artists of the decade

Music is both timeless and immediate, bound in time and yet connecting beyond it. It is a solitary pursuit and a communal one, at the same time, an art that crosses and lasts through seasons, and years, and decades. At its best, it is a continuing conversation.

Here is a nod to those whose conversations I have particularly enjoyed through these last ten years. Wisdom and grace, fire, courage, creativity, humor, great musicality, and sense of spirit, place, and heritage are part of the work of each artist here.

There will be further articles about each of these artists here along the music road as this year unfolds. I hope you will come along for those.

I've included links to stories about several of the artists here. Including links to all would pose problems with internet search engines. However, taking a tip from our road trip partner at A Traveler's Library, I encourage you to place their names in the search box up there on the right to find stories here on Music Road about these artists, and to stay tuned for what is to come.

Thanks for the music, and thanks for the listening. Here’s to continuing these conversations as this new decade begins.

Music Road artists of the decade are

*Cathie Ryan -- a graceful and thoughtful singer and songwriter, who draws on her Irish and American heritage
*Carrie Newcomer wisdom, grace, and mystery seen through daily life
*Kathy Mattea hope and humor expressed through country and folk music
*Natalie MacMaster the heart and spirit of Atlantic Canada to the heart of the world
behind the scenes, *John Doyle and *John McCusker offer creative and engaging support to many gifted musicians, and are well able to step into the spotlight each on their own, as well
*Matt and Shannon Heaton Irish and American music though voice and instrument with energy and taste
*Christine Albert and Chris Gage draw together the roots of Americana and Texas music, with a dash of Albert’s French heritage too
*Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas engaging and creative conversation between fiddle and cello
*Gretchen Peters character songs and personal songs with consistent heart and intelligence, from unexpected angles
*Hanneke Cassel Scottish fiddle with energy, fire and a touch of grace -- and just a touch of other lands too
*Altan taking the local ground of the northwest of Ireland to the local ground of the world
*Hilary Hahn within the disciplines of classical style, great creativity
*Alison Brown jazz bluegrass folk fusion
*Terri Allard songs of hope, faith, and family from the heartland
*Mark O’Connor new American music which brings classical, folk, and jazz into conversation in the same piece


projects of the decade
*Dual Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh explore connections between stories and melodies in Scottish Gaelic and Irish
*The Darwin Song project eight songwriters collaborate to write songs inspired by the life of scientist Charles Darwin
*Wilderness Plots five songwriters tell of connections of people, place, and history in the Ohio Valley

you may also wish to see
Best Music, 2010
New Year's Eve

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Best Irish Interest Articles of 2010, from Irish Fireside

Over at the top travel site Irish Fireside, there's a lot of good reading on their list of Best Irish Interest Articles and Posts of 2010. You can
check out the list here.

I am happy to say that an article from Music Road and another I wrote for Perceptive Travel have been named to the list. As you might think, they both have to do with music.

at Perceptive Travel an evening in Belfast

at Music Road
Ireland: the best free thing


you may also wish to see
Music Road: looking forward, looking back: happy new year

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here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this.Thank you.

Reflections: five of the best

It’s halfway to Christmas, halfway from the new year, another season’s turn. A time for reflection, and for celebration. Here are five posts and a selection of photographs for you to enjoy as you do that. Here's to a wonderful year ahead for all of us. as well. Those of you who know why I notice this day, I’d like it if you’d raise a glass and send a good thought, and those of you who don’t, well, you're invited to join us anyway.

Ahead along the music road, as always, the best from Irish, Scots, and folk and Americana music, and about the creative practice of being an artist. There will be a continuing series on teaching and learning music starting this summer, and more interviews with your favorite artists coming up, as well as reviews, festival previews, and great photographs too. Is there an artist or recording you’d like to see featured? Leave a comment and let us know.

Carrie Newcomer: faith and laughter

Cathie Ryan: Irish and American

Dual: Julie Fowlis & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

ceol chairlinn: sharing music in winter

listening through the changes

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here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this.Thank you.

songs of the century

The Recording Industry of America Association , the National Endowment for the Arts, Scholastic, and AOL@School put together a Songs of The Century, the twentieth century that is, list. For the top ten they chose


1. "Over the Rainbow," Judy Garland
2. "White Christmas," Bing Crosby
3. "This Land Is Your Land," Woody Guthrie
4. "Respect," Aretha Franklin
5. "American Pie," Don McLean
6. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," Andrews Sisters
7. "West Side Story" (album), original Broadway cast
8. "Take Me out to the Ball Game," Billy Murray
9. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," Righteous Brothers
10. "The Entertainer," Scott Joplin

A varied landscape, more Americana and folk based than I'd have expected. They are all enduring songs, ones which have become part of the fabric of life not only America but in many parts of the world.

My list would be different, of course, and it'd vary depending on whether I was choosing something for others to listen to, as these people were, or choosing songs that resonate for me personally. In the first catergory, there'd have to be some Robert Johnson, some Johnny Cash (and Rosanne, too), at least one Elvis song (In the Ghetto might be my pick there), at least one Robert Burns piece, a couple from the Celtic traditions (Raglan Road, The Farthest Wave, Caledonia, Song for Ireland all possibilities), a Carter Family song, some bluegrass, and at least one from the Mexican American borderlands too. And who could forget Bob Dylan?

The personal list, and some thoughts on great songs of 2007, subjects for future writings. What's on your list?

and speaking of great songs, Gretchen Peters has written more than a few, Independence Day, Chill of an Early Fall, On a Bus to Saint Cloud among them. She's just been named Artist of the year at FolkWax, a large popular web site devoted to folk music. Read what I think about her most recent album, Burnt Toast & Offerings, here.

to give you a clue. Burnt Toast & Offerings was among my choices for best album of 2007. to see what else made the list, look here.

-->If you'd like to support my creative work,
here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this.Thank you.