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The 'Cap' of Kevin Burke's Solo Canon: Fiddler's Second Solo Recording Ranks First - Irish Echo Review by Earle Hitchner

November 10, 2008

The 'Cap' of Kevin Burke's Solo Canon: Fiddler's Second Solo Recording Ranks First

CEOL - By Earle Hitchner

What do the Beatles's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967 and Irish traditional fiddler Kevin Burke's "If the Cap Fits" in 1978 have in common?

The first partially influenced the second.

Before I explain why, I want to expose, once and for all, a dirty little secret about the impact of the Bothy Band, of which Burke was a member, on Irish traditional music from the middle to late 1970s. It was rock-and-roll. A key, usually overlooked ingredient in the enormously influential sound of the Bothy Band was its rhythm, and that came from Donal Lunny on bouzouki and guitar and Micheal O Domhnaill on guitar.

I can hear all the trad-heads and purists out there screaming "sacrilege" and "heresy." But in a recent interview I did with Lunny, now residing in Japan, he admitted that rock-and-roll shaped his... more

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Compass Records Group Well-Represented in Paste Magazine's "Five Bands that Will Get You Hooked on Irish Trad"

November 5, 2008

Jason Killingsworth from Paste Magazine, shared his list of his five favorite Trad Bands.  Among the list are Lunasa, The Bothy Band, and Dervish.  The post includes some nifty video as well, check is out here.

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Andy Irvine and Paul Brady Reunite at Celtic Connections

January 30, 2008

With their classic self-titled release in 1976, Andy Irvine and Paul Brady became pioneers in the world of Irish music. The two are reuniting for a special concert at this year's Celtic Connections festival to celebrate their landmark recording.

Wednesday 30th January 2008, 7.30pm
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall : Auditorium

Hear clips from Andy Irvine & Paul Brady here.

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