note--not slow--just easy!) Pleasant, amusing and nice and long--15 tracks to unwind to and enjoy into the evening.... A couple amusing songs are tossed in to bring a grin....such as track 3, "The Stuttering Lovers," and track 7, "Dear Boss," which both are sans instruments, but cute little tunes nonetheless. Enjoy this CD--that is what it was made for--you can just tell. 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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com. Labels: cd_review_2007
Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, April 06, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Transparency" by The Strange Woods Not only have The Strange Wood established themselves as a veteran folk quartet that is well-versed in traditional Celtic music, but they also provide a wide variety of original folk in a Celtic-Fusion style. They have quite a distinguished repertoire of original songs as well as Celtic instrumentation, mostly consisting of themes dealing with love, romance and the transcendent. Each song is woven with the timeless magic of Celtic jigs, reels, hornpipes and airs. In the end, it provides a musical and lyrical journey across the spirit and landscapes of nature.The group is anchored by songwriter and vocalist Jim Hinton on guitar and mandocello. Theresa Rochelle-Ross adds her distinctive vocals along with her accomplished work on tin whistle, Celtic harp, and percussion. Rachel Amov adds a Gypsy flair on violin and viola. Pat Espinoza also sings and fills out the sound on keyboards, guitar, bodhran, didgeridoo. With two albums already having been released as well as songwriter Jim Hinton having produced two solo albums of original and traditional songs, they have established themselves in the Celtic music world, always eager to reach new ears. Hometown: San Diego, California, USA Website: The Strange Woods Download MP3: Transparency Buy CD: Transparency Similar Artists: John Renbourne and friends, Pentangle, Planxty, Robin Williamson, Syncopace, The Incredible String Band, The Strange Woods Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Thursday, April 05, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Waterfall Reel" by Bruce Boyd
Bruce Boyd has been involved with music and bands since the late '60s when he played rhythm, lead and bass guitars with a variety of pop and rock bands. When the '70s rolle around, he all but retired from the music scene until the early '90s, when he began playig acoustic music.
Known for playing "things with strings" in a variety of styles, he prefers to stick to the basics when it comes to Celtic music: mandolin and bouzouki. In 2001 and 2002 Boyd toured with three different bands until he relocated to the south coast of Western Australia. Since moving, he has become more involved with writing and recording. Hometown: South Coast Western Australia Website: Bruce Boyd Download MP3: Waterfall Reel Similar Artists: Andy Irvine, Bob Johnson, Bruce Boyd, Lesley Wilson, Planxty, Steeleye Span, Tannahill Weavers Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Thursday, April 05, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! "Blessed in Red" by Jenneth Tollin
Jenneth Tollin isn't just proving her inspiration to the Folk Music World, she's embodied it. Believing that music is the expression of the soul as well as the spirit, Tollin delves into her own Celtic heritage. Writing and performing her own music, she uses the traditional storytelling style of the Celtic Bards with a hint of a diverse rhythmic undertone. Yet, not all of her songs are her own.
She has provided music to a range of old stories and modern lyrics, along with melodies that will paly in your mind all day long. She is an Australian Bad through and through. Hometown: Sydney, Australia Website: Jenneth Tollin Download MP3: Blessed in Red Similar Artists: Jenneth Tollin, Kate Rusby, Loreena McKennitt, Touchwood Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: free_celtic_mp3_2007
Posted by Karen J. Brady, Sunday, April 01, 2007. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! |
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