A Music Junky

I have to admit that I am a total music junky. I have many genres that fill my iPod with the music that I listen to on a regular basis. According to a friend, I have quite an eclectic taste when it comes to both the sound, and the types of music that drive me on a given day. I begin the day with classical music, and finished it with the throbbing sound of John Fogerty and CCR. Most days it is filled with the added sounds of the likes of the Dubliners, The Chieftains and of course Cara Dillion too. For those who aren’t familiar with those musicians, they are all Celtic in sound and at heart.

But if I am honest, I am drawn most to the Celtic music of the six nations more than any other (Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, Isle of Man, Brittany and Scotland – but they sometimes includes a seventh Galicia, Spain.). I was exposed to it in my early years in the form of Irish music that had been brought to the States from groups like the Irish Rovers and The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the sixties. Since then my interest and love of the music has grown to include Irish/American groups such as the Elders out of Kansas City, Cherish the Ladies from New York, as well as the likes of the Celtic punk band The Pogues out of London.

What has accelerated my exposure to the music in the past few years whether it be ballads, or throbbing jigs or reels has been my fellow music junkies and friends, as well as YouTube and other Internet sites of course.  The growth of this genre world-wide  has been phenomenal with fans that call Japan as well as Slovenia home.   Some of the best share a wide variety that the music from the older songs, to whatever is being written and sung  today.

Celtic flavored tunes can rock with punk bands like The Pogues, or an American band Gaelic Storm who are known for their tuneful jigs that were a part of the well known movie Titanic.  The music seems to grab  or drive you but you certainly cannot simply sit and not be a participant.

What has helped expose many to the music are the many music festivals that have sprung up around the world.  From Scotland, to the fabulous Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breten, Nova Scotia, Canada and from Louisiana’s Celtic Nations Heritage Festival to festivals in Australia and and Japan this musical genre has become an ever growing form that shows no sign of stopping…thank goodness!