Call me Goldilocks?

[Rex_Tremende]

I'm looking for some middle-of-the-road alternative celtic fusion music, not as saccharine as Celtic Women, or folksy as Cherish the Ladies, or too authentic/traditional as I don't know who (not looking for historical music), or too hard as the Dropkick Murphys as I think they are. It's got to be juuuust right. More in the neighborhood of the Seven Nations. What else ya got?

Regards,
Rex.

[McMurdo]

Dearest Goldilocks
I would suggest that perhaps you look into the Hooligans, as they are not as heavy as the Drop Kick Murphys to my ear anyway. We saw them at the Loch Norman Highland Games and had to buy the latest CD I'd recommend their version of The Gael which you can listen to on their myspace page here. The band are members of X-Marks as well and go by the name That Celtic Band.

A few other choices would be the Canadian group The Glengarry Bhoys, or perhaps the Scottish Rogues, Empty Flask, the list goes on. I think these may be just right.



Yours
Baby Bear

[Sionnach]

You might check out a Putumayo compilation called Celtic Crossroads, Peatbog Fairies also comes to mind.

[Rex_Tremende]

Wow! A lot of really good suggestions based on what's I've been able to sample online so far.

Peatbog Fairies also comes to mind.

This is very intriguing. You may have helped me find exactly what interests me in this area right now. Thanks (everyone)!

My musical tastes have been changing of late. I'm attributing that to iTunes and its search and referral functions, and the ability to download individual numbers rather than having to purchase whole albums. I used to be only interested in classical, big band American standards, and new age stuff (aural wallpaper).

My current daytime playlist includes these tunes (none of it the celtic fusion stuff I asked for above):

Short Trip Home
Edgar Meyer, Joshua Bell, Mike Marshall & Sam Bush / Heartland: An Appalachian Anthology

Whither Must I Wander
Martha Wainwright / Martha Wainwright

Little Foothills Heaven
Corb Lund / Hair In My Eyes Like a Highland Steer

In Memory of Danny Gatton
John Jorgenson / Franco-American Swing

Our Love Is Easy
Melody Gardot / My One and Only Thrill (Bonus Track Version)

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Lady Antebellum / Lady Antebellum

Trouble
Over the Rhine / The Trumpet Child

Everette
Slaid Cleaves / Unsung

Thomas Builder
Polyjesters / Ka-Chunk

Buildings & Mountains
The Republic Tigers / Keep Color

Ferris Wheel
The Freddy Jones Band / North Avenue Wake Up Call

Edge of the Ocean
Ivy / Long Distance

Falling Slowly (American Idol Studio Version)
Kris Allen / Falling Slowly (American Idol Studio Version) - Single

I Wish That They'd Sack Me
Chumbawamba / The Boy Bands Have Won

Paralyzer
Finger Eleven / Them vs. You vs. Me

[Macman]

Little Foothills Heaven
Corb Lund / Hair In My Eyes Like a Highland Steer

Another Corb Lund fan! Cool! I just got Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! and am playing it to death.

[IRISH]

if you are not specifically looking for scottish oriented music, you may want to try the pogues. they've got a large body of work of music available and although their lyrics and instrumentation are predominantly irish, they could possibly satisfy your current craving. they run the gamut from rock, pop, ballads and traditional arrangements as well as numerous songs infusing world elements such as middle-eastern, spanish, asian...

they have their share of scot's inspired work (down all the days and a man you don't meet everyday are two that spring to mind), but most of their canon is devoted to the urban irish and immigrant experience. it's great stuff, though.

itunes seems to have their entire catalog. heck, pm me your postal address and i'll send you disk of selections.

[QuarterCeltic]

Hi Rex,

You might want to consider Barleyjuice and Gaelic Storm.

[JolyStNicholas]

Rex, I heard Geal Warning at Savannah and they were really good. In the middle of the road if ya know what I mean. I'm like you when it comes to music.

[vmac3205]

Hi Rex,

You might also try Dougie Maclean and Golden Bough.

[Bluescelt]

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul is pretty good too. She has guitars and percussion and does a wide variety from Traditional,Afro-celtish to jazzy/rock songs. I saw her live a few years back and the band was super.
Cheers,
Scott