It’s that time again—
Every year Marc Gunn and Irish & Celtic Music Podcast bring you our “top 10” list, and 2022 is no different! We’re excited to share this compilation of excellent Celtic musicians and bands, and we are also looking forward to the new discoveries coming up in 2023. Take a little time to check out our list, and be sure and leave a comment if you have a favorite that wasn’t listed here. We know there are plenty of outstanding bands and artists around, and wish our list could be longer…it would be great to be able to feature them all!
These are the bands that ended up being the “most reached for” picks from the site this year. Each of them features something unique that made them stand out a bit as the decision was made on what to play.
Here we go:
1. Banshee in the Kitchen
On name alone this band offers promise! Banshee in the Kitchen is comprised of four women, and they play traditional Celtic music—with a bit of their own spin on it. The group has been together since back in 2002, so they have had quite some time to polish their sound and hone the blending of their voice(s). They tour, they record, and they sound terrific! The harmony in the vocals hints at the long-time collaboration as the sound is seamless and true. These ladies are entertainers as much as they are musicians, and the songs they play give a sense of energy and enthusiasm that really is contagious! So far Banshee in the Kitchen has put out seven CDs, with the last being “The Last Pint. NOT.”
It’s always amazing how full the sound is when you have good musicians at the helm. That’s a hallmark trait of this group—it sounds like a lot more people playing! While there’s always a lot going on, the music always feels purposeful—and despite the name of the group—it never feels frenzied or unorganized. Good stuff here!
See Banshee in the Kitchen live at Santa Cruz Scottish Festival in 2013
2. Niamh Dunne
In the mood for some soulful Irish music? If so, this is an artist to listen to. Niamh Dunne’s vocals unfold gently and beautifully on her latest effort, “Tides”—the first solo offering from the artist since her debut album back in 2013. Although it has been a long time in-between, this musician has been quite busy in the meantime. A founding member of the well-known band, Beoga, Dunne has plenty of expertise to bring to the table for this collection of tunes, and she does so masterfully. Her work is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
When it comes down to it, Dunne offers a wide appeal without being shallow or one-dimensional. We think it may well be impossible not to appreciate the sound she creates with her voice and fiddle. Not content to be a talented musician, she is also an adept storyteller through song, and that is something not everyone does well. There’s a depth and breadth to her music that is as refreshing as it is accomplished.
Here's the newest music video from Niamh Dunne for her song “Did You Ever Love Me?”:
3. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
If you gravitate toward the pure quality of vocals in Irish music, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a wonderful pick. Some may know this artist as the lead singer and flute player for the Irish group Danú, but she has also produced her own work—centered around her own voice, which is simply lovely. It’s rich and powerful and delicate, depending on what’s called for, and her range is spectacular. The confidence she shines forth in her vocals just feels….good.
There are Irish musical artists in it for the fun, those that are in it for the fame, and those that are in it for their own love of Irish music and culture. There’s little doubt which camp Amhlaoibh falls in. Her songs and vocals convey depth of feeling coupled with a sense of longing that is almost other-worldly at times. Her work will move you.
Here's a fantastic video Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh performing with Éilís Kennedy and Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich. Live at the INEC, Killarney.
On a personal note, she joined my Celtic Invasion Vacation in Dingle, Ireland a few years back. If you think the video is cool, you'd be blown away seeing her perform live in your kitchen.
4. Tuatha Dea
Tuatha Dea is a little bit different than some of our other list-makers here. Think Appalachian/Celtic. Not quite sure what to make of that? You have to hear it to understand it! With the band’s Celtic heritage as an underpinning, this group takes Irish and Scottish music and makes their own blend of it with rock. Appalachian blues, and a sprinkling of mountain drumming. It completely unique and very compelling. The band’s name is actually an Old Irish phrase that means “children of the Gods”, which you may or may not already know.
There are so many surprises with this band—each track is different, and yet you always know it’s Tuatha Dea. The group is comprised mostly of family members (with a couple others sprinkled in) and they have a tight-knit sound. You’ll also hear all kinds of instruments make an appearance—from Native American flute, to guitar, to the didgeridoo, bagpipes, penny whistle, and more! The mash up works so well that it’s easy to fall in love with their sound.
Here's a touching video of the Tuatha Dea song “Open Letter to You”:
5. SYR
SYR (sire) offers a world of high energy Celtic folk music for the listener to experience, and it’s so easy to listen to that you just like it from the get-go. They know how to hook you, but this isn’t the grass-roots type Celtic folk. No—this is polished and produced and carefully arranged. The group manages to prepare their sound carefully without losing the energy or imagination of it, which is no small task. From lovely harmonies to powerful choruses, each of their albums is in and of itself a full offering that was quite obviously, labored over with care. In fact, sometimes the sound is so full that it borders on orchestral.
