Lunasa - Redwood

(July 2003) 11 tracks: Cregg's Pipes * Welcome Home * Harp and Shamrock * Fest Noz * Spoil the Dance * A Stor Mo Croi * Dublin to Dingle * Lady Ellen * Cotati Nights * Two-Fifty to Vigo * Temple Hill.

Third release on Green Linnet for this stellar group of Irish musicians.

Bassist Trevor Hutchinson was a key member of The Waterboys, and later he with guitarist Donogh Hennessy would form the dynamic rhythm section of The Sharon Shannon Band. Fiddler Seán Smyth is an All-Ireland champion who has played with Alan Kelly and Dónal Lunny’s Coolfin. Kevin Crawford, considered one of the finest flautists in Ireland, was a founding member of Moving Cloud, and uilleann piper Cillian Vallely has toured with Paddy O'Brien's Chul Rua, Clare fiddler Seamus Connolly and Riverdance.

Along with highly innovative arrangements of traditional tunes, Redwood features original compositions by Lúnasa members Hennessy, Crawford and Smyth. The band also welcomes special guest musician Jim Higgins, of Riverdance fame.

The group’s previous release, The Merry Sisters of Fate, was winner of the Indie Award for Best Celtic Album of the Year 2001 from the Association for Independent Music.

Kevin Crawford (flutes, whistles), Seán Smyth (fiddle, whistles), Cillian Vallely (uilleann pipes, whistles), Donogh Hennessy (guitars, whistles), Trevor Hutchinson (double bass) and Jim Higgins (bodhrán, snare drum).

"the new Celtic royalty" (Boston Herald)

"Redwood was conceived during a band break at Matt Greenhill’s ranch near Occidental, California in October 2001. We wanted to capture the live impact of Lúnasa, without losing the sonic quality that we always endeavor to achieve on our albums. We checked out a few studios in the area and happened upon the renowned Prairie Sun Studios in Cotati. We booked ourselves in for ten days in the middle of our February 2002 US tour - it was a wonderful and unique experience and we hope you enjoy the result." (Lúnasa)