Every “best of” list is a difficult thing to compile. While it so great to be able to share a collection of wonderful bands, it never sums up all of the wonderful music being made throughout the year. This is as true twenty years ago as it is today.
That said, certain Celtic bands just wound up being in a heavier rotation in 2021 for one reason or another, and it’s these we’d like to share with you today. What follows is a list of the 10 Celtic bands that just kept rising to the top when it came time to reach for something to play.
So, now we bring you our picks for this past year—based on the ones most played on the podcast at the top. If there’s a band here you haven’t heard yet—by all means, be sure to check them out!
We’d also love to hear from you—feel free to share your favorite Celtic band with us in the comments. And thanks for listening!
1. The Gothard Sisters
These three gifted sisters from the Pacific Northwest pack a punch with their Celtic style—which falls into the contemporary Celtic folk music genre. It’s a style that appeals to many! With over a decade of performing together, these ladies have the experience and polish to produce excellent sounding tunes, but just as important—they also retain and convey a great sense of enthusiasm. You can certainly tell that they love what they do, just by listening to them. There’s a certain freshness to their sound that is a delight, and they have many different albums to choose from, including their latest effort, “Dragonfly”. Perfect for just about anyone who loves the Celtic sound, this band is also well-suited as an introduction for those who aren’t very familiar with this type of music. All-around, an easy pick, and one we’ve reached for quite often in this past year.
The Gothard Sisters hosted show #409 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.
They share why they love hobbits in Pub Songs & Stories #218.
Visit The Gothard Sisters on their website.
Check out this delightful music video from their latest album, Dragonfly:
2. Jesse Ferguson
Jesse Ferguson is one of those people that is steeped in a rich history of music making—and it shows. Learning music by ear at a young age, the Canadian musician gravitated toward traditional folk music, although by no means does he limit himself to this one genre. Ferguson is a songwriter as well as a singer, and often times he records several tracks to harmonize with his own voice. It sounds amazing! Of late he has gravitated toward singing sea shanties, but you’ll also hear him playing tunes like the Irish ballad “The Holy Ground” and others, both on his YouTube channel and throughout his musical collections. His voice is rich and full, and he coaxes a lovely sound out of the mandolin—there’s a lot to like here.
Find Jesse Ferguson, The Bard of Cornwall here.
3. Tallymoore
Contemporary Irish folk group Tallymoore is another band we find has been in our frequent rotation. Hailing from the midwestern town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the band specializes in Irish and Scottish folk songs, pub songs, reels, and ballads—but they add a bit of breadth to it all. Here and there you may detect a hint of bluegrass, or even some country sound, which makes for a fresh spin on folk favorites. Performing together since 2012, they’ve had the time to perfect their craft, and the skill with which they play and harmonize reflects that fact. Everything just works so well that it’s not a surprise they made this list. Their ability to infuse emotion into music at any pace is one of the hallmarks of this band. “Step it Out Mary” is a perfect example of this, but there are many, many others.
Check out Tallymooore.
4. Amelia Hogan
Another musician that has been singing since she was a wee one, Amelia Hogan makes popping up and down the scales sound effortless. Her voice is an interesting blend of vulnerability and power, which is an uncommon mix. Whether she’s singing a tune a cappella or with accompaniment the sound of her vocals is captivating. Hailing from San Francisco, California, the artist has collaborated with a number of other musicians (Molly’s Revenge, Niamh Parsons, and others) along the way as well. Hogan sings contemporary folk music, Irish, British American, and Scottish music, and is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a female artist that will delight you each and every time you hear her sing. We know she does that for us!
You can find out more about Amelia Hogan here.
Amelia Hogan sings “Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore” in this video:
5. Brad Reid
Brad Reid is a fiddler. Although those five words give a simple description of the man—and likely enough for those who love the sound of this instrument—there’s definitely more to say about this musician. Take his latest album for instance, NEW Scotland. Tracks like “Trip to Peggy’s Cove” are so pleasing to the ear and easy to groove to—but beyond that, you can really appreciate the clarity and skill with which Reid plays. He really shines on any reel, but you won’t find us criticizing his play on anything he does! Adding this solid Cape Breton fiddle music to our lineup of favorites was easy to do, and we are looking forward to listening to whatever else he puts forth for us in the coming year as well.
