Dick Gaughan - see artist profile

Give Way "Full Steam Ahead" (Greentrax, 2003)
Somewhat perfunctory rock-flavored Celtic instrumentals by an all-gal Scottish band. Really, I didn't hear much that was all that distinctive; sounds like an okay pub-band that got into a studio and cleaned up their sound. That's about it.

Dave Goulder & Liz Dyer "January Man" (Argo, 1970)
Long out of print, this is one of those old albums I picked up cheap years ago, and (foolishly!) donated to my public radio station. It's a nice folkie album, though not a dazzler. Dyer's voice is too "folk" in the American sense of the word -- a bit too Judy Collins-y for me, but okay. Goulder, though, is appropriately gruff, and his version of the title track is quite nice, as are a few other tunes on the album. Worth checking out if you can track a copy down.

Dave Goulder "Stones, Streams & Starlings" (Outer Green, 1995)
I have absolutely no idea what this sounds like, or when it was recorded... But I am intrigued!

Davy Graham - see artist profile

Grada "Endeavor" (Compass, 2002)

Grada "The Landing Step" (Compass, 2004)
An absolutely gorgeous album, with bright, striking vocals by Anne Marie O'Malley, and sprightly, solid playing by the rest of the band. These folks are really top flight -- making some lovely-sounding modern trad-folk, and writing new material that fits right in with the tradition. Highly recommended!

Len Graham/Garry O Briain/Padraigin Ni Uallachain "When I Was Young: Children's Songs From Ireland" (Shanachie, 1998)
A lovely and delightful album, featuring pretty, lavishly melodic versions of over two dozen obscure Irish children's songs. Graham's old-man voice is always a delight, while for her part Ni Uallachain fills these songs out with a classic Celtic sonorousness. The material is pleasantly unfamiliar, playful and engaging, while the arrangements are richly fleshed out and satisfying. Nice disc -- highly recommended, especially as the title might lead some Celtic music fans to pass it by.

Great Big Sea "Great Big Sea" (Zoe/Rounder, 1993/2004)
These Canadian fellas offer an earnest, bouncy mix of upbeat, slightly dorky, soft rock and Celtic-by-way-of-Newfoundland trad, sort of like the Pogues but without all the drunkeness and 'tude And, hey, it's not bad! There's sort of a relentless, Muppetlike cheerfulness about their debut record which can wear down even the most snappish and grumpy of traditionalists. And it you're looking for some bright, lightweight pop, this could be a big winner for you. Worth giving a spin.

Great Big Sea "The Hard And The Easy" (Rounder, 2005)
These mellow Canadian rockers score a grand slam (or the hockey equivalent...) with this fun set of traditional tunes from their seafaring home of Newfoundland. Easing up on their jam band tendencies, Great Big Sea live up to their name with a lively, earnest album of sea shanties and sailing songs... Ahhrrrr!! It's a fishin' life, up North! GBS give a rollicking, whole-hearted performance; fans of the good, old, yo-ho-ho gusto of the Irish Rovers should get a kick out of this fun, funky record. It's definitely worth checking out for the music alone, although the companion DVD is even more charming, capturing the trio in a series of informal jam sessions as they rehearse the songs and cheerfully explain where they learned each tune, also discussing the importance of music and DIY folksinging to the cozy Newfoundland social life. It's totally charming and will win over all but the stoniest of hearts. Nice album art, too!

More Celtic/Brit Folk Albums -- Letter "H"

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