THERE was a time when the phrase folkie celeb was as much an oxymoron as, say, military intelligence. These days John McCusker has as big a claim as any to trad music superstardom. Here he shows why, with a rare excursion into the solo world to remind us that the former Battlefield Band fiddle player has been at the top of his game for a quarter of a century now.
This is a collection of traditional – or in the tradition – tunes and it's a real joy, from the barnstorming Billy's to the achingly pretty Milk Carton Kids. As with any album there are a few fillers, but in true Bothy Band style, it all comes together perfectly with a final track that delivers the killer blow.
His prowess has never been in any doubt, but by finally displaying his light on top of a bushel, rather than hiding it beneath, John McCusker shows why he is a worthy successor to such fiddling greats as Kevin Burke, Michael Coleman and Tommy Peoples. Folkie celebs when that really was an oxymoron.
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