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Solas is a homegrown, born in the USA Celtic music group with a sound as authentic as any import. But beyond its members' birthplaces, it's something of a hybrid, performing Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies, as well as bluesy and sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations and global rhythms. Solas's "mind-blowing Irish folk music," as the Philadelphia Inquirer put it, and its other musical modes, can be heard when the ensemble performs at Fairfield's Edgerton Center on March 19.
Solas coalesced as a group in 1996, under the leadership of Seamus Eagan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, low whistle and guitars and Winifred Horan who supplies violin and vocals. Rounding out the ensemble are Mick McAuley on accordian, contertina, low whistle and vocals and Eamon McElholm with guitar, keyboards and vocals and Máiréad Phelan also adding vocals.
At its start, as a newbie, the group quickly won over discerning audiences at Celtic music festivals, including those in Philadelphia, Edmonton, the legendary National Folk Festival, and Milwaukees Irish fest. But unlike other traditional music groups, its game plan pushed beyond these specialized venues, to chamber music and folk festivals, where audiences not steeped in Celtic music quickly responded to the group's inclusion of other genres. Among its legions of fans are musicians Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris and rap producer Timbaland, who sampled Solas on his radio hit All Yall. Clearly not your grandma's Celtic music, make a point of hearing Solas at the Edgerton Center for a performance that transcends all boundaries. Tickets are $10-$25. Their performance begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit the Edgerton's website.
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