John Doyle, Nuala Kennedy, and Eamon O’Leary are master Irish traditional musicians, and leading lights of today’s folk scene. Though The Alt could be easily called a supergroup, at its heart it is really a celebration of friendship and song.

The beautiful mountain Knocknarea in Ireland’s County Sligo is said to be the final resting place of the ancient Irish warrior-queen Maeve. The ‘Alt’ is a storied glen on the side of Knocknarea, and it was in the shadow of this glen in the little village of Coolaney that the trio first gathered to rehearse.

The old ballads, winding tunes, and freshly discovered songs that each of these three friends brought to the table reflect the pure love of the song that has made Irish music so beautiful and compelling over thousands of years. It’s this same love of the song that the Irish brought to America, nestling into their new homes in Appalachia and forming the bedrock that would bring us American country, bluegrass, and old-time music.

The Alt are fully aware of this history, and in fact chose to record their debut album in the quiet isolation of a small cabin in North Carolina’s Appalachian mountains. Alone with just the scurrying sounds of little mice accompanying them, each of these master musicians was able to use their partnership to touch at something deeper in the music, something swift and beautiful and magical that has always run beneath these songs.

with CAS CEOL opening

Cas Ceol (cass-kyul) brings together three friends from three fine Central PA family bands: Melissa Hagy of The Celtic Martins on fiddle; Mary-Kate Spring Lee of Seasons on harp and concertina; and Cushla Srour of Irish Blessing on keyboards, flute and whistle. Their repertoire features both beloved Irish tunes and those less well known, but no less gorgeous. The trio debuted at festivals this past summer, including our own Susquehanna Folk Festival.