Altan

Altan have been long established as the best and foremost traditional Irish band to come out of Ireland.

This was recognised on November 7, 2006, when the Irish Government through An Post (The Irish Postal Body), honored Altan by issuing a postal stamp featuring the band.

This award showed Altan’s immense impact on recent Irish culture at home and abroad and the growing popularity of Irish traditional music generally.

With their exquisitely produced award-winning recordings, their ground breaking ‘Island Angel’ recording going to no.2 in the Billboard World Music Charts in 1993, ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching ancient ballads all the way to the energetic foot-tapping reels and jigs, and their heart warming engaging live performances, Altan have moved audiences from Donegal all the way to Tokyo, to Sydney, Seattle and beyond.

Altan’s music is steeped in the rich and colourful heritage of County Donegal in the North West of Ireland.

“The material (on Blackwater) is largely traditional… the final piece, is simply the most captivating, resonant and beautiful music Altan have played, and makes useless for three and a half minutes the history of rock ‘n’ roll” Mojo (UK)

“The Red Crow is a triumphant restatement of the virtues of the traditional approach” Q Magazine

“The appeal of Altan centres on the fact that they see no differences or divisions in music. As such, they have managed to cross the all- important cultural barriers between folk and world and rock music” The Sunday Tribune, Dublin