Katie and Joe explore the many facets of instrumental backup in traditional Celtic music. Although the concept of guitars and bouzoukis is relatively new to Celtic music, accompanists have altered the sound of music. Guitar and bouzouki backup is so commonplace in trad music now that “pure drop” melody instruments almost seems quaint. Although traditional music doesn’t (usually) feature a mighty backline, backup players can still completely change the feel of a tune or drive a set. We even manage to include tracks from two brand new releases from Lau and Siobhan Miller.
This week, Katie and Joe feature: Stéphanie Makem & Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn; Cara; Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill; Michael McGoldrick; Guichen; Beth Patterson & Patrick O’Flaherty; Sophie & Fiachra + André Marchand; Neill Lyons; Cathie Ryan; Lau; Siobhan Miller; Danú; Lúnasa; Dervish; Liz Carroll & John Doyle; and Tim Edey.
Our FairPlé score this week: 38
Playlist:
| # | Track | Artist | Release |
| 1 | The Gleanntán Reel-The Sandymount Reel-The Beauty Spot-The Ravelled Hank Of Yarn-The Midnight Reel | Various Artists | Geantraí-glued |
| 2 | Tommy Peoples’-Ríl Mhic Chathail-Buntata Agus Sgadán | Stéphanie Makem & Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn | Ceol Is Píob |
| 3 | The Legend Of Lisalway | Cara | Yet We Sing |
| 4 | John Naughton’s Reel-Another Paddy Fahy Reel | Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill | The Lonesome Touch |
| 5 | The Maid Of Monsico-Galway Rambler | Michael Mcgoldrick | Morning Rory |
| 6 | Battle Swing | Guichen | BroZHers |
| 7 | Fontenot’s Froggy Fox | Beth Patterson & Patrick O’Flaherty | Caelic |
| 8 | Le casse-réel à Aimé, Le réel modal, Les rois | Sophie & Fiachra + André Marchand | Portraits |
| 9 | Mick Coynes, The Guns Of The Magnificent Seven | Neill Lyons | Skins And Sins |
| 10 | Sheain Bhain | Cathie Ryan | Cathie Ryan |
| 11 | The Gleanntán Reel-The Sandymount Reel-The Beauty Spot-The Ravelled Hank Of Yarn-The Midnight Reel | Various Artists | Geantraí |
| 12 | Ghosts | Lau | Lau Unplugged |
| 13 | May Morning Dew | Siobhan Miller | All Is Not Forgotten |
| 14 | Peg And Awl | Danu´ | The Road Less Traveled |
| 15 | Donogh And Mike’s | Lúnasa | The Merry Sisters Of Fate |
| 16 | I Buried Me Wife And Danced On Top Of Her | Dervish | Live In Palma |
| 17 | Ceisel’s Sword-The Monasteryedan Fancy | John Doyle-Liz Carroll | In Play |
| 18 | Funghi’s Jig | Tim Edey | Music From The Dingle Peninsula And Beyond |