CELTIC CROSS: Folk and LI -Sometimes it's worth judging something by its cover.
The sleeve of this 16-track CD, with inanely grinning faces, psychedelic patterns and penguins gives the distinct impression that this is not your average folk band.
Celtic Cross mix the happy-go-lucky ethic of upbeat folk with modern technology in the shape of a sequencer which they use to great effect.
Ian Guy, from Clitheroe (guitar, harmonica), and Mark Fox, from Accrington (guitar, sequencer and bodhran), are world-travelled bar and pavement performers whose enjoyment shines through their music, some of which is original and some adapted traditional material.
From the raucous Whiskey In Me Giro to the acoustic singalong storytelling of For All Me Grog, tales of drinking, smoking and enjoying the craic are never far away. The futuristic-sounding wah-wah guitar on She's Got Rhythm is just one example of how Celtic Cross have set themselves aside from other folk performers.
Subject matter includes everything from wartime Irish navvies out on the town in Clitheroe to the excitement of the Australian gold rush.
High-octane and high-tech folk.
Celtic Cross play the Sound '99 outdoor concert in Oakhill Park, Accrington, on Sunday, August 15, and their website is at: http://welcome.to/celticcross
PAUL BARRY
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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