Once again we see family here—the lead singers are brother and sister Kyle and Laurel MacCallum, who also play guitar and percussion respectively. They are flanked by adept musicians Kelly Vance on bass, Worth Lewallen on fiddle, and Greg Vance on the drums. You won’t go wrong if you pull this band into your rotation, and if you’ve already heard them you’ll be rewarded if you dig a little deeper into their collection of music.
Find out more about Syr and check out ther latest music video of “Tir n'Aill” here:
6. Wolf & Clover
It’s always a pleasure to listen to experienced musicians play, and that is the first thing that springs to mind when you mention Wolf & Clover. This group of six brings a lot to the table when it comes to handling their instruments. The fun in having a group like this gather together is that each musician heavily contributes to the style of the music that they play overall. They have to find their voice and “harmonize” with one another. This is something that Wolf & Clover has done very well!
Influenced by both new and old Celtic music, this band holds some serious clout when it comes to their individual backgrounds in music. Each of them is a clear professional in their own right, and they all—literally–have degrees to prove it! It’s super interesting to see what happens when a team of learned musicians gathers around a common idea and makes music out of it. There’s nothing quite like it!
Wolf & Clover share their performance of “O'Carolan's Farewell to Music” in this video.
7. The Haar
Listening to The Haar do “Wild Rover” for the first time, well, it gave me the chills. Chills. The careful whisper of singer Molly Donnery’s voice paired with a simple instrumentation as the song progresses…well…you have to hear it to experience the magic. The song itself is well-worn territory, so it’s always hard to bring something fresh to it, and yet…they certainly did.
This is but one example of the extraordinary talent this group has among its members. Donnery’s voice is beautiful, and the other three band members Cormac Byrne, Adam Summerhayes, and Murray Grainger all have pretty serious backgrounds in their chosen instrument. The thing is—despite the fact that these people can really sing and play—big time—isn’t the entire draw here. The real star is the way the group coaxes out the sounds rather than laying them bare. Spectacular stuff. There’s something wonderful that happens when musicians know the rules well enough to let go of the wheel and let the muse move them.
See The Hair‘s haunting version of “Wild Rover” has a video about as haunting as the song, but in a different way…
8. Socks in the Frying Pan
Hailing from County Clare, Socks in the Frying Pan is a trio of young men who offer pretty much everything you need for a good listen—Irish-style. Tight harmonies, accordion, guitar, fiddle, and banjo. Sometimes they sing together. Sometimes they just jam out. Sometimes they do both! Whatever they are doing—they do it with heart and enthusiasm, and it totally shows through. You can hear their love for music in it all. (It’s not just us either—they’ve garnered the title of ‘New Band of the Year’ from the Irish Music Association as well.) Oh—and did I mention the harmonies?
While The Haar takes music to new places, Socks in the Frying Pan refines Irish traditional sound through their own lens. It has that pure feel, and they do it right. And…the harmonies. Listen to their song Foreign Lander if you don’t believe me!
Here are Socks in the Frying Pan performing in Limerick, Ireland:
9. Altan
Altan regularly makes an appearance on our list, and there are plenty of reasons for that. This is a band that has evolved over time, deepening as they made music together. Dating all the way back to the eighties, there’s a real richness here—a polish that only comes with living your musical truth day and and day out—for decades. As a group they have done things other bands only dream of, and yet—they still manage to create compelling music that feels relevant and interesting.
From their self-titled first album to more recent efforts such as “The Gap of Dreams” there are so many wonderful songs to explore with this talented group. From song to song you’ll change your mind on what’s most appealing—the fiddle? The flute? Singer Maighread Ní Mhaonaigh’s vocals? It changes. The one thing that remains the same is that they are a Celtic powerhouse band that has stood the test of time—for a reason.
This video of Altan performing “Tullaghan Lasses” captures one of many reasons why you should hear them live:
10. The Carroll Sisters
We’re rounding this list out with The Carroll Sisters—a joy for those who love good Celtic fiddle music! Emilie (17) and Nora (15) have been playing their chosen instruments since they were wee ones, and have blossomed into two incredibly skilled musicians. Their recent album release is called “Daybreak” and it’s packed with 10 tracks that will leave you amazed at how two young ladies can call forth so much sound from their fiddles! The arrangements here are not beginner-level by any means, and yet these two keep up without issue.
Fiddle music is always something special and it speaks to you if you love it. On that alone it’s easy to recommend The Carroll Sisters. What makes it that much more impressive is that they are under 18 years of age. I dare you to close your eyes when you’re listening and hear that in the way they play. They may be young, but they can certainly bring it home!
Check out The Carroll Sisters because I expect to hear a lot more from them in the future. Here's a video of them performing some Cape Breton tunes.
If you missed last year’s Top 10 Celtic Bands of 2022, feel free to check the list out here. There were some amazing bands/artists back in 2021 as well!
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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.
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