IMLÉ are an unconventional band with a unique sound, based around 3 vocalists with very diverse musical backgrounds. Their sound mixes poetry, rap and pop music in a way that has never been heard before - particularly in the Irish Language. Fergal Moloney’s ethereal vocals blend with Marcus Mac Conghail’s intense punk…

Given his long-established reputation as one of the leading concertina players in the country – as co-founder of TG4 Gradam-winning group, Ensemble Ériu (with Neil O’Loghlen), as section leader with Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra, as collaborator with Cormac Begley (Na Fir Bolg) and with Noel Hill (Concertina),…

This is a first listen to a track from the new release by Dónal Clancy, an acclaimed guitarist, singer and performer. On the Lonesome Plain features a mix of seven vocal tracks and six guitar instrumentals, including two of his own compositions A Strike for Victory commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising and an…

Not a new ‘genre’, (at least, not yet), simply two great players sharing their musical roots and interests; one steeped in traditional Irish music, while the other is a veteran California rocker. Kevin Burke has had a recording and performance career spanning decades and is known on either side of the Atlantic both as a soloist and…

Our track of the week, having received the most plays over the last seven days is from Gossamer, the new album by Pauline Scanlon. The track is called The Old Churchyard. Gossamer serves as a new departure for Pauline, a…

Un Canadien errant is a new album from the Sophie & Fiachra Trio. This album is made up of 14 tracks of Irish and French-Canadian Traditional tunes and songs, as well as some original compositions from Sophie Lavoie. Un Canadien errant has just been nominated for ADISQ Traditional Album of the Year in Québec and in the…

This is a sample of what is to come from 23 year old Dubliner Matt Hanaphy. Matt studied banjo and mandolin with Barney McKenna of legendary group The Dubliners. He is about to release his debut album, with a mix of his trad, folk and roots influences underscored with a strong social conscience.

With influences the…

Dublin band The Rattling Kind have released a new single in advance of a launch concert at The Grand Social in Dublin on Saturday 3rd December. Their aim is “to put their modern indie-rock twist on folk and traditional music. Drawing heavy influence from Irish ballad heroes like The Dubliners, listeners encounter a daring brand of…

Na Mooneys is the new release by the Ó Maonaigh family from the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht, in North-west Donegal, an area steeped in traditional music, song and culture.  They call themselves Na Mooneys as that is the name they are referred to by, locally in Gaoth Dobhair; “Na” being the Irish for “The”, and “Mooney” being…

One of Ireland’s most celebrated and respected traditional composers Peadar Ó Riada (son of Seán Ó Riada of Mise Éire fame and founder of Cór Chúil Aodha) has just released a new recording called ONÓIR.

This recording is a special commission by Gael Linn as part of the 1916 commemoration with…

Today we have an exclusive single on Tradconnect, taken from Gossamer, the new album by Pauline Scanlon. The track is called The Old Churchyard.

The track can also be downloaded by broadcasters that are part of our Download Centre here on Tradconnect.  

Gossamer…

Our track of the week comes from a new trio called The Truckley Howl that features Nathan Gourley on fiddle, Mairéad Hurley on concertina and John Blake on guitar and flute.

The trio say: "The tunes on this recording come from a variety of sources reflecting our formative influences, collective…

Following a recent trend of 3 becoming 4, here are two new videos by Ríanta, previously known as the Tri-Tones. The band includes Conor Moriarty on accordion, Tara Breen on fiddle, and Stephen Rooney on guitar/vocals and brother Eamon Rooney on percussion. The Tri-Tones won our Album of the Year award in 2014 and…

Traditional music is a living, breathing thing. It must evolve or become a relic, but it must also maintain a strong connection to its core identity. With CyberTrad, innovative roots musician Matthew Olwell pays homage to his heritage while breathing new life into Irish and Breton music against a backdrop of Beatboxing and…

Here is the debut video from Caladh Nua in support of their new album Free and Easy.  The album was recorded at Clancy Studios, An Rínn, Co. Waterford and is now on release. They describe themselves as “a tightly-knit, vibrant band with its origins deeply rooted in the Southern counties of Ireland.” Their present lineup includes Paddy Tutty on…

Ensemble Ériu are currently on tour promoting their second album, Imbas. The tour will finish this week with three dates at  An Lab, An Daingeann on Wednesday 16th November, Belvedere House, Dublin on Thursday 17th, and St. Kevin's Church, Hollywood, Co. Wicklow on Friday 18th.

They…

Storm Party is the debut album by Irish folk and trad trio d'Bize, who have been gathering fans from across the globe since 2014 with their rich mixture of raw energy and stunning musicianship. Featuring intricate melodies and stomping foot to the floor rhythms, d’Bize are a versatile trio with a very dynamic setlist of songs, both new and old from the Folk…

The Trip to Birmingham Tradfest is the UK's newest Traditional Irish Music Festival. Building on the overwhelming and tremendous success of the festival in both 2014 and 2015, the festival is back once again in November 2016! The festival is held in the Irish Quarter of the city (Digbeth) and will exhibit a colourful…

Detailed below are the Top 10 traditional Irish albums for October 2016.  Each month we feature the top 10 albums, write follow up articles and present sounds from all new releases. We have also just announced a €3,000 prize for our Album of the Year 2016, sponsored by The INEC Killarney so get your albums to us at this …