Since joining in this happy family of Chiff & Fipple I have been hearing lots of names of lots of fine artists in the ITM field. I’ve mention of Altan, Kevin Burke, Cherish the Ladies and a host of others. Sadly, no matter how I looked, I was unable to find any CDs by any of them. It just seems that not many Music Importers in my fair wee island home are prepared to bring in ITM for my musical delights.
Then to my delight last week, my partner and I paid a call to a certain slightly out of the way music store about 40Km from where we live, and there I discovered a double album called The Celtic Spirit of Ireland: 25 Years of Green Linnet. And to add to my delight, my lovely partner (who doesn’t even much like ITM) bought it for me!
Green Linnet is an awesome company. Have you been to their website yet? You can actually listen to entire albums from there, kindof a preview before you buy thing (sadly, I have yet to brave the buy-online thing, and heck if my town has any stores that sell much ITM). Anyways, if anyone is interested in checking out the Green Linnet site here it is. Click the “Go Shopping” thing and browse through the selections.
Green Linnet, as a company, arouses strong feelings here at C & F - you might want to read some of the other threads. (Search for “Green Linnet”)
Short version: a number of well-known IrTrad musicians are/were (don’t know the current status) pressing a lawsuit against Green Linnet for years worth of unpaid royalties. (There was a management/ownership change a few years back - the complaints seem to be with the new owners)
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the case, but from what I have read I’m holding off on buying anything more from Green Linnet until this has been settled. Too bad, because they have a lot of music I’d like to own, but I want to make sure that the musicians get their cut.
Hi Chris. Having lived in NZ for a year (albeit about 20 years ago) I know what you mean. The situation got worse for records the further south you went. I believe records enter the country in Auckland and only the leftovers are still around by the time they reach Dunedin.
There’s a small but active celtic music scene in NZ but you have some world class instrument makers. Davey Stewart makes awesome bouzoukis. Some celtic bands do tour NZ so watch out for them.
What you probably need is a mail order outlet nearby for instruments and CDs. I’d recommend Celtic Southern Cross. Beth and Mike who run it are lovely people who will listen to your requests, offer advice and treat you decently. Check out their site at http://www.celt.com.au/
Awesome … thanks for that link Wombat … it’s on my list of favourites and I will be going back many times I am sure. This could be very bad for my WhOA tho
Any bad feelings about them from any other C&Fers? I’ve had only one transaction with them and was pleased. Nothing out of the ordinary. Got some Cherish The Ladies, Joanie Madden, Paul McGrattan and Beginish too. They have tonnes of stuff…
