Album Notes

"Around the Summer Solstice 2002, a group of my friends--top shelf session players--gathered at a studio near Burlington VT to play traditional and new music from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton and America.

My idea was to capture the energy and spontaneity of a live seisiun. I wanted the listener to know what it sounds and feels like to be in the sweet spot every great session room has, and catch the flow of tunes and songs, some with little or no accompaniment. We recorded as much of the project in the live environment as practical. While we honored the traditions, we took a fresh look at everything and let the music tell us what it wanted next. It was seriously good fun, and we hope you enjoy the listening as much as we did the making of this fine recording.
We meant every note of it" -- Susan Hamlin

"To the magic of her last CD Susan Hamlin now adds draiocht and we are all happily bewitched."
--Paul Elisha, WAMC/Northeast Public Radio

"A marvelous display of high energy at full tilt" Post Star

Susan Hamlin is regarged as one of today's finest performers of Celtic and American Roots Music. "Exquisite guitar work" Troy Record and "warm multi-faceted vocals" --Times Union.

Hamlin is joined by all-star players, including 7 Nations founding piper Neil Anderson "the Jimi Hendricks of the Highland 'pipes," "Titanic" soundtrack guitarist Zan McLeod, fiddle master George Wilson, Tom English (Dr. Bodhran) Brian "Uduboy" Melick on percussion.

"Younger than the Sun's" gorgeous studio production and artwork shine a CD Hamlin's rabid fans say never leaves their CD changer.

Born in Buffalo, NY, Hamlin lived her first years with her grandmother who'd emigrated from Ireland's County Offaly. Singing before she could read, she took her guitar on the road as a Philly-based college folkie then joined the alternative band that later became THE HOOTERS. Her musical oddyssey has come back to her roots. Susan now tours extensively from festivals to concerts to public radio, often in the company of today's finest renegade Celtic artists. Her inventive arrangements of traditional and new acoustic music and fine originals showcase a major talent who's honoring tradition while keeping an eye on the horizon.