The Thistle and Shamrock®
Saturdays from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Program Highlights
Each week, host Fiona Ritchie selects from the best singer-songwriters, dance tunes, rhythmic vocals, ballads, and chants, played on pipes, harps, and other stringed and struck instruments of Celtic persuasion, showcasing them for a rich listening experience.
WBFO’s own Celtic Kaleidoscope complements the international offering with a focus on Western New York. Host and producer Bill Raffel produces hour-long installments about twice a month spotlighting local musicians, touring artists performing in town, and thematic shows based on his own creative inspirations. For information about the events Bill mentions, visit BuffaloIrish.com for links to the local Celtic scene and upcoming events.
The Thistle & Shamrock focuses not only on the great music of Scotland and Ireland, as its name celebrates, but all music with Celtic ties. And the Celtic roots of music run deep, spreading through England and Wales, to the United States, Canada, France, Spain, and further. New artists are building on a powerful style of music to create an entirely new and modern sound. Others carry on traditional Celtic music and find fresh ears for its timeless beauty.
With her authentic Scottish lilt, Fiona Ritchie taps into the burgeoning Celtic music world and presents it with an infectious love for the genre few WBFO listeners can resist. "There is nothing like
folk music, because it explores the intimate nature of everyday life and celebrates the trials and tragedies of regular people," explains Fiona. "I realize that magical musical connections exist between my part of the world and many others, and I take great pleasure in sharing this remarkable music with people."
You can obtain more information about The Thistle and Shamrock by phone at (704) 321-3293, by fax at (704) 321-2990, or you can write to:
Program Highlights
Saturday, March 22nd
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Sounds of the Future – What do today’s college students consider to be “Irish” or “Celtic” music? Bill Raffel compares the sounds with more traditional versions, and shares some comments he shared at the 27th annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium last October.
9PM: Easy Does It - It's not all high-energy reels and jigs, this Celtic music business. Kick back with some soothing voices, including Maire Brennan, Dougie MacLean, Karen Matheson, and some free-spirited instrumentals from Davy Spillane, William Jackson, and Michael McGoldrick.
Saturday, March 29th
8PM: In Conversation at Perthshire Amber - Patsy Seddon is one of Scotland's best-known harpers, celebrated for her innovative work with The Poozies and Sileas. This week Fiona chats with Patsy at the Perthshire Amber Festival.
9PM: The Witness - Jamie Jauncey's novel The Witness is set in the Scottish Highlands at a time in the not-too-distant future when people are caught up in a bloody conflict over who should own the land. Fiona talks about the role of music in the story with Jauncey, who introduces compositions inspired by the book and other music that gives his book its strong sense of place.
Saturday, April 5th
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Northern Ireland – A Peaceful Future. Belfast and Derry have long been famous (and infamous) for their gigantic murals about the trouble. But artists transformed the National Mall in Washington DC last summer with paintings of peace. Bill Raffel concludes his three-part series from the festival with a conversation with a muralist and music looking forward to the end of sectarian violence in the region. We’ll also hear from Sinn Fein later Gerry Adams from his recent visit to Buffalo.
9PM: New From Ireland - This week features full tracks of some of the best new releases in Irish music recently excerpted on our podcast Thistlepod.
Saturday, April 12th
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Cherish the Ladies. The famous all-female Celtic band returns to Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College on Friday, April 18th. Bill Raffel looks forward to the concert with the band’s long-time leader, Joanie Madden.
9PM: Tucked Away in Ireland - While contemporary Celtic musicians are often interested in forging a global fusion, some traditionalists are striving to preserve distinct regional voices. This week's program presents excerpts from flute player Cathal McConnel's collection of old County Fermanagh field recordings, forty years of fiddle recordings captured in County Leitrim, and other hidden treasures.
Saturday, April 19th
8PM: Thistlepod Artists - Hear the full tracks of songs previewed in Thistle & Shamrock's podcast. Artists featured this week include fiddler Pete Clark, singer songwriter Luka Bloom, and Kate Rusby.
9PM: In Full Voice - This week's show features songs from new releases by Kate Rusby, Michael Black, Sylvia Barnes, and Luka Bloom that demonstrate traditional and contemporary song is thriving.
Saturday, April 26th
8PM: John Doyle - Guitar master, singer, and producer John Doyle is one of the most versatile artists in Irish music. On this program, he talks about his signature rhythmic guitar style, how he develops his irresistible arrangements, and his life as a transplanted Dubliner in the mountains of North Carolina.
9PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Lusophonic Celts! – After marrying his wife Eloisa, a native of Brazil, Bill Raffel discovered more fusions between Brazilian and Celtic cultures than he could believe! Did you know the name “Brazil” might have a Celtic origin? And some Galician musical traditions spill over the border to Portugal, the country that colonized Brazil. Bill shares some of these cultural crossovers and speaks with a native of Waterford who owns an Irish pub in Eloisa’s hometown of Curitiba.
Saturday, May 3rd
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Crazy Celtic Covers! Not mutli-colored tweed, but pop songs tweaked by bands such as Dervish, DeDannan, and Solas.
9PM: The Songs of Robert Burns - A variety of artists play their versions of the Scottish bard's songs, including Rod Paterson, Dougie MacLean and Eddi Reader.
Saturday, May 10
8PM: Welsh Roots - This week discover roots music from Wales with established and emerging artists, including master of the Welsh triple harp Robin Huw Bowen and singer-songwriter Meic Stevens.
9PM: Thistlepod Artists - Hear the full tracks of songs previewed in Thistle & Shamrock's podcast. Artists include the Kathryn Tickell Band, multi-instrumentalist Robin Bullock, and Lau.
Saturday, May 17
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Strike Up the Band! Brass instruments are the only family of instruments not part of traditional music. But several composers have arranged traditional tunes for concert band or even written new compositions in the style of older favorites. In preparation for Memorial Day, Bill Raffel explores the band literature with help from the American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, Post 264 directed by William Weikert.
9PM: Thistlepod Artists - Hear the full tracks of songs previewed in Thistle & Shamrock's podcast. Artists featured this week include fiddler Pete Clark, singer songwriter Luka Bloom, and Kate Rusby
Saturday, May 24
8PM: Passing the Torch - Glimpse the future of Celtic music in recordings from emerging artists paired with the masters who inspired them, including North Carolina native Andrew Magill and the great Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll.
9PM: John Doyle - Guitar master, singer, and producer John Doyle is one of the most versatile artists in Irish music. On this program, he talks about his signature rhythmic guitar style, how he develops his irresistible arrangements, and his life as a transplanted Dubliner in the mountains of North Carolina.
Saturday, May 31
8PM: New Anthems - The process is mysterious, has nothing to do with critical acclaim, and can take years to build momentum. But some songs eventually capture the hearts of people from all walks of life who claim them as their own. Hear the Celtic anthems that inspire mass choruses in pubs and sporting venues, and the ones that may do so in years to come.
9PM: Raise Your Voice - Solo singing is revered in traditional circles, but layers of harmony and massed voices create stunning arrangements of traditional and folk songs. This week features choirs from Scotland and Brittany and some of Thistle & Shamrock's favorite bands in fuller voice.
Saturday, June 7
8PM: Berry Pickers, Song Makers - This week features the music of the traveling berry-picking folk of Scotland and Ireland. They camped across the land, performing seasonal farm labor and repair work for the settled community. Along the way they picked up songs and stories and became a great source of traditional balladry and storytelling.
9PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Crazy Celtic Covers! Not mutli-colored tweed, but pop songs tweaked by bands such as Dervish, DeDannan, and Solas.
Saturday, June 14
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Local Sounds. Bill Raffel checks in with local bands to feature their latest recordings and preview some summertime shows.
9PM: Words and Music - We uncover musical connections with Stevenson, Yeats, Scott and other literary figures in the company of Bonnie Rideout, Loreena McKennitt, Battlefield Band and Jean Redpath.
Saturday, June 21
8PM: Celtic Kaleidoscope: Midsummer Sounds, Part II. Since producing a show with music for Midsummer’s Eve June 23) last summer, Bill Raffel discovered even more music. So celebrate the summer solstice, the Feast of John the Baptist, and six months until Christmas tonight!
9PM: Passing the Torch - Glimpse the future of Celtic music in recordings from emerging artists paired with the masters who inspired them, including North Carolina native Andrew Magill and the great Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll.
Saturday, June 28
8PM: Alison Brown and Garry West - The co-founders of an independent record label offer an insider's perspective on the music business, and banjo player Alison Brown demonstrates how she has pushed her instrument into new musical territory, securing an international following from fans of jazz, bluegrass, and new acoustic music.
9PM: New Anthems - The process is mysterious, has nothing to do with critical acclaim, and can take years to build momentum. But some songs eventually capture the hearts of people from all walks of life who claim them as their own. Hear the Celtic anthems that inspire mass choruses in pubs and sporting venues, and the ones that may do so in years to come.
