We’re happy to be back with you at the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to bring you our year-end list for 2023, highlighting some of the Celtic music we’ve enjoyed this calendar year! Take a look at the picks we have here, and if you haven’t heard them, it may be time to give them a listen.
As a side-note, there are many wonderful bands in the Celtic music space, and we are by no means saying the bands below are the only ones you should be checking out – we just have a limited amount of time and space to highlight some of our most often played picks! Let us know which bands you’ve enjoyed as well! We’d love to hear from you.
Here’s the list:
1. The Langer's Ball
The first band on our list is an easy listen if there ever was one! The Langer’s Ball offers up over a decade and a half of experience in their chosen sound – which they describe as Irish folk-punk, and they have ironed out their own style and tone. For just two people, they have a lot of energy and sound, and they pepper original music in with traditional fare for a well-rounded selection of tunes for just about anyone to enjoy.
The Midwest-based band consists of Hannah and Michael, and they have a varied performance background that ranges from private events, to renaissance faires, to pubs and tap rooms. They keep busy, and the energy and enthusiasm they have is easy to hear in their music. Some bands just play tunes – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but The Langer’s Ball crafts a performance based on many years of experience, and this adds something special to their musical offerings. If you like a good mix of Irish drinking songs, high-energy instrumentals, and original music, this is a band you just shouldn’t miss.
Check out The Langer's Ball.
2. The Celtic Kitchen Party
It’s often been said that the kitchen is the place everyone winds up when there’s company, and this band’s name channels that exact vibe in the music that they play. There’s a friendliness and openness that marks the sound of The Celtic Kitchen Party’s sound that is welcoming and warm. Part of this is the seamless harmonies that come across so effortless as they sing together. The group as put out three albums thus far, and each offers a lively bunch of tunes to enjoy.
You’ll hear Irish and Scottish music as well as influences from rock music. Violin, bagpipes, flute—it’s all here, alongside more than capable vocals and interesting arrangements. The band is made up of five men, and they hail from the Kingston, Ontario area. Well worth a listen, and a fun add to any holiday playlist!
It's The Celtic Kitchen Party!
3. Hanneke Cassel
Hanneke Cassel makes this list easily, as a top-notch fiddle player with a wide array of songs to offer in the vast cache of music she has created over the past two decades. Skilled play that manages to both nod to tradition while remaining updated and fresh—it’s just something that stands out as a highlight.
Cassel isn’t just someone who grew up liking the fiddle casually—she started out in competitions as a young lady and made her mark there before going on to study music at Berklee College of Music, getting her Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance. She has taught, composed, and performed, making her extremely well-rounded, but more importantly, honing a personal style that is unmistakably her own. Treat yourself. Put this in your rotation and listen to a Scottish fiddler of the highest order.
Visit Hanneke Cassel.
4. Poitín
This six-piece band is no stranger to our “best of” lists—we have featured them before in various posts. That said, there’s a good reason for that! Poitin is one of those groups that is just the right mixture of members and instruments, and that when you put everything all together, makes irresistible music. The tunes put out by this long-standing band have been delighting listeners since 2001, and though they are steeped in traditional sounds, they just never seem to go out of favor with listeners—or with us!
The blend of music ranges from French-Canadian, to Metis, to Celtic and Irish, and it can be very upbeat and dance-driven (think jigs and reels), or soulful and soft (ballads and the like). The full sound is underpinned with fiddle, bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, bomdhran and more. All in all, there’s just a lot to like here.
Have fun with Poitin.
5. Kalos
This trio of friends each boasts a serious pedigree when it comes to their musical backgrounds—these guys are heavy hitters. From winning a fiddle championship, to studying under world-renowned musicians, to traveling and doing field research in other countries for a music degree, each of these gentlemen brings a solid leg to the tripod of the group, and adds their own unique flair that brings them together as one.
The seamlessness of the sound they produce is likely a product of the skill they each bring to the table. When Kalos plays, you can almost feel the musicians vibing with one another. When you are as skilled as these guys are, you can forget worrying about the technique and let go and feel the music and where it carries you. Kalos is the Greek word for “beauty”, and that is what these musicians offer up with their expert skill and sound. Each musician hails from a bit of a different background, and they don’t put their band in a box. It keeps things interesting!
Say hello to Kalos.
