Dipping into the past

The morning after Burns night: memories of Eddi Reader with Boo, bawdiness and romance

Jan 2022: better late than never. Had I thought of it sooner, there might have been a post yesterday to commemorate the birth of Robert Burns on Jan 25 1759. But then, Wikipedia helpfully states that Burns celebrations may be... Read more →


Cover Story (35): Jack Haggerty - Touchstone, Tony Furtado or Celtic Mayhem

June 2021 update: as regular readers will know, I have been updating, tidying up and re-promoting older items. Maybe this is of benefit to those who are new to the site, like some of what they find but haven't the... Read more →


Dipping into the Past: Sharon Shannon - the Salut! Live interview

Please forgive Salut! Live for yet another dip into the past. I am working on a new article in which Sharon Shannon features prominently so it seems a good moment to begin by reintroducing readers to a giant of traditional... Read more →


Dipping into the Past: the beauty and power of English folk yields a personal top 10

Image of Bellowhead by Candy Schwartz, Boston USA OCTOBER 2017 Update: this eloquently presented list of one man's favourite 10 pieces from the vast reserves of English folk music deserves another airing. I still disagree with him about Steeleye Span.... Read more →


Dipping into the Past: the Irish Troubles and music

Tommy Sands takes a bow Irish Philadelphia Photo Essays October 2017 update (a further update appears below as a footnote) ...: I believe Salut! Live's archive deserves a wider audience, not for any merit in the writing but because it... Read more →


Dipping into the Past: The Unthanks ... The Testament of Patience Kershaw

In my constant campaign to draw attention to gems from the Salut! Live archive, now that the site attracts a more respectable number of readers, here is piece of music that combines compelling artistry and painful social history. It recalls... Read more →