Solas - Stellar Irish Music

"...the first truly great Irish band to arise from America." - Boston Herald
"...the standard by which contemporary Celtic groups are judged." - Austin American-Statesman

olas has been called the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band to ever emerge from the United States. With the addition of Irish singer/flautist Mairead Phelan - the band's latest vocal discovery, gorgeously filling the role carved out by founding vocalist Karan Casey - the balance has been pushed to three fifths Irish. With the other two fifths being Solas' founders Seamus Egan (born in NYC, raised in Ireland) and Winifred Horan (immigrant Irish parents), we'll say that Solas has fully morphed into one of Ireland's greatest bands.

Solas plays undiluted traditional Irish music with a contemporary sensibility and an ease and naturalness that is as astonishing as their overwhelming musicianship. Over its twelve-year history Solas has opened up new territory for Celtic music. Regular performers on the folk and Celtic festival circuit (they headlined the KVMR Celtic Festival in 2004), they've also succeeded in crossing over with invitations to Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Steamboat Springs Chamber Music Series. They fit in just fine at Greenwich Village's Bottom Line or New York City's vaunted Symphony Space.

Solas is anchored by multi-instrumentalist Egan on flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran, and fiddler Horan - two of the most respected and imitated musicians anywhere in acoustic music. The quintet also includes Mick McAuley from Kilkenny playing accordion and concertina; Eamon McElholm from Tyrone playing guitar and keyboards; and guest vocalist Mairead Phelan.

Website: http://www.solasmusic.com/