Remarkable energy, fresh perspectives, and superlative musicianship have sent Solas to the top of Irish music in just a few short years, with scores of fans on both sides of the Atlantic and three consecutive awards from the Association for Independent Music for Best Celtic Recording. With their striking penchant for creative arranging and distinctive choice of material, the members of Solas offer a highly original, contemporary view of Irish music.

Intermingled with virtuosic treatments of traditional tunes, the group performs a fascinating selection of contemporary works, blending ancient styles with folk and country melodies, bluesy, sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations, and rhythms borrowed from all around the globe.

Two of contemporary acoustic music’s leading artists form the core of the Solas sound: Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar, and bodhran) and fiddler Winifred Horan. Add to this the stellar playing of Mick McAuley on accordion and concertina and Eamon McElholm on guitar and keyboards, and Niamh Varian-Barry’s rich vocals, and you've got a truly unstoppable musical force. Solas' most recent CD is The Turning Tide (Compass), and they are currently at work on a film project based on the mining history of Butte, Montana, titled Shamrock City.

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Listen to a track from Solas: