10 Irish Concertina Players You Should Listen To
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10 Irish Concertina Players You Should Listen To

The concertina is one of the most unique sounds in Irish music. It’s particularly associated with Co. Clare, where concertina players were once almost as plentiful as sheep in the Irish countryside. While concertina playing declined during the middle of the 20th century, it has come roaring back. Today, there are plenty of brilliant young…

10 Irish Folk Bands You Should Listen To
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10 Irish Folk Bands You Should Listen To

Music is one of Ireland’s greatest exports, and there are many Irish folk bands active around the world. Whether it’s singing, instrumental music, or a combination of both, there’s plenty to draw from in the Irish tradition. Many bands have taken that a step further, weaving the sounds of other musics and traditions into the…

10 Tin Whistle Players You Should Listen To
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10 Tin Whistle Players You Should Listen To

The tin whistle is often one of the first instruments a player picks up on their journey through Irish music. Because of this, many people don’t quite take it as seriously as they should. Listening to these tin whistle players is a perfect cure for any such snobbery! The tin whistle has been played in…

10 Irish Folk Singers You Should Listen To
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10 Irish Folk Singers You Should Listen To

One of Ireland’s most cherished traditions is singing. From the Irish-language sean-nós (“old style”) to rebel ballads to rowdy drinking songs, Ireland has a rich catalog of folk songs and singers. They tell the story of hundreds of years of laughter and tears, oppression and perseverance, feast and famine. The 1960s folk revival brought a…

10 Irish Fiddle Players You Should Listen To
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10 Irish Fiddle Players You Should Listen To

Think of Irish music, and chances are you think of the fiddle. Fiddle players have a special place in Irish tradition, from the traveling dance masters of the 18th century through to today’s young virtuosos. Francis O’Neill, collector and chronicler of Irish music, once wrote that the fiddle is, in the minds of many, the…

10 Uilleann Pipers You Should Listen To
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10 Uilleann Pipers You Should Listen To

The uilleann pipes are known for being one of the most difficult instruments to play. One famous saying is that it takes “7 years of learning, 7 years of practicing, and 7 years of playing” to finally master the pipes. Great uilleann pipers are revered in Irish music as bearers of one of the most…

10 Irish Flute Players You Should Listen To
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10 Irish Flute Players You Should Listen To

The flute is one of the most iconic and popular instruments in traditional Irish music, with many great players. According to Francis O’Neill, who wrote about Irish music at the turn of the 20th century, No musical instrument was in such common use among the Irish peasantry as the flute. O’Neill’s The Flute and Its Patrons is one of…