Irish singer-songwriter Karan Casey has been blazing a trail for over 30 years. A lover of ballads, love songs and searing versions of social justice songs, fond of a good yarn, she has toured the world making deep connections with her audience connecting via Ireland’s past but crucially repositioning women and songs in a universal […]
Wielding a sound that would turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk musicians are reimagining the Western string quartet. By inviting back voices previously regarded as too ugly for “polite society,” Medusa tempts us to redefine what is beautiful. With their Canadian Folk Music Award (CFMA) Nominated debut album, Medusa’s dynamic arrangement style […]
Rob Flax possesses a rare combination of skills: he is an award-winning virtuoso violinist, classically trained but known for his jazz and improvisational pyrotechnics and irresistible grooves; he is also a powerhouse vocalist, capable of silky crooning a la Nat King Cole or visceral Chicago blues shouts. Rob has performed nationally and internationally with groups […]
Inspired by the gothic humor of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, the murder ballads of the Americana tradition, and the dramatic flair of the cabaret, they write songs that tell stories, using two voices to explore dark narratives and characters with a playfully macabre sensibility. In their critically acclaimed albums Love, Crime & Other Trouble […]
Today, concert halls and international tango festivals like in Amsterdam, Berlin und Paris and even Buenos Aires, the US and Canada can no longer be imagined without these four musicians who have always been able to inspire both concert-goers and tango dancers. They have won several prizes at international music competitions in Klingenthal (Germany), Trani […]
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Israeli clarinetist and composer Itay Dayan is considered one of today’s most promising voices in klezmer music. Renowned for his virtuosic playing and genre-defying creativity, Itay seamlessly weaves together klezmer, jazz, and classical influences, crafting a sound that honors tradition while fearlessly exploring new musical frontiers. His recent album, “Hoffman’s Farewell”, […]
The name Cantrip is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements, likewise the compelling potency of their musicianship. Swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar and three rich voices blend to create a sound energetic enough […]
Dubbed “Among the best folk-rock artists in the country” by the Tucson Weekly, Namoli Brennet has been touring with her own brand of moody and inspiring folk since 2002. A recent Iowa transplant, Brennet was based out of Tucson, AZ for a decade and her music still carries some of the stark, persistent beauty of […]
Seán Dagher is an active performer, arranger, and composer of music from various folk and classical music traditions: Celtic, Baroque, Medieval, Arabic, French-Canadian, and Maritime. He is a member of Skye Consort and is the co-artistic director of La Nef. Seán sings and plays Irish bouzouki, mandolin, oud, and banjo. Seán has also provided arrangements […]
Kongero is a Swedish vocal group consisting of the four female folk singers Lotta Andersson, Emma Björling, Sofia Hultqvist Kott and Anna Wikénius. Kongero was formed in 2005 when the original members all attended a Nordic folk music conference. By chance they started singing together and found that their voices and harmonies blended perfectly. Since […]
Subscribe to Music in the Berkshires e-Newsletter