Are you missing the usual merriment and comradery of the holiday? Here are some bands you can listen to today (and every day!) to lift the spirits and salve the soul. As I said in my last post, I have been playing Irish music for over 15 years now and I reached out in my music community to compile a list of Irish bands you can listen to for your own St. Patrick's Day party at home today.
If you need a good blast of Irish reels, or just a song or two, here are some of our favorites:
Groups:
We Banjo 3 (positive, HIGH energy, Irish/bluegrass/pure heart + my friends so a little biased)
Solas (the band that started my love of Irish music-traditional and high energy!)
Skerryvore (high energy, traditional music)
Altan (traditional group with great strings)
Flook (can be soothing enough to lull you to sleep or so fiery to get you dancing on a table)
Battlefield Band (okay, so they're technically Scottish, BUT, great vocals and story-telling)
Le Vent du Nord (French Canadian band with high energy!)
Dervish (traditional group with dance music and songs alike)
Teada (traditional group with dance music and songs alike)
Old Blind Dogs (again, Scottish, but slightly more relaxed if you want to celebrate low-key)
Talisk (traditional group with dance music and songs alike)
Great Big Sea (less traditional group from Canada with poignant and fun songs alike)
The High Kings (less traditional + great harmonies and high energy)
Gaelic Storm (less traditional + fun pub music)
Flogging Molly (less traditional + fun pub music)
Individuals:
Natalie MacMaster (arguably the best fiddler in the world right now)
Nuala Kennedy (traditional singer + former teacher)
John Doyle (guitar + singer/songwriter + former teacher)
Robbie O'Connell (guitar + singer/songwriter + former teacher)
Karan Casey (singer/songwriter)
Matt Olwell (percussion + body percussion + former teacher)
John Skelton (wind and stringed instruments + former teacher)
Liz Carroll (fast fiddlin' + former teacher)
Also, if you are missing the normal St. Patrick's Day parade, check out this amazing astronomical "Parade of Planets" visible in the early mornings this week. The universe is rooting for us, guys.
Happy listening and may the road rise to greet you!
Prepare, don't panic.
-Allison
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