Album Notes

"Sticks and Stones', the latest release by The BorderCollies showcases the range and originality of the quintet’s own compositions, such as the Robbins/Tomson infectiously upbeat “The Craic” and Michael Robbins’ melodic “Carraig Nua”, hot new fiddle reel “Waitin to Hatch” by Reva Paget, as well as memorable new arrangements of such beloved Celtic traditionals as “Lone Shanakyle”, sung to lilting perfection by vocalist Caeri Tomson and enhanced by the adept fiddling of Reva Paget. Additionally, there’s a Kennedy’s-inspired version of the Robert Burns classic, “For All That”. Rounding out the CD are songs by Mary Fahl, Sandra Sparks, Dougie MacLean and John Cutliffe, and tunes by Howard Williams, Sean Ryan, John McCusker and Vincent Broderick.The two songs that crossover from Celtic to folk to pop are Robert Burns’ “For All That” and John Cutliffe’s “Danika Smile”. Cutliffe wrote the song while living and working with Irish prize-fighter Barry McGuigan, as a cheer-up for McGuigan’s daughter, Danika, who, at the time, suffered from leukemia. She has since overcome the disease. John introduced the song to the Collies a few years ago, and the band was honored to be the first group to record it. Featured on backup vocals is Michael Robbins’ daughter, 14 year-old Elizabeth Robbins.Guesting on the CD is All-Ireland Uilleann piper Zac Leger on pipes, whistles, flute, cittern, banjo and bodhran. Zac performs with the band whenever he has time off from performing with his own hot Celtic band Oisre. Zac was also featured on “the road from Swannanoa” and on our as-yet unreleased “Laird of the Rings” CD. Also guesting on the CD are previous band-mate Lisa McCann on bodhran and percussion and long-time friend Hays Hall on trap drums.