Mark Dunlop - Islands On The Moon

(September 2008) 11 tracks: The Nightingale * The Breaking of Omagh Jail * Set of Jigs * The Three Huntsmen * The Black Velvet Band * Set of Reels * The Lag Song * Shane Crossagh * The Quaker’s Song * A 1798 March * The Banks of Newfoundland.

The is the debut solo album from Mark Dunlop, a member of one of Scotland’s finest folksong quintets, Malinky.

Originally enlisted for his consummate skills on whistle and bodhran, Antrim-born Mark has subsequently added his considerable vocal gifts to the Malinky line-up, emerging as a wonderfully sensitive interpreter of traditional Irish and other songs.

In 2002 Mark recorded with American mandolin ace Ben Winship, playing whistle and bodhran on tracks featuring bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien. Mark has also worked extensively as a bodhran tutor for adults, with the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop, Edinburgh’s ALP Scots Music Group and the Celtic Connections festival. He has in recent years also been developing his solo singing repertoire.

As a strong traditionalist, his subtle yet melodic approach to rhythmic accompaniment has contributed to his growing reputation as one of the leading Scottish-based bodhran players and with his soulful delivery on Malinky’s recordings and in their live shows, Mark is becoming recognised as a burgeoning talent as a fine young singer in the Ulster tradition.

Islands On The Moon features songs from Northern Ireland, and instrumental sets of tunes, some composed by Mark. There is also some fine session work from Heather Montgomery (fiddle), Chris Wright (guitar, cittern, mandolin) and Steve Byrne (Jew’s harp, guitar, percussion).