British writer and musician John Phillpott looks at a form that still resonates with audiences in the folk music world and beyond… the transportation ballads.…
The History of Transcontinental Transportation Ballads
Tag: Irish folk music
Cara Address Emigration, Loss, and Climate Change on Our Ship Is Ready
Cara — Our Ship Is Ready (Artes Records, 2026) Cara’s Our Ship Is Ready, their ninth album, features a fine mix of original compositions along…
The McDades Move Tradition Forward on ‘Thread The Light’
The McDades – Thread The Light (Free Radio Records, 2026) Thread The Light finds The McDades in exceptional form: agile, inventive, and vividly alive. The…
Davie Furey Enlists Gerry Adams For First 2026 Single
Davie Furey has released “Donegal/The Swallow’s Tail,” his first single of 2026. The track grew out of Furey’s long-running creative friendship with Gerry Adams, the…
Irish Folk Fusion Act Spodo Komodo Reveals ‘Rhythm = Power’
“Rhythm = Power” is the second single from Spodo Komodo, a new hybrid folk project by Scotland-based Irish flute player Tiernan Courrell (Trip).
Barn Sessions and Irish Tunes: Ishna Finds A Way Out
Ishna – Slí Amach: Way Out (Ishna Music, 2025) Boston-based contemporary Irish folk band Ishna has released its superb debut album, Slí Amach: Way Out.…
Peter Street Steps Out With A Spirited First Album
Peter Street is the first release from Peter Street, a new Irish traditional music quartet with roots in formal study and live performance. The Celtic…
Altan Turns 40, Tours The U.S. In March With A NYC St. Patrick’s Day Special
Iconic Irish folk music group Altan will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a U.S. tour in March, with dates set across the Midwest and East…
Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy Back to Irish Roots
Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy – Cosán Casta (self-released, 2025) Cosán Casta is an exquisite work that reimagines Irish traditional music through masterfully crafted…
Cormac McCarthy: Cork’s Versatile Piano Maestro
(headline image: Cormac McCarthy – Photo by Anna McGrane) Cormac McCarthy is an Irish pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor from Cork. His work includes jazz,…