Staff Pick: Liadan

I love Celtic music. Capercaillie's Sidewaulk is the album that opened the door to traditional music for me, and I've never looked back! As Cityfolk's main Celtic music booker for the last few years, one of my perks has been listening to all the Celtic CDs we receive from performers who'd like to appear on our stages, and hearing as many new talents live as possible.

Of course, not every band meets our high standards. Phyllis Brzozowska set the bar for artistic quality when she founded Cityfolk back in the mid-80s, and we haven't lowered it since! So it's a real treat when a hot new group comes along...especially when I haven't heard of them before.

My ears perked right up at the first few bars of Liadan's self-titled first release. Three lively polkas romped along, skillfully played and delightful. But the song that came next is the thing that really made me sit up and listen: all six ladies in the band sing, and their a capella version of "P It Stands for Paddy" is hold-your-breath lovely. I have not heard anything like it from another Irish band.

To my delight, Citymusic in Columbus presented Liadan in October, and my husband and I were able to see them live. As good as the CD was, they're even better in person! These six talented ladies met while pursuing Masters degrees at the University of Limerick, and the rapport between them on stage clearly developed from both formal rehearsals and informal craic in the corner of a pub. As with many Celtic acts, hearing their good-natured ribbing and funny stories in lilting brogue added to the fun.

They will be back in the US at least twice in the new year, though sadly it doesn't appear that they'll be close enough for a road trip. So don't wait: visit them on MySpace and give these gals a listen. They're fantastic!