Ten Years of Folk Fleadh

THESE TWO compilations have been released to commemorate the tenth anniversary of promoter Vince Power's hugely successful annual celebration of Irish music. The Fleadh, which began life on a rainsoaked June Sunday in London's Finsbury Park in 1990 is now established as a major showcase of Irish-related talent and is also staged as far afield as New York and San Francisco.

The first collection concentrates on many of the acoustic, folk and traditional acts who've triumphed at the festival over the years and includes virtually everyone that matters in the genre. Kicking off with Fleadh stalwart Christy Moore's 'Welcome To The Cabaret' it also features Mary Black ('No Frontiers'), Mary Coughlan ('Ancient Rain'), Sinéad Lohan ('No Mermaids') and Brian Kennedy ('Captured'). The traditional wing is ably represented by De Dannan ('Do It In Jig Time'), Altan ('Dark Haired Lass'), Sharon Shannon ('Blackbird') and Donal Lunny's 'Glentown', while even Bono gets a look in as the guest vocalist on Clannad's groundbreaking 'In A Lifetime'.

Like the Fleadh itself the album extends beyond purely Irish acts and the inclusion of John Prine ('All The Best'), John Martyn ('May You Never') and Billy Bragg ('Sexuality') lends the collection a more international flavour.

The rock collection is even more impressive in scope – it's also more outward looking with only half of the acts here being Irish. It kicks off on a high note with Bob Dylan's masterful 'I Want You' followed by Elvis Costello's classic 'Oliver's Army', The Beautiful South's 'Don't' Marry Her' and The Commitments’ 'Mustang Sally'.

The Irish element is strong with tracks from Van Morrison ('Brown Eyed Girl'), Sinéad O'Connor ('Mandinka'), Ash ('Oh Yeah'), Hothouse Flowers (‘Don't Go') and Divine Comedy ('National Express'). Rory Gallaghers' choogling 'Loanshark Blues' is a welcome inclusion though most people could probably live without Bob Geldof's 'This is The World Calling' and The Sawdoctor's live rendition of 'Green And Red Of Mayo'.

Some may quibble, but these two compilations represent a fine sampler of some of the best music of the past decade.