For your listening pleasure...

So, I've been on a bluegrass kick lately. In my listening, I came across this family band called the Cherryholmes. Here's their website.

(You'll find a lot of family bands in bluegrass. In the part of the country where this music originated, this is one way poor families would spend time together, singing and making music. Sounds pretty rich to me! Besides, when family members sing together, their harmonies sound better since they have the same genes. Their voices blend really well!)

Sorry, I went off on a music teacher moment there...

So, the Cherryholmes. Mom, Pop, 2 brother and 2 sisters. The kids, by the way, didn't start playing instruments until 1999. As you'll see, they've come a long way. Check this out..


Here's a clip of them doing some Celtic Dancing too. You see, a lot of the people that settled in these areas of Appalachia were of Irish/English background, so bluegrass and Celtic go pretty well together. Sorry, music teacher mode again...


As if that wasn't enough for you, here's some more bluegrass. Alison Krauss & Union Station singing "Man of Constant Sorrow"


And, just to show another bluegrass/Celtic combo, here's Alison Krauss again. Man, she's good. Here, she's singing an old Celtic tune, Molly Ban, along with The Chieftains (traditional Irish Folk group). Very sad song.



And, for good measure, here are The Cheiftains doing some straight-up Celtic music.


I mean, really. How could you not like that?

Teacher moment - extra credit if you can tell me where the term "Bluegrass" came from...