ONE of the country’s most famous traditional music groups, Altan, is set to release its new album next month.
On The Widening Gyre (release date: February 23), the world famous band, fronted by Gaoth Dobhair’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, explores the musical relationship between American roots music and Irish traditional music.
On its first full album recorded in Nashville TN, Altan has teamed up with some of the biggest names in American folk and Bluegrass.
The album, released by Compass Records, features Grammy award winners Tim O’Brien, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Alison Brown, Todd Phillips, Stuart Duncan and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
It also features an old friend of Mairéad’s, renowned Scottish singer Eddie Reader (Fairground Attraction), and Fiddler, Composer and Producer Darol Anger.
The final result is completely engaging, simultaneously breaking new ground and reminding listeners of the ancient bond between Irish and Appalachian music.
See Friday’s Donegal News for further details.