Celtic MP3s: December 2004

Welcome to the Celtic MP3s Archive and thank you for subscribing to the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Below you will find Celtic MP3s from bands I've featured over the years. Some MP3s are time sensitive. So download them now. All of the latest MP3s are available for at least a month. As always, if you like an MP3, then please help the artist out and buy their CD.

Brigid's Cross, music "Crazy Train Reel"

Brigid's Cross is a high energy band that plays traditional, contemporary and original compositions. Paul Baker is a wizard on the fiddle and mandolin and also provides lead and back up vocals. Peggy Goonan-Baker has a one of a kind voice and excells on the Bodhran and keyboards. This trio is completed by guitarist Richie Reece who also has been a world class Irish step dancer. Brigid's Cross has toured all over the USA and Ireland.

Their website is a bit difficult to get around, but when I saw the "Crazy Train Reel" I just didn't care. Yes, Ozzy Osborne is reborn Celtic style in this high speed live performance by the band that goes from a metal song to big band swing with "In the Mood." Awesome performance by this band. Sadly, the tune is not available on CD, but they do have a few other albums available. Check out the clips on CDBaby and you'll hear something that you will want to add to your album collection.

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Similar Artists: Christy Moore, Great Big Sea, Tommy Sands, Great Big Sea, Dougie Maclean, The Fables, Nickle Creek

Website: Brigid's Cross
Download: "Crazy Train Reel"
Buy CD: Takin' the Fifth

--posted by Marc Gunn of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine, Subscribe for Celtic Free Music Downloads, Friday, December 03, 2004

Bow Triplets, music "Big John McNeal"

In a couple weeks, I get to meet this incredible band when I stop off in Switzerland on my way to Italy. That's the perfect opportunity to introduce them.

Here's very Celtic music played by a dedicated Band. Traditional songs and tunes plus original compositions combining their own multinational backgrounds whith the Celtic styles to which this band is deeply comitted. They can be heard live in various countries in Europe.

"Bow Triplets" or bowed triplets is the expression for one of the most frequent ornamentations used by Irish fiddlers to add that special and traditional groove and excitement that we know and love with Celtic music. Three very short and fast bow strokes are played instead of one note.

I first found them on MP3.com. It was the song "Never Too Early" that made me fall in love with the band. That was only the beginning to a plethora of brilliant songs and tunes, like "Big John McNeal" from their last album "One Spot on Earth."

This traditional fiddle piece adapts itself wonderfully to the bluegrass style. The original fiddle tune composed by Peter Milnes was titled "John McNeal." Jay Ungar learned if from the Canadian fiddler Bud Snow who said the tune was widely known in Canada as "Big John McNeal".

Incidentally, you can hear their latest song, "The Last Shirt" at SoundClick. It's another beautiful ballad written by Stef Sigfalk and portends another splendid album!

Hometown: Basadingen, Switzerland
Similar Artists: Altan, Chieftains, Christy Moore, Dubliners, Bothy Band, Boys of The Lough

Website: Bow Triplets
Download: "Big John McNeal"
Buy CD: One Spot on Earth

--posted by Marc Gunn of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine, Subscribe for Celtic Free Music Downloads, Friday, December 03, 2004

Celtic MP3 Archive

Brigid's Cross, music "Crazy Train Reel"

Bow Triplets, music "Big John McNeal"

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