Solas
Encyclopedia
Solas is an Irish-American musical group formed in 1994, playing Irish traditional music
as well as original compositions, sometimes demonstrating an inclination towards Country music in recent albums.
Their name comes from an Irish
word meaning "light". At the time, the band was made up of Séamus Egan
, who had already recorded two solo albums as well as a soundtrack to a film; Winifred Horan
, a member of Cherish the Ladies
; John Doyle
, previously a member of Susan McKeown & The Chanting House
with Egan; Karan Casey
and John Williams. Their first performance was in Georgetown University
's Gaston Hall in Washington, D.C.
in 1995.
Solas received national exposure on American Public Media
's A Prairie Home Companion
in May 1996. That same year, they recorded their first album and, in October, toured the U.S. A second album followed in 1997 and several members of Solas appeared on Karan's debut solo album as session musicians. Following their second album, John Williams left Solas to pursue a solo career to be replaced by Mick McAuley. In 1999, between the releases of The Words That Remain
and The Hour Before Dawn
, Karan left for a similar purpose and was replaced by Deirdre Scanlan. John Doyle left after the release of The Hour Before Dawn, being replaced by Donal Clancy. Clancy left after the release of The Edge of Silence
, and was replaced by Éamon McElholm. In June 2008 the band announced Mairéad Phelan had joined the group as their new singer.
Folk music of Ireland
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.-History:...
as well as original compositions, sometimes demonstrating an inclination towards Country music in recent albums.
Their name comes from an Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
word meaning "light". At the time, the band was made up of Séamus Egan
Séamus Egan
Séamus Egan is an Irish musician.-Early days:Séamus Egan was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania to Irish émigrés Jack and Ann Egan. At the age of three his parents moved the family back home to County Mayo, Ireland....
, who had already recorded two solo albums as well as a soundtrack to a film; Winifred Horan
Winifred Horan
Winifred Horan is an Irish-American fiddler. After classical training, she played with the all-female Celtic music ensemble Cherish the Ladies before becoming an original memberof the Irish traditional music group Solas.-Biography:...
, a member of Cherish the Ladies
Cherish the Ladies
Cherish the Ladies is an American all-female Irish-American super group. The band began as a concert series in New York in January 1985, the brainchild of Mick Moloney who wanted to showcase the brightest female musicians in America in what had been a male-dominated scene...
; John Doyle
John Doyle (musician)
John Doyle is an Irish musician and songwriter. For four years he served as acoustic guitarist with the Irish/American band Solas. He is now an active solo artist...
, previously a member of Susan McKeown & The Chanting House
Susan McKeown
Susan McKeown is an Irish songwriter, folk singer and producer.-Early years:Susan McKeown was born on February 6, 1967 to John Ryan and Jane Ann McKeown in Terenure, Dublin, Ireland. She was greatly influenced by her mother, an organist and composer who died in 1982...
with Egan; Karan Casey
Karan Casey
Karan Casey is an Irish folk singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas.-Early years:Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland. Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she...
and John Williams. Their first performance was in Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
's Gaston Hall in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1995.
Solas received national exposure on American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
's A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
in May 1996. That same year, they recorded their first album and, in October, toured the U.S. A second album followed in 1997 and several members of Solas appeared on Karan's debut solo album as session musicians. Following their second album, John Williams left Solas to pursue a solo career to be replaced by Mick McAuley. In 1999, between the releases of The Words That Remain
The Words That Remain
The Words That Remain is the third album by Solas, released in 1998 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Pastures of Plenty" – 3:24# "The Stride Set: The Stride/Tom Doherty's/The Contradiction/Viva Galicia" – 6:09...
and The Hour Before Dawn
The Hour Before Dawn
The Hour Before Dawn is the fourth album by Solas, released in 2000 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Bheadh Buachaillin Deas Ag Sile" – 3:16# "Granny Quinn's/The Lilac Reel/Sporting Pat" – 4:15# "Last of the Great Whales" – 5:41...
, Karan left for a similar purpose and was replaced by Deirdre Scanlan. John Doyle left after the release of The Hour Before Dawn, being replaced by Donal Clancy. Clancy left after the release of The Edge of Silence
The Edge of Silence
The Edge of Silence is the fifth album by Solas, released in 2002 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Darkness, Darkness" – 4:59# "Charmy Chaplin" – 5:17# "Prelude #1/Black Annis" – 6:31...
, and was replaced by Éamon McElholm. In June 2008 the band announced Mairéad Phelan had joined the group as their new singer.
Discography
- 1996 — SolasSolas (album)Solas is the eponymous debut album by Irish-American music group Solas, released in 1996 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Níl 'Na Lá" – 2:20# "The Flowing Bowl / Máire Breatnachs #1 / The Doon / The Mason's Men" – 3:50...
- 1997 — Sunny Spells and Scattered ShowersSunny Spells and Scattered ShowersSunny Spells and Scattered Showers is the second album by Solas, released in 1997 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" – 2:55# "Big Reel of Ballynacally/The High Hill/Flash Away the Pressing Gang" – 4:30...
- 1998 — The Words That RemainThe Words That RemainThe Words That Remain is the third album by Solas, released in 1998 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Pastures of Plenty" – 3:24# "The Stride Set: The Stride/Tom Doherty's/The Contradiction/Viva Galicia" – 6:09...
- 2000 — The Hour Before DawnThe Hour Before DawnThe Hour Before Dawn is the fourth album by Solas, released in 2000 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Bheadh Buachaillin Deas Ag Sile" – 3:16# "Granny Quinn's/The Lilac Reel/Sporting Pat" – 4:15# "Last of the Great Whales" – 5:41...
- 2002 — The Edge of SilenceThe Edge of SilenceThe Edge of Silence is the fifth album by Solas, released in 2002 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Darkness, Darkness" – 4:59# "Charmy Chaplin" – 5:17# "Prelude #1/Black Annis" – 6:31...
- 2003 — Another DayAnother Day (Solas album)Another Day is the sixth album by Solas, released in 2003 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "Bird in the Tree: Laurel's Reel/Dougie MacDonalds/The Bird in the Tree" – 5:30# "Scarecrow's Dream" – 4:21# "I Wandered by a Brookside" – 3:47...
- 2005 — Waiting for an EchoWaiting for an EchoWaiting for an Echo is the seventh album by Solas, released in 2005 on the Shanachie Records label.-Track listing:# "The Hanover Reel/John James' Reel/The Copperplate" – 5:01# "The Silver Dagger" – 4:30...
- 2006 — Reunion: A Decade of Solas
- 2008 — For Love and LaughterFor Love and LaughterFor Love and Laughter is a studio album by Irish traditional band Solas, and the first to feature their new singer Mairéad Phelan. The album was recorded in Ireland and in Philadelphia and features songs from Boston singer Antje Duvekot...
- 2010 — The Turning Tide
External links
- Official Website
- Solas: America's Own Irish-Music Band at CelticCafe.com