6. Jesse Ferguson
The richness of Jesse Ferguson’s voice is reason enough to listen the singer, and it’s no surprise to hear that he comes from a musical family, and that he took his own unique path forward from there. Hailing from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada Ferguson has performed traditional favorites over the years, but also writes and sings his own—something that he does more and more often these days. We’ve thought highly enough of him to feature him many times on our site, and are pleased to do so again here on this list. He’s really that good!
Ferguson often accompanies his singing with guitar, but there’s no mistaking the true star of the show is that smooth sound his vocals lend to each and every song—slow or sprightly. There’s a timbre to it that can bring comfort, elicit yearning, inspire a smile or make you tap a foot alongside the words he’s singing. What a pleasure it is to listen to him sing.
Sing along with Jesse Ferguson.
7. The Tan and Sober Gentlemen
If I told you a band called “The Tan and Sober Gentlemen” played something that has been termed Irish-American hillbilly music, would it surprise you? Probably not! Upbeat, even raucous in moments, the combination of high-energy fiddle music paired with a raw Appalachia sound gives this group a platform to stand on that is authentic and true.
The six-piece band calls North Carolina home, and each member pulls from an interesting blend of musical styles ranging from bluegrass, to funk, to blues, to classical, and on and on. If you’re not sure what this stew of sounds might turn out to be, you’ll have to give them a listen to see for yourself. It’s typically a wild ride, but it’s also well played, and dare we say…a lot of fun.
Listen to The Tan and Sober Gentlemen.
8. W Ed Harris
W Ed Harris has been playing music since he was 5 years old, and it shows. There’s an ease and flow to the songs that only comes with a lot of experience and the ability to really let go and trust in the music. His voice is quite soothing and his music really is something special. Harris has been recognized for his work, being nominated for, and winning, a number of awards throughout the years, and that will not come as a surprise to anyone who has heard his work.
Although he is now known for Celtic music, his background is diverse—having played everything from bluegrass, to orchestral, to folk, to jazz. His classical training means that he is a skilled musician, but the depth of feeling he can elicit with a ballad rings with a truth of emotion that is tough to capture. The Celtic tunes that Harris has in his musical catalogue will appeal to a wide range of listeners, so it’s an easy selection to add to the mix.
Dance with W Ed Harris.
9. The Bookends
This four-piece Celtic band has played with the likes of Loreena McKennitt and the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, among others, which tells you more than a thing or two about their ability and talent. Made up of two couples who play together, The Bookends have managed to craft a sound that has highlighted what each musician can do, all while being a cohesive group that plays great together. Not an easy task!
The band has taken their musical journey seriously, diving deep into Irish and Scottish music before branching out to embrace other influences to inform their style and sound. They’re a newer group, only having come on the scene in 2020, but they’ve made quite the impression in this short time—and with good reason—they’re wonderful! The mix of fiddle, banjo, piano, accordion, whistles, flute and guitar offer a full Celtic sound that has blossomed in just a short amount of time.
Enjoy more of The Bookends.
10. Arise & Go
For as full a sound as The Bookends offer, Arise & Go is a more pared-down, streamlined group, playing with pipes, whistles, fiddle, and guitar—for their own take on Celtic fare. The band got together out of a long-running Irish session that was located in New York back in 2016, and now two of the three live in Nova Scotia. Their music has Irish, Scottish, and Atlantic Canadian influences, and each musician is an adept player in their own right, which makes the trio hum along beautifully.
Those interested in the pipes will likely appreciate this band, as the sounds draw from so many different influences and are a definite centerpiece in many of their songs. The group isn’t what one would consider experimental, but even in their traditional Celtic sphere you’ll hear the variety that comes from their unique backgrounds.
Are you ready to Arise & Go?
11. Ashley Davis
Ashley Davis has been around for many years, and with her melodic voice and easy sound, is a favorite of many. From Celtic Christmas tunes to music to meditate to or do yoga by, she has carved out a niche in an industry that is all her own. The softness of her vocals are pretty lovely, and it makes her a great choice if you need something to unwind to. It’s drifty and dreamy.
While it’s a bit difficult to neatly classify her music, it should have a range of appeal to most listeners. Those who enjoy a little bit of magic in their tunes will be drawn to the sound Davis puts forth. It’s a little bit New Age at times, a little traditional at others, but always pleasant and most often relaxing as well. A good musician to end the day—and this article on!
Don't miss Ashley Davis!
So that’s it for this year! We hope we’ve highlighted some great music for you to check out, and affirmed some that you may already be listening to! Have a great holiday, and all the best to you in 2024!
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 2022 as well!
…also don't forget if you like what I do with this blog, you can support me on PATREON for as little last $5 per month.
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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