THE IRISH LASSIES

Initially, these six longtime friends used to get together for Irish music sessions in local pubs. However, they quickly transformed these informal gatherings into a true musical adventure, forming a sextet that adopted the name The Irish Lassies. After three years together, they released 'Immigration Stories', an album of ten original tracks composed by Caleb Cotter, all linked by the common theme of immigration. In nine songs and one instrumental, the six friends tell the story of Irish migrants in the 18th and 19th centuries through contemporary music that preserves the authenticity of the era.

A successful album that draws on the Appalachian folk tradition. The cover art immediately sets the tone with a solitary ship on the raging waves of the Atlantic Ocean. A visual metaphor, in a way, for the musical journey the band undertakes across the ten tracks. A lively mandolin opens the album with 'Joshua Davis', a maritime ballad inspired by a true story. Then, 'Andersonville' adds a touch of lyricism, slowing the tempo with a guitar/violin duo that lends the melody an almost sensual atmosphere. 'Redwood Shepherd' transports us to the late 19th century, to the world of lumberjacks felling towering, centuries-old redwood trees.

The rest of the album follows suit, enhanced only by the ethereal vocals of Julie from the duo Kinnfolk on 'Whitetop Wagon', which recounts the perilous journey of an Irish immigrant family heading west. Featuring a rich and elegant blend of instruments—guitar, bouzouki, banjo, fiddle, and concertina—the band delivers an album that is compelling on many levels. With this album, these New York artists brilliantly demonstrate that Celtic music has a rightful place in North America.

Cubs Records - www.theirishlassies.com