Album Notes

ARCANADH

"Soundings is a mightily Impressive Album"
8.5/10 Hot Press May 04

Winners of the newcomers of the year 2005 Irish Music Magazine awards

The Irish Times 22nd April 2004
" Pristine production, faultless musicianship: with a tad more gallantry, Arcanadh may well forge fresh terrain" *** Worth a listen.

Arcanadh (pronounced Are-can-a) are six Irish singers and musicians from the length and breadth of Ireland. Each member brings along the traditions from home, resulting in a union of several different musical styles. Their line-up includes fiddles, whistles, harp, mandola, banjo, piano, guitars, and bodhran. Arcanadh are renowned for their unique singing style, a combination of strong solo delivery and exquisite vocal harmonies, frequently in several parts. The resulting sound is reputed to bring shivers to the spine. Their live show consists of songs from the traditional archives, newly composed folk-songs from around the world and compostions by individual members of Arcanadh. All of their songs are sung with a rare passion and their love of music is palpable.
The band has a unique set-up in terms of relationships too. Martin and Mags Gallen are brother and sister from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan. Colm Breathnach (Ring, Co Waterford) is married to Sinead Gibson (Gortahork, Co Donegal). The remaining members, Fiona Walsh and Maria Corbet come from Bohola, Co Mayo and Palmerstown, Co Dublin.
In summer 2002, Arcanadh were the winners of the award for Best Celtic Group at the Lorient International Festival. In so doing, they follow in the footsteps of such widely acclaimed acts as De Danann, Danu, Sharon Shannon and Capercaillie, to name but a few. They were showcased as part of the Irish Music Awards in the National Concert Hall, Dublin late last year, sharing the stage with such respected acts as The Chieftains, The Dubliners, A Woman's Heart and Dolores Keane. St Patrick's Day was celebrated on stage in Belfast's Waterfront Hall along with Kieran Goss, Juliet Turner and the McPeake Family. They have recently performed at Fiddler's Green Festival and Celtic Fusions Festival.
Soundings is the name of Arcanadh's debut album. It was recently released to great critical acclaim and received favourable reviews in The Irish Times and Hot Press. It's available on the Wren label from all good music stores. The launch concert, which took place in Whelans, Dublin, was a sell-out. The band have done several interviews for newspapers and magazines country-wide and are receiving air-play on Radio 1, Raidio na Gaeltachta, BBC Radio Foyle, WLRFM, Mid West Radio, Highland Radio and Near FM.
Arcanadh will be embarking on a promotional tour for the album Soundings in the autumn and will be playing at venues in Dublin, Mayo, Donegal, Waterford and Monaghan and Galway. They will be headlining at the Oireachtas in Letterkenny in October.