Various Artists - 25 Years of Celtic Music

American-based Green Linnet Records has been the definitive voice in Celtic music since the mid-'70s, and to celebrate its quarter-century mark, the label released a two-CD set featuring exceptional songs from some of the best loved artists on its roster. Often when labels assemble their best-of collections they end up sounding cobbled together with widely varying sound quality, sounding almost like an afterthought. Fortunately, Green Linnet has broken the mold with 25 Years of Celtic Music, a bright and complete-sounding compilation featuring a list of artists that reads like a who's who of Celtic music from the later part of the 20th century. Among the stellar performers represented are Capercaillie, Altan, Patrick Street, the Tannahill Weavers, Silly Wizard, Eileen Ivers, Mick Moloney, and Liz Carroll, as well as many other influential artists. The two-disc set is broken roughly into two time periods, disc one covering 1976-1996 and the second CD from 1997-2000, but within each disc the label didn't stick to any strict chronological order, presenting and sequencing the songs in a way that flows naturally. Bouncing reels follow moody ensemble pieces and instrumentals follow lush vocal passages, smoothly showcasing the transition from centuries-old traditional folk-based Irish and British songwriting to the electronically infused contemporary Celtic music of the 21st century. From warm, acoustic flute and fiddle kitchen sessions to cool and haunting contemporary compositions, 25 Years of Celtic Music covers all aspects of Celtic music from some of the genre's most talented performers. ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Simmers Piano, Keyboards Andy Irvine Bouzouki, Mandolin Andy M. Stewart Vocals Billy Crain Double Bass Billy McComiskey Concertina, Accordion Brendan Mulvihill Fiddle Brendan Power Harmonica Buzzby McMillan Bass, Vocals (Background), Cittern Capercaillie Performer Carl Hession Piano Celtic Fiddle Festival Performer Charlie McKerron Fiddle Chris Kelly Guitar Chris Parkinson Harmonica, Melodeon Christian Lemaitre Fiddle, Guitar Ciarán Curran Guitar, Bouzouki Ciarán Tourish Vocals (Background), Fiddle Clodagh Warnock Bodhran, Bouzouki, Chimes, Fiddle Daíthí Sproule Vocals (Background), Guitar Damian Quinn Bodhran Dave Early Percussion David Newton Photography David Paton Concertina Deirdre Havlin Whistle (Instrument), Flute Dennis Cahill Guitar Dennis Morrison Piano Dónal Lunny Bodhran Donald Shaw Accordion, Keyboards Donogh Hennessy Guitar Duncan Chisholm Fiddle Duncan J. Nicholson Scottish Small Pipes, Whistle (Instrument), Bagpipes Eileen Ivers Fiddle Eoghan O'Brien Guitar, Harp Foster Paterson Keyboards Frankie Kennedy Vocals (Background), Flute Garry Ó Briain Guitar Ged Foley Guitar, Northumbrian Smallpipes Giorgia Bertazzi Photography Gordon Jones Bodhran, Guitar Graham Dunne Guitar Jackie Daly Accordion James Blennerhassett Double Bass Jamie McMenemy Bouzouki, Mandolin Jean-Michel Veillon Low Whistle, Flute Jim Malcolm Harmonica, Vocals, Guitar Jim Purdum Photography Joe Derrane Accordion John Doyle Guitar John Martin Cello, Viola, Bodhran, Fiddle John McSherry Pipe, Low Whistle John Saich Guitar, Bass, Vocals John Skelton Flute, Bombard John Whelan Button Accordion Jonny Hardie Mandolin, Fiddle, Vocals (Background), Guitar, Bouzouki Karen Matheson Vocals Kate OBrien Viola, Fiddle Kevin Burke Fiddle Kevin Crawford Bodhran, Flute, Tin Whistle Kimati Dinizulu Conga, Djembe Kinny Landrum Keyboards Kips Bay Ceili Band Performer Kornog Performer Les Wilson Vocals, Keyboards, Bouzouki, Guitar Liz Carroll Fiddle Luke Daniels Accordion Maeve Donnelly Fiddle Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Fiddle, Vocals Máirín Fahy Fiddle Manus Lunny Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki Manus McGuire Fiddle Marc Duff Recorder, Synthesizer, Bodhran, Whistle (Instrument) Mark Graham Clarinet, Harmonica Mark Kelly Vocals (Background), Guitar Mark Roberts Flute, Bodhran, Whistle (Instrument) Martin Hadden Guitar, Bass, Fretless Bass Martin Hayes Fiddle Mick Moloney Guitar, Mandolin, Tenor Banjo Moving Cloud Performer Nathan Savage Art Direction, Design Neil Martin Cello Niamh Parsons Vocals Old Blind Dogs Performer Open House Performer Owen Carey Photography Patrick Street Performer Paul Brock Melodeon, Button Accordion Paul Jennings Conga, Percussion, Djembe Paul Kotapish Mandolin, Guitar Phil Cunningham Whistle (Instrument), Mandola, Bodhran, Accordion, Keyboards Phil Smillie Flute, Vocals, Bodhran, Whistle (Instrument) Red Herring Design, Art Direction Reeltime Performer Relativity Performer Richard Lindsey Fretless Bass Roger Wilson Fiddle Ronan Browne Uillean Pipes, Whistle (Instrument) Rory Campbell Whistle (Instrument), Vocals (Background) Rosie Mulholland Keyboards, Fiddle Roy Gullane Guitar Seamus Egan Flute Seamus McGuire Fiddle Sean Smyth Fiddle Silly Wizard Performer Soïg Sibéril Guitar Steve Missal Conga, Drums Stevie Saint Whistle (Instrument) Stuart Eaglesham Guitar Tony Soave Drums Trevor Hutchinson Double Bass, Bowed Instrument, Bouzouki Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Clavinet, Vocals, Synthesizer Wayne Mackenzi Guitar (Bass) Wendy Newton Photography Wolfstone Performer Zan McLeod Bouzouki, Mandolin, Guitar (Acoustic), Cello, Guitar (Electric)