This new album illustrates Máiréad's versatility and reflects the many styles and influences that she has encountered throughout her endeavors. These extend beyond her background in traditional Irish music, her engagement with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and her work with many different artists and groups, to her role in the shows Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.

The result is a captivating mix of traditional Irish and Scottish tunes, and newly composed pieces which can be recommended to all listeners - both those with and those without prior interest in Celtic music.


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(L to R) Máiréad, Kathleen and Frances, with Gavin Ralston in the background. Click to enlarge.

At the Celtic Note with Máiréad

by Bruce Somers

Máiréad Nesbitt's new album "raining up" was formally set upon its way in Ireland at an event in Dublin on Saturday, November 17th.

A lovely in-store gig at The Celtic Note music store featured several of those participating in the album, Máiréad (fiddle), her mother Kathleen (fiddle), her sister Frances (fiddle), her brothers Seán (box) and Karl (bodhrán), Mánus Lunny (guitar), Colm O'Foghlú (keyboard) and Gavin Ralston (bass).

Click on image for enlarged view.
Visitors were treated there to exciting live performances of many of the numbers included on the CD and to a few additional tunes as well, in a presentation moderated by Máiréad herself. The store was filled with enthusiastic listeners of all ages, many of whom had come expressly for the gig and many who simply had the good luck to chance upon it. "Your reporter," although he generally abhors crowds, was overwhelmed and enchanted by this event, featuring in particular the performance of his personal favorite track "trí fhidilí" by Máiréad, Kathleen and Frances in person.


Mairead's Official Site: www.maireadnesbitt.com

For further background, see the interview with Máiréad and the articles in:

Irish Dancing Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 11, November 2001
and Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2001
http://www.irishdancing.com

and

Irish Music Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 4, November 2001
http://mag.irish-music.net


The album ---- "máiréad nesbitt - raining up" ---- is available from

http://www.verticalrecords.co.uk
http://www.celticnote.com
http://www.hmv.co.uk
http://www.hmv.com
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.de

It is also becoming available in more and more "brick and mortar" stores such as Saturn, WOM, and HMV.

(L to R) Gavin Ralston, Máiréad, Colm O'Foghlú, Mánus Lunny and Karl Nesbitt. Click to enlarge.
The Celtic Cafe interview
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