Tonight's Music

I just saw this video on YouTube this morning. This is Karen Matheson singing.

Tonight's Music

Guy Clark with Karen Matheson - Dublin Blues

Another Waulking song. This one from the isle of Skye. The title translates to My Father Sent Me to the House of Sorrow.

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson performs some Puirt a Beul (mouth music).

Tonight's Music

Paul Bady with Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson from Transatlantic Sessions sept 2007.

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson, of Capercaillie in case any of you don't know by now, sings another cheerful Celtic song. Crucán Na bPáiste, which means "Burial Place of the Children". This is from Karen's CD Downriver.

Here are the lyrics, Gaelic is in green and the English translation is in black:

Is briste mo chroí Broken my heart
Is uaigneach mo shlí Lonely my life
Is mo stóirín in a luí is mé cráite With my darling child lying here and me tormented
'S é deireadh mo shaol It is the end of my world
Is mo chailín beag rua My little red-haired girl
Sínte i gCrucán na bPáiste Laid out in Crucán na bPáiste

Ni fheicfidh sí arís She will not see again
An drúcht ar an bhféar The dew on the grass
Nó an sneachta i ngleannta Mhaamtrasna Nor the snow in the glens of Maamtrasna
Gan ghrian ar a h-aghaidh No sun on her face
Gan ceol binn na n-éan No sweet song of the birds
Ach an chré fuar i gCrucán na bPáiste Only the cold earth of Crucán na bPáiste

Tonight's Music

Darrell Scott sings You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive, an old tune from the hills of Appalachia. Karen Matheson is on backing vocals. This is from the third season of BBC's The Transatlantic Sessions. I've heard that they are coming out on DVD soon. I'll look into it and post a link to where they can be ordered soon.

Tonight's Music

Puirt a Beul (mouth music) with:

Karen Matheson: vocals
Donald Shaw - Piano
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Aly Bain - fiddle
Ronan Browne - uilleann pