All-star cast for new Chieftains album

The Chieftains have confirmed the February 17 release of their 50th birthday album, Voice Of Ages, which includes a highly impressive roll call of “like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits.”

Among those jollying the celebrations along are Bon Iver, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Civil Wars, The Decemberists, Lisa Hannigan, The Low Anthem, Carlos Nunez, Paolo Nutini, Pistol Annies, Punch Brothers, The Secret Sisters and Hot Press’ very good friend Imelda May.

“I got a call from Paddy Moloney saying, ‘Do you want to sing on a song on The Chieftains’ 50th anniversary album?’ The answer being a shrieked, ‘YES!!!!!!!!’” Imelda tells us. “Then he said, ‘Do you want to play bodhrán on it too’, which I wasn’t sure about ‘cause these are the greatest traditional players in the world, but I gave it a lash and it turned out okay. I roped the lads from my band in as well, so you had the double-bass and the guitars dueling with the fiddles and the tin whistles. I think it’s great that The Chieftains have been around since 1962 and are still into experimenting with new artists like myself.”

The album gets a live airing on May 29 when The Chieftains play Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre.