A few quick hits this week as we motor forth toward Christmas! A couple columns ago I wrote about John Carty and Mick McCormack’s album “At Our Leisure” and mentioned that the label on which it was released, Carty’s own Racket Records, was celebrating its 25th anniversary. Congratulations to John and everyone behind the label’s long success! To commemorate the occasion, the label has released “25 Years Celebration Compilation: A Selection of Music from Racket Records, 1997-2022,” a lovely (and limited edition) collection of tracks showcasing its various releases that I wanted to let you all know about.
It’s a fabulous listen all the way through because it’s got a good bit of variety. Tunes in different kinds of arrangement, a couple songs – lots to keep you engaged and listening. But its brilliance has a lot to do with the stunning array of great musicians who appear. You’ll find folks including John, James & Maggie Carty, Matt Molloy, Brian Rooney, Noel O'Grady, Henry Benagh, Marcus Hernon, Mike McGoldrick, Frankie Gavin, Johnny McDonough, Seáinín McDonagh, Alec Finn, Artie McGlynn, Dónal Lunny, Michael McCague, Shane McGowan, John Blake, Curly Sullivan, and the band At The Racket. It’s an outstanding assortment of musicians if there ever was one.
Beyond just being a lovely mix of musicians and tracks, the disc is an ideal introduction to the label. If you do a deep dive into the Racket Records catalog you’ll know there isn’t a clunker in there. It means that if any of the music on ”25 Years” strikes your fancy, you can rest assured that the album it comes from is worth your time and money.
Racket Records is celebrating 25 years. Artwork by Vera Gaffney.
Head on over to racketrecords.bandcamp.com, where you’ll find “25 Years” alongside every other recording Racket Records has released – you are sure to find something you’ll like. And serious traditional music fans take note: there’s a hefty 35 percent discount if you purchase all of the Racket Records releases as a group! (Not a bad idea for the music lover in your life – Christmas is coming, after all!)
In other news, Karan Casey, who is currently appearing in Brian O’Donovan’s "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” now celebrating its 20th anniversary (www.christmasceltic.com), has just released “Nine Apples of Gold,” the title song from her forthcoming album due to release on February 22nd. It’s a beautiful track with a superb message and its release is accompanied by a fabulous video. Musicians here include Sean Og Graham, Niamh Dunne, Kate Ellis, Conor McCreanor, Hannah Heimstra and Alan Doherty, and the dancers in the video are Áine Vallely, Anna Scott and Molly Buckley.
“Nine Apples of Gold” will release on Feb. 22 and Casey will be touring parts of the U.S. throughout March – great stuff to look forward to. Follow Casey’s official social media accounts, which can be found through www.karancasey.com, for news on the tour and the album as it breaks.
In other new-release news, musicians Barry Kieran (who was once with the band Kern) and singer/songwriter Dylan Pearse have put together a group called the Cooleys, a name taken from the County Louth mountain range they grew up in and around, and have just released “Grace,” their debut single. It’s a take on Frank and Seán O’Meara’s song about Grace Gifford, who married Joseph Mary Plunkett at Kilmainham Gaol shortly before his execution for his role in the Easter Rising, one I think will tickle the fancy of readers here. A group to keep your ears open for more from.
Finally: still looking to give a loved one (or even yourself) the gift of music? You’re in luck: enrollment is currently open for Irish Arts Center’s winter 2023 classes. As usual, they’re offering a wide array of classes in music, Irish language, dance, storytelling, writing, and theater arts (with some master class opportunities thrown in) for people of all levels and abilities. Musical options include bodhrán, harp, concertina, fiddle, mandolin, tin whistle, ear training and sessioneering. Classes begin the week of Jan. 17 and run into March – check ‘em out, you’re likely to find something you’ll really dig! To learn more or to enroll, visit irishartscenter.org.
