I agree, Celtic's been overexposed but it'd be a toss up between.



Kila

or



Mary Jane LaMond

Kila has better songs, but has a few sleepers per cd, Mary Jane's albums overall are more consistant.

If given the choice, I'd flip a coin.

Just one? Can't choose between Alan Stivell (from the Celtic nation everyone forgets, Brittany) or Sileas, a Scottish duo of singers and harpers Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon, who are also in The Poozies, a Scots female vocal group. Actually the incomparable Kate Rusby sings with The Poozies occastionally, and she's English, but they are still as Celtic as Scots can be. Oh, but then there is Davy Spillane. Sorry, too tough a choice.

I've seen Altán live 3 or 4 times and they are absolutely brilliant live. Their combination of high-energy trad, Máiréad's singing, and the bilingual banter and craic between songs make them one of the most enjoyable live bands I've ever seen playing in any genre.

I saw Y Moniars, a Welsh-speaking band, play live in Galway and it was one of the best live performances I've ever seen. I had heard they had got people dancing on the tables the year before and while I didn't see anybody dancing on the tables at that particular gig, the place went absolutely wild. The energy and pure joy they gave to the audience was something to behold. Every single person in the place was dancing and giving it lilty.

I've never heard them on tape/CD (or for that matter heard much about them since) but they were consummate live performers.

Has anybody out there got any info on them?

Capercaillie and Anna Mhoireach (I love the bagpipes and percussion on Am Breacan Uallach ) would be two of my Scottish favourites

I once saw Kila live in Dublin a good few years back and quite frankly was disappointed (after having heard them on tape) but maybe they just weren't in great form that night

I'd have to say, besides their last release, I find Lunasa to have some amazingly good celtic music.