Learn more about Brad Reid here.
6. Emma Langford
Captivating. This is a really good word for Emma Langford’s music. Just listen to “Birdsong” and you’ll see what we mean. There’s conviction and emotion wrapped into the sound, and the songs don’t leave you easily—which is a good thing! The dreamy quality her vocals offer is enchanting, giving her work a broad appeal. The musical arrangements are professionally done, but nothing about this artist feels blandly commercial or over-processed. A refreshing, youthful tone pierces through, but it’s weighted with adult-level experience emotionally. Such an interesting blend! This award-winning singer is poised for a long and bountiful career, and chances are good that we’ll be sharing much more of her in the coming years.
You can find more about Emma Langford on her website.
7. Willowgreen
Those looking for Celtic tunes that will appeal to most people’s musical tastes will do well to stock some Willowgreen in their collection. This band does it all well, whether that means Irish, Scottish, Newfoundland, or other music—traditional and contemporary. Offered up along with some original songs, all the elements are there: great vocalists, bodhrán, guitar, harp, hammered dulcimer, accordion, and more! Recently reuniting after a 15-year hiatus, Willowgreen draws on a lengthy, successful career of providing polished Celtic music to audiences from all over. Whether it’s a sprightly harp instrumental or a full chorus of enthusiastic vocals, this is a band it’s always easy to be in the mood to listen to!
Enjoy more music from Willowgreen here.
8. The Munster Men
When you listen to this band it’s obvious they love playing together, and they have that fun sound of a group that isn’t intimidated by playing live. They may be from the Münster, Germany area, but the Irish, Scottish, English and American folk songs they play are steeped with traditional sounds and instrumentation. They also play original music! Songs like “All the Joys” are loaded with camaraderie, good musicianship, and the kind of energy that is only present when a group of people play together for the sheer enjoyment of it. If you want to feel like you’re in a pub with a pint being entertained, this is a spectacular pick. You’ll never be sorry you put them on—they’ll bring a smile to your face.
Sing along with The Munster Men on their website.
9. Gaelynn Lea
If you love the violin, you’ll love Gaelynn Lea. It’s really just that simple. This is a musician that can coax sounds from the strings, and it’s a pleasure to listen to a classically trained violinist playing Celtic music. She even won the NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 2016, so it’s not just our opinion! Lea puts forth traditional music—which she puts her own unique spin on. It sounds cliché, but her voice really is one of a kind. This is music you reach for when you need something soulful…and it stirs as well as soothes. The yearning pull of the violin is front and center in musical arrangements for a reason, and Lea knows how to make the most of it as she calls forth the notes when she plays. It’s both emotional and cathartic to listen to her.
Hear more music from Gaelynn Lea here.
10. Matt & Shannon Heaton
This experienced pair of musicians is based out of Boston, and they play both traditional and updated Irish music. Shannon adeptly floats up and down the scales with her flute, and Matt provides the perfect foil for her with his steady guitar strumming. At their very best with reels and jigs, this married pair melds together seamlessly, and Matt really shines when he calls forth the percussive sounds to punctuate the music and give it depth. Bluegrass, Thai music, and other influences add breadth to their backgrounds and pop in here and there to make themselves heard, but the heart of everything rings out Celtic at the core.
Dive into Irish traditional music with Matt & Shannon Heaton here.
There are too many other great Celtic bands to mention here—although we’d love to name them all! We selected these as a solid sampler of what we turn to again and again, but we love to explore and share, so there will be plenty more coming up in 2022. Be sure to stay tuned, and all the best to you in this New Year!
Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and for the Celtic Music Magazine for nearly 15 years. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com.
Make sure you also check out the Celtic Top 20 of 2021 from the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. These are the 20 best songs and tunes voted on by listeners of the podcast.
