I like The Irish Rovers; try the Collection and Upon a Shamrock Shore CDs. Their other CDs are fun but I’m not sure how traditional they are. I’m not even sure about the two I listed because I haven’t heard those.
Eileen Ivers (of Riverdance fame) has a great CD of high-energy, driving fiddle music.
For some modern takes on the genre (although they’re a bit flashy for my taste), try Kila or Dervish.
And another vote for Luke Kelly - if you can’t get him yojimbo’s Da does a good impression after a few pints;)
Go check out www.magnetic-music.com. It’s a small shop and record company in Doolin, Country Clare. Very nice stuff indeed.
I should also recommend the Wolfe Tones, although they’re more vocal-based than instrumental. And QUITE political, which I like, though you might not. The Rifles of the IRA is one of my favorite Irish trad albums.
Wow, what a lot of replies! Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions.
After consideration, I ordered CDs by The Irish Rovers and The Dubliners. I do already have one CD by The Chieftains, which I adore: The Long Black Veil, a collection of tunes which feature various famous pop and rock singers doing the vocals, such as Sinead O’Connor, Sting and Mick Jagger. Next I’ll look into an anthology by The Chieftains.
My obligatory link to a previous discussion on Irish music wherein you eill find many excellent suggestions.
I will re recommend Donal Lunny, Silly Wizard, Christy Moore, Kornog, Old Blind Dogs, Laurence Nugent, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill and that is just what’s in my cd changer at the moment.
But especially Donal Lunny, he has a new two CD set that is IMHO a MUST HAVE for lovers of Celtic music. Remember this is the founding member if Planxty, Moving Hearts, and Coolfin, as well as his single handed INVENTION of the Irish bouzouki; an instrument which has become so ingrained and respected in Irish music that one was played in the dance scene in Titanic, some 60 years before it was invented!
I’d start with the Bothy Band. Then follow the careers of its members, depending on your taste. Donal Lunny (although his double CD is too overproduced for my taste), Tommy Peoples (fiddle), Kevin Burke (Fiddle), Michael O’Domhnaill, Paddy Keenan (Uillean Pipes).
Check out a Ft. Lauderdale band called Curfa:
http://www.eamonndillon.com/theband.htm
(Fair disclosure–I play with them sometimes, for money, though I’m not on the site or the recording. Not quite on their level.)
James Kelley, formerly with Planxty and Patrick Street. Either of those bands.
Lunasa. Solas. Seamus Egan. John Doyle. James Keane. Natalie MacMaster and Ashley MacIsaac for the Cape Breton/Scottish thing. Alisdair Fraser for the Scottish tunes with a classical tone/technique.
“Milestone at the Garden” for an anthology of old stuff from the 20s-50s.
Paddy Keenan rips on the pipes. So does Eamonn Dillon.
Noel Hill on the concertina. Sharon Shannon is awesome on the button accordion.
Chieftains are good, but a bit floral for my taste. Overarranged. My favorite is Chieftains 7.
Still yet, I’d start with a Green Linnet anthology or two, and the Bothy Band. If you’re in a major city, go to a seisun.
Ok, here’s my list-
The Chieftains- try An Irish Evening for a sampling, plus you will get Nancy Griffith and Roger Daltrey thrown in for VERY good measure.
The Pogues- If I Should Fall From Grace With God is a great introduction to the band and Shane McGowan.
The Waterboys- my husband considers them one of the greatest bands of all time- try This is The Sea.
The Fenians- you might have to hunt for an album, though. SoCal folk can usually find them for you.
Ahhhh, where’s my stereo?
Let me second the recommendation of Maggie Sansone, founder of Maggie’s Music. Her Mist & Stone is the definitive hammered dulcimer Celtic CD.
My favorite Chieftains CD is Irish Heartbeat.
Celtic Heartbeat and Celtic Treasure collections on the Narada label are good.
Boston Pops The Celtic Album is another.
Another group is The Boys of the Lough, who don’t have the hype, but many people think are much more talented than the **Chieftains[b/]