Celtic MP3s Music Magazine

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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"Martha's Dragon" by Cantiga

by Marc Gunn

Artist: Cantiga
Album: "Martha's Dragon"
Year produced: 2007

A few months ago, I received some CDs from Cantiga, the premiere Renaissance Festival jam band. I started listening, and I tell ye what, they've become one of my favorite bands out there. They also have a brand new CD called "Martha's Dragon."

Cantiga has played World, Celtic and Renaissance music at festivals since the 70s. The name Cantiga means 'song' in the language of Alfonso X, the 13th century Spanish king whose royal court was a haven for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish musicians. Their music is filled with the spirit of improvisation which has flourished among musicians in such cross cultural crossroads throughout history.

This is album isn't much of a "Celtic" album per se. Rather, it's filled with beautiful blend of tunes from throughout Europe from Spain to Bulgaria, France and Germany to the British Isles.

I think that word that best comes to mind with Martha's Dragon is 'joyous.' That's the spirit that they share with their music. It's light-hearted, upbeat, and a lot of fun. I could so see this band performing a five hundred years ago or in a modern music hall. In both case, they will captivate their audiences like they do at the entrance of the Texas Renaissance Festival this year and at faires throughout the nation.

Find out more about Cantiga, the Premiere Renaissance Festival Band.

Labels: cd_review_2004

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, December 03, 2004.
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"Generations of Change" by Ed Miller

by Marc Gunn

Artist: Ed Miller
Album: Generations of Change
Year: 2004

Ed Miller is back with a new CD, and I have to say it is brilliant. Ed is my absolute favorite Scottish folk revivalist. He brings together traditional folk songs while keeping the fire burning for the contemporary Scottish songwriters from Andy M. Stewart to Adam McNaughtan.

This is the fifth CD of Ed Miller's, but it does something extra special. Ed originally released two cassettes that are no longer available. So he has recorded many of those great songs from those early albums and added them to this CD. Not having those cassettes, I've had trouble figuring which ones were there.

This CD has many gems. I'd say my biggest disappointment is that it's too short. It Only has fifteen songs and over fifty minutes of music. I'm sorry to say, Ed, call me greedy, but I love your music. I want more!

The trouble is trying to figure out which is the best. I love "Tak a Dram," "A Bottle of the Best," Yellow on the Broom," "Crooked Jack." He also does a moving version of Burns' "A Man's A Man." But I guess my absolutely favorite is the first track, "Ferry Me Over." Ed truly captures the absolute beauty of Stewart's song and makes it shine with lovely backing vocals by Cathy Ryan. The song just fills me with peace and joy.

All in all, Ed Miller's albums get better all the time, and Generations of Change should be in the CD player of every Scottish and Celtic folk music lover. So what are you waiting for?

Find out more about Ed Miller and his songs of Scotland.

Labels: cd_review_2004

Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, October 07, 2004.
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Techno Bagpipe Music

by Marc Gunn

Artist: Mark Saul and his techno bagpipe music
Album: Mixolydian
Year: 2004

When I got Mark Saul's CD, Mixolydian in the mail, I didn't jump to listen to it. I saw something about progressive bagpipes, and it didn't really appeal to me. But last week, I was cleaning my house when I thought I should give it a try. I figured bagpipe music would be good for sparking a wee bit o'energy.

Whoa! Was I surprised. Mark Saul doesn't do a "wee bit", he goes all the way. I've heard techno bagpipe music before. It's usually done by some Celtic band that's trying to sound cool. Rarely is it by someone who KNOWS how to write electronic music.

Mark does a brilliant job opening it up with a beautiful "E minor Theme" that also closes the album. Then he merges electric guitar with bagpipes, fiddle, banjo, and all behind some thumping, techno drum loops creating an electro dance CD with tasty bagpipe goodness. Each track shines with it's own spark of brilliance.

To quote track 3, "Forget the Golden Rules" or rather, the rules in general. Mixolydian might not have you doing traditional Scottish dance, but the next time you go to a night club, you'll be begging the DJ to spin some bagpipes!

Find out more about Mark Saul and his techno bagpipe music on his website.

Labels: cd_review_2004

Posted by Marc Gunn, Monday, July 26, 2004.
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"New York Town" by Black 47

by Marc Gunn

Artist: Black 47
Album: "New York Town"
Year: 2004

Black 47 really makes me adore Celtic music!

I'm listening to their latest CD, New York Town. It's tearing at my heart strings. I don't know whether I should smile and rock on with Black 47's amazing style of Celtic Rock that fuses traditional Irish instrumentation with horns and the hipper sounds of rock music, or should cry from the troubles endured by Irish immigrants to the United States.

I am doing both, because New York Town might not sound like trad Irish music with a drum set and horns, but it captures the Irish American mentality better than 90% of the contemporary Celtic albums I've heard.

The album begins with probably the most poignant song about Irish immigration, "San Patricio Brigade." In 1846, thousands of Irish immigrants joined the US Army to invade Mexico. The Anglo-Protestant officers treated them horribly. Add to this their doubts about fighting a Catholic country, hundreds of Irish desserted and signed on with the Mexican army. They were led by John Riley who formed the St Patrick's Batallion, also known as the San Patricio Brigade. And it takes someone like Larry Kirwan, Black 47's masterful Irish singer-songwriter, to really point out the tragedies endured.

And that's just the beginning of the CD. Every song is emotionally packed full of Irish stories that will really make you think. Larry Kirwan is not afraid to write and sing about the social issues endured by the Irish and of people in general, like New York Town which confronts 9/11 with visual acuity.

Black 47 also shows a reprise of a song from their first album, "Livin' In America - 11 Years On". I'll tell ye, I kinda glossed over it the first time I heard it on their self-titled CD, Black 47. I just can't do it here. It's probably one of my favorite songs, and it makes me want to weep. It could've been written a hundred years ago, and the story would still the same. Just as powerful and in some cases, it's even more touching.

New York Town also hosts a number of guest singers from Eileen Ivers on "San Patrico Brigade" to Christine Ohlman on "Blood Wedding". Mary Courtney does a a brilliant job of becoming a part of the story on "Livin' In America - 11 Years On". Roseanne Cash join Larry on "Fiona's Song" which is a another gripping story of lovers parted.

New York Town is the story of the Irish American immigrant, filled with all the gorgeous melancholy that haunts the passionate and makes you want to sing, dance, and cry over a pint of the human experience.

Labels: cd_review_2004

Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, July 22, 2004.
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