Blackthorn "Market Town" 1996
(Not 70's UK band)

Blackthorn is a Vancouver (Canada) - based folk group whose repertoire celebrates the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and England, as well as folk music (including originals) of Canada. Savour the harmonies of the Celtic ballads, the boisterous, up-tempo folk songs, and dance to the lively jigs and hornpipes.

Over 14 years of professional playing makes Blackthorn "Vancouver's most experienced and seasoned Celtic band".

Market Town by Blackthorn, is a similarly ballad-centered album from Canada. Blackthorn features both male and female vocals, fiddle, guitar, mandolins, banjo, flute, piccolo, whistle, accordion, bass, bodhran and percussion; clearly they're capable of widely varying arrangements. Like Walsh's, their album features mostly well-covered tunes and songs, although a few more obscure ones, like " 'Twas Pretty to Be in Ballinderry" do appear. Also on the minus side, the singing is a bit mannered; clearly these are North Americans trying hard! On the other hand, the playing and arrangements are quite sophisticated and make use of all those instruments nicely. Their tunes, too, have a North American (contradance?) feeling to them, but it's not as distracting there. In all, a good job and a fun listen.