I closed my weekend last night at the Irish Arts Center on W. 51st St, which featured five groups playing traditional Irish music, all presented as part of this year's APAP conference which also hosted downtown's Winter Jazzfest. (I also attended last year's event.) There were instrumental bands (Caoimhín O Raghallaigh, Caladh Nua), singer-songwriters (John Spillane), even a sean-nos singer (Iarla O Lionárd.)
But for me, the highlight of the night was Sligo's The Unwanted: a trio that blends traditional celtic music with American roots music, particularly the blues. Lead singer Cathy Jordan (who also leads the acclaimed Irish band Dervish) explained that their sound simply reflected "that great ebb and flow of music across the Atlantic." Music that started in Ireland washed up on these shores, got transformed, and then was sent back by people like Rory Gallagher and The Unwanted's own Rick Epping: a California native who's played with Bill Monroe and bluesman Mance Lipscomb, among others. Hearing Epping's jaw harp mixed with Seamie O'Dowd's slide guitar and Jordan's vocals, it sounded like a strangely happy Dylan revisiting Highway 61, stopping for a pint along the way. In other words: something new and worth your while. (More pics below.)