Their Bassist is friggin awesome. At concerts he takes turns with the Harmonium player on the reels. I’ve never heard a reel played on fretless bass, it was something else!
I’ll also suggest some nice Celtic Metal (or whatever one should call it): Thanateros
And Enter the Haggis are … different. Live more interesting than from a CD, though mixing Scotland the Brave and Hava Nigila is indeed something out of the ordinary
Hedningarna are great, we were introduced to their music about 5 years ago, have all their albums and bought a new compilation CD last weekend and was playing Kaksi at the weekend too, excellent album.
Another couple of bands from Germany come to mind that are loud folk rockers: Fiddlers Green and Cromdale. ( www.fiddlers.de and www.cromdale.de ) Colin is sometimes a guest player with both bands live and in the studio. He is playing with Cromdale tomorrow night http://rocknacht.open4all.net/
There are some sound samples on both bands websites which are fun as long as you are not into staight pure trad, maybe worth checking out.
Brigitte, that Cromdale band sounds like a total knock off of Subway to Sally for their sound and the fact that the name Cromdale probably came from the title of the first track on Suway’s first album.
I must admit I had never made any connection between Cromdale and STS. If you went to a concert of each today you would not even think of making a connection due to the music itself, outfit of the bands and definitely outfits of the audiences which for STS can be scary if you are not used to blending white skin and BLACK clothes and make up more direction of Dracula enheritance at times than human We have Herzblut and Hochzeit (thanks to Henkersbraut for suggesting the second one to us) which sounds absolutely different to what Cromdale do. I do not know about the early album Cromdale from STS you mention and which “style” they started but the instrumentation with Hurdy Gurdys, Bagpipes some other windinstruments gives it a darker feel and fits into the Gothic scene here perfectly, most of the songs I know of STS are sung in German now and the lyrics remind in their feel of Jungian psychology with archetypical characters and very poetic.
As far as I know Cromdale took their inspiration more from Fiddlers and are rock musicians loving Irish music. Fiddlers were initially inspired by the Pogues although they have their own sound now.
What I have seen over the years (in Germany and also with more traditional bands elsewhere) is that there are songs that get played by many different bands all different approaches, some I really like some not at all. We were at one festival in June and one song was played by five bands from six over the weekend all different approaches. I will see Cromdale tonight and could find out about how they got their name, what I do know is that Cromdale is a sword and they have a huge one on stage. What I like also about Cromdale and Fiddlers is although they look rough they are a bunch of nice guys with no additude, enjoying playing their music and you can see it in their concerts.
Listen to STS’s first album completely different than what they do know. I was disapointed when I heard a song from Album 1994 then one from a later album in fact 1994 only has two or three songs in German the rest in English. I would say there first album sounds like the Pogues with a more metal influence.
If you can find it, the album “Bee’s Knees” by Hamish Moore (Scottish piper) is darned tootin’ good. It’s a collaboration with some jazz musician who’s name escapes me.
I did not get round to go to the concert, had whistles to wrap up while Colin went off to play the gig with Cromdale (Meister spielt und das Weib arbeitet ) He asked Thomas, the singer how they got their name. At one time he was in a band called “Chaste” (? speling) and they were under the same management as Subway to Sally. Anyway he liked the track Cromdale and the name from STS and that is were the name comes from, you guessed right about the name but the music they play is not based on STS style from their first album, although Thomas has everything that STS has published. Ein halber Gummipunkt für Dich!
Yesterday Colin said, three bands played, Cromdale being the headlining band. The vibe, setting and sound was brilliant unfortunately the only drawback was that there was no audience. 36 people in the hall and only 11 tickets were sold. As an organiser you NEVER EVER plan a concert when Germany’s football team is playing AND Formula one weekend at the same time :roll: I think they made heavy losses and the unfortunate thing was all the bands did not get paid but a good time was had by everyone that was there. Colin said it was the smallest audience he had ever performed to, the one before this was at Dranouter festival in the “small tent” playing to about 9000 people.
Anyway, have to do some more work here before I can go on holiday tomorrow morning
Brigitte
@Brigitte: You might want to give the new Subway album a go too - it’s like a sad / longing version of Herzblut. The album '94, though, is a pure folk rock album. Some rather charming pieces of lyrics on it (Elvis apparently lives). Say hi to Colin from me & enjoy your holidays!
I agree about Cromdale, though - they don’t remind me of anything but maybe the Fiddler’s and that kind of bands.
Another good band for this thread would be the Austrian Puke (what a name). Paddy goes to Holyhead is also back with the semi-original lineup, most importantly with Paddy Schmidt on vocals.
The Norwegian band Greenland Whalefishers is probably known to people here, but if you don’t know them and enjoy the Pogues, you should really have a listen!
I’ve gotten into the Dropkick Murphys, more punk than metal…they throw in some whistle and pipes in some of their stuff, as well as a few traditional songs reworked.
Hello - new lurker - Cromdale, or at least the band Cromdale I am familiar with has been around for a long time, started originally with the singer Bobby Watt (http://www.bobbywatt.com/).
Another up and coming celtic rockband that may interest some of you is the Mudmen - containing pipers Sandy and Rob Campbell (former members of the 78th Frasers I believe). If you get the chance see them live - they put on one helluva show. (http://www.mudmen.ca/indexframes.htm)
We have Herzblut and Hochzeit (thanks to Henkersbraut for suggesting the second one to us) which sounds absolutely different to what Cromdale do. I do not know about the early album Cromdale from STS you mention and which “style” they started but the instrumentation with Hurdy Gurdys, Bagpipes some other windinstruments gives it a darker feel and fits into the Gothic scene here perfectly, most of the songs I know of STS are sung in German now and the lyrics remind in their feel of Jungian psychology with archetypical characters and very poetic.
) He asked Thomas, the singer how they got their name. At one time he was in a band called “Chaste” (? speling) and they were under the same management as Subway to Sally. Anyway he liked the track Cromdale and the name from STS and that is were the name comes from, you guessed right about the name but the music they play is not based on STS style from their first album, although Thomas has everything that STS has published. 
Ein halber Gummipunkt für Dich!