Irish Music Stories

What do the Irish music and dance worlds think about practicing? Fiddle players Fergal Scahill, Finn Magill, and Rose Flanagan; banjo player Martin Howley; cellist Natalie Haas; flute player Nicole Rabata; and dancer Kieran Jordan share thoughts about woodshedding in the trad world. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to, George McAvoy, Michael Craine, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter. Joe Garrett, Gerry...

Why learn old songs from your neighbors, when the airwaves are brimming with NEW music? And how can a rooster’s crow affect singing technique? Hear stories behind Len Graham’s life of song in this month’s Cuppa Tea chat. No matter the aperture, apertoire, or repertoire, Len’s got a story (and a song) to suit the situation. * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to hatao, Chris Murphy, Justin Anderson, Lynn Hayes, BrotherHug, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter,...

How do Scottish and Irish music intersect? How are they distinct? And why do so many trendy tunes come from Scotland? Host Shannon Heaton talks with Aaron Jones, Ed Pearlman, Natalie Haas and Hanneke Cassel to learn what it means to be a traditional Scottish musician today—in Scotland, and in the States. Warning: this episode contains very few mentions of haggis… or kilts. * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to Sharon Murphy, Mike Lagana, Brian...

Is there something strange about speaking Japanese, and removing your shoes BEFORE tucking into a set of Irish reels? Host Shannon Heaton travels around Japan with Tokyo-based trad band tricolor to learn more about the Irish and Celtic music scenes in the Land of the Rising Sun… and discovers heaps of common ground, social culture, and cake. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to Gerry Corr, Chris McGlone,...

Was Robert Burns cooking up exciting new stuff when he wrote, “best laid schemes o’ mice an' men gang aft a-gley?” Well, Irish Music Stories is! After hitting a snag in the SECOND Tuesday publishing schedule, IMS will seize the opportunity to launch The Travel Series. Starting next week, host Shannon Heaton will take listeners on a very traditional music tour of Japan, Scotland, and Cape Breton. Just one week to go: start packing your bags for Irish and Celtic music from far-off lands… and...

How do artists paint trad? And how do they capture the sounds and feelings—and the bigger stories behind Irish music and dance—in two dimensions? In conversations with Brian Vallely, James Gurney, Vincent Crotty, and Catharine Kingcome, host Shannon Heaton explores Travelling pipers, a dilapidated hotel in the Hudson Valley, Dudley Street dance hall in post WWII America, and a country home in County Clare. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to...

What happens when songs are written with the backdrop of moss covered trees, hillside cottages, and ravens on top of stone walls? And what happens when people play tunes together for hour after hour? (Hint, they need to eat…). Travel with host Shannon Heaton to the charming crow-filled Scottish town of Thornhill. And meet Emily Smith, Jamie McClennan, whom you’ll hear in later IMS episodes. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to everybody for...

What happens when ‘trad’ musicians are ALSO fluent in non Celtic traditions? When you’re dealing with cultural traditions (with all the music and the community and social expectations), how do you manage without fumbling or getting sacked? Host Shannon Heaton explores the art and sport of playing on different teams with Paddy Panayotis League, Maeve Gilchrist, Andrew Finn Magill, Hanz Araki, and Nicole Rabata. And revisit February 3rd, 2019… Superbowl 53…. the day Boston, Massachusetts made...

What happens when old traditional music and dance move onto modern concert stages? Do Celtic traditions get a big boost? Do they lose anything on the road to the performing arts center? Journey with host Shannon Heaton as she speaks with Jean-Michel Veillon, Matthew Olwell, Steph Geremia, Kevin Crawford, Herschel Freeman, Eileen Ivers, Mick Moloney, Brian O’Donovan, and Rory Makem about how ‘trad’ continues to change, dissolve, evolve, and inspire. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist...

What’s on tap for IMS 2019? Host Shannon Heaton talks to trad world movers and shakers about instruments on the fringe of the session; Scottish, Cape Breton, and Irish music connections; the long (global) reach of Celtic traditions; practice habits of traditional players and dancers; the intersection between food, drink, and traditional music; and musical connections to the Overworld…. all in Season Three of Irish Music Stories! * * * * * * * Special thanks to Susan Walsh, Peggy Bogardus,...

What was the earliest Irish music live streaming event? Billy McComiskey revisits the night TWO accordion giants gave a concert in the Catskills while a landlord in NYC tuned in; and Rose Flanagan remembers how her dad and his buddy learned tunes on their bikes, for this short between-season installment. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Rolf Wagels, Gregor Brinkschulte, Robert Levelle, Sharon Murphy, Brian Benscoter, Billie Neal, and Joe Garrett for supporting this episode. And thank you to...

What’s a sure-fire way to make your season bright? Check out this PLAYLIST and collection of mini-stories from Laurel Martin, Kevin Crawford, Daithi Sproule, Maeve Gilchrist & Nic Gareiss, Trad Youth Exchange, Liz Carroll, The Makem and Spain Brothers, and Cherish the Ladies. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Susan Bippus, Joseph Garrett, Lynn Cox, Billie Neal, and Brian Benscoter for supporting this episode. And thank you to Matt Heaton for...

What’s the secret formula for parent-performers? With Chicago-based box player John Williams and Boston guitarist Matt Heaton share two unique approaches to keeping the music and the insight factory going strong, while still tucking in to family. (Hint: it works for non-parents, too.) Host Shannon Heaton’s conversations with these wildly inventive musicians might inspire you to hustle, to do your best, to keep learning, and to avoid drinking unsavory water. Plenty of music here, too. Full...

What do Benjamin Moore paints have to do with Irish bands, modern performance practice, and gender balance? Insights from Karan Casey, Brian Ó hAirt, Laura Cortese, Nic Gareiss, Ellery Klein, and Dr. Lisa Coyne uncover different shades of inclusivity in the Irish tradition, 150 years after house paint titans Benjamin and Robert Moore emigrated from County Monaghan to Brooklyn, New York. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Scott Maurer, Davy...

What’s the story with traditional music and dance camps? And with Irish, Scottish and New England fiddling gatherings in every time zones, who heads to these annual events? Host Shannon Heaton talks with Mick Moloney, Kathleen Conneely, Seamus Connolly, Lissa Schneckenburger, Robbie O’Connell, Kevin Crawford, Cecilia Farran, Deirdre Cronin, Fiona Howell, and Brennish Thomson about what motivates instructors and students. Whether you already play or dance trad (or you’ve never had a...

How did fiddle player and composer Liz Carroll get her groove? How does anybody living a creative life manage? Liz’s thoughts about weathering different creative chapters, appreciating different styles, and savoring all the little moments are an antidote to the frazzled, the doubters, the unsure. There’s plenty of music here, too. Credits below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Brian Benscoter, Scott Maurer, Michael Wilson, and Billie Neal for supporting this episode. And thank you to Matt...

Is there magic in the medium? Do different recorded formats influence how we hear and absorb traditional music? Are we missing out on anything now that it’s much easier to record and FIND recordings online? Jeff Kszaiek, Kieran Jordan, Happy Traum, Steph Geremia, Kirsten Allstaff, Elizabeth Sweeney, Jacob Deck, and Natalya Kay help host Shannon Heaton explore early wax cylinder recordings, VR music sessions and YouTube videos, and the special in-between realm of the cassette tape. There’s...

Why do old ballads endure? Does it make sense to sing about Willie and Mary, when our playgrounds are filled with Ozzies and Loxleys? Do we really need to say “my love is like a red, red rose,” or can’t we use a modern metaphor and call her really hot? Laura Cortese, Cathy Jordan, Sam Amidon, Robbie O’Connell, and Karan Casey help host Shannon Heaton explore old ballads in a dating app era. There’s plenty of music here, too. Credits below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Brian Benscoter,...

What exactly IS folklore… and tradition (in 2018)? Host Shannon Heaton talks with accordion players Billy, Sean and Mikey McComiskey and folklorist Maggie Holtzberg about stories that transcend the bellows of the button box. Learn why it’s important to “sustain, enshrine, and pass on living traditions.” There’s plenty of music here, too. Credits below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Susan Walsh, Chris Stuart, Brian Benscoter, Randall Semagin and Sebastian Winterflood for supporting this...

What’s at the core of Irish dance music? Host Shannon Heaton talks to Eileen Ivers, Nic Gareiss, Marla Fibish, and Jimmy Keane about trad ‘feel’ and how our instruments, our bodies, our intentions, our culture, and even magical forces shape our rhythmic sense. There’s plenty of music here, too. Credits below. * * * * * * * Special thanks to Art Costa, Eoin Stan O'Sullivan, Holly Foy and John Hruschka, Peter Bartman, and Brian Benscoter for supporting this episode. And thank you to Matt...