April 15, 2010

Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan founded Solas in 1996, and the band continues to tour and record its brand of traditional and contemporary Irish-American music. Here, Solas makes its fifth appearance on Mountain Stage since 2000, performing songs from The Turning Tide.

The band puts as much enthusiasm and musicianship behind “The Ditching Boy,” a Richard Thompson composition, and “Girl in the War,” written by Josh Ritter, as it does with traditional numbers such as “Bird in the Tree.”

Mountain Stage house vocalist Julie Adams closes this set with a performance of her own.

“The Turning Tide” is available at a number of retailers in CD or digital formats.  Head on over to Compass Records, Amazon.com, or the iTunes store to grab or download a copy!

“…a band at the top of its game.”
- DENVER POST

“For nearly 15 years, Solas has been a leading light in the Irish-American music scene.”
- THE WASHINGTON TIMES

“Solas has electrified crowds everywhere it has played; it’s an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness.”
- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“…the band remains consistently excellent.”
- IRISH PHILADELPHIA

“For over a decade, Solas has not only redefined the concept of ‘Celtic folk,’ they’ve risen to the ranks of the finest purveyors of the genre.”
- DIRECT CURRENT

“Now, along comes album No. 10, “The Turning Tide,” the second featuring singer Mairead Phelan. All of the essential elements you’ve come to expect from Solas are there. Start with mind-blowing, high-energy arrangements from Seamus Egan (“Hugo’s Big Reel”) and guitarist Éamon McElholm (“The Crows of Killimer”/Box Reel #2″/”Boys of Malin”/”The Opera House”). When the band performs at the World Cafe this St. Patrick’s Day, you can predict that those will inspire enthusiastic “whoops.” The band has been cranking out bread and butter numbers like that from day one. Add in a clever confection from Winifred Horan—”A Waltz for Mairead,” which reminds me a bit of “The Highlands of Holland” from the 2003 album, “Another Day.” Now tack on the happily tangled rhythms of box player Mick McCauley’s “Trip to Kareol” (which reminds me vaguely of “Who’s in the What Now” from “Edge of Silence”).”

Read the full article

“…And like the music it has produced since the release of a self-titled debut record in 1996, The Turning Tide is richly traditional in scope and style. Except when it isn’t.

‘In general, Solas doesn’t pay too much mind to labels. It’s very crippling to life, as well as to music and art, when you have to live according to how you’ve been labeled. Sometimes it is completely inaccurate.’

So what does that make Solas then? Is it the sort of band that bowed to enormous contemporary and commercial influence, like the Celtic ensemble Clannad during the ‘90s, to where it sounds almost like a pop group? Definitely not.”

Read the full article

For over a decade, Solas has not only redefined the concept of “Celtic folk”, they’ve risen to the ranks of the finest purveyors of the genre — a feat even more remarkable considering that the band hails from the U.S. A large part of the group’s enormous appeal — aside from their jawdropping technical prowess — is their ability to meld traditional instruments and styles to songs outside of the usual Irish music standards. New album The Turning Tide, arriving February 16 via Compass, expands upon what the L.A.Times calls “a compellingly original, strikingly contemporary view of traditional Celtic sounds” with a collection of songs rich in both musicality and acute social commentary.

Songs such as the swirling “Hugo’s Big Reel” spotlight the intricate instrumental play at the heart of the band’s Celtic sound but it is Solas’ inspired renditions of Bruce Springsteen’s “Ghost of Tom Joad”, Richard Thompson’s “Poor Ditching Boy” and Josh Ritter’s “Girl The War” that make The Turning Tide a truly special album and dramatically engage listeners beyond the “Irish music” core. Fronted by extraordinary vocalist Máiréad Phelan, Solas takes these songs to an exquisite new place, reinterpreting them with a fresh and provocative perspective. Highly recommended.

The Turning Tide is available now for pre-order from Compass Records and Amazon.com.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6miucjSSR-o

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgiw9b9bVOM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9AKVj_FuMY