Other Voices

Other Voices is a music series broadcast on Irish television that gathers all kinds of artists to film live performances in a church in Dingle. Before I left my Ireland vacation for home a few summers ago, the Y's gave me two CDs as parting gifts. The first was a collection of Irish artists covering Top 40 (it's fun and deserves attention another time) and the second was Other Voices 3.

Aside from Our Mutual Friend by The Divine Comedy which I've raved about previously, Kite Flyers Hill by Eddi Reader, Ellis Unit One by Steve Earle and Saints and Sinners by Paddy Casey stand out in Series 3. Reader's performance from the show is at the link above, but the links to Earle's and Casey's sets seem to have crapped out. This version of Ellis Unit One is a close approximation to the one on the disc. Saints and Sinners, Live from the Olympia, is equally good. Paddy Casey's playing Canadian Music Week on Saturday and has been anointed by The Star as one of the best bets.

I'm not sure where one would lay hands on a copy of Other Voices 3 here in these snowy parts, but the show's website features clips. In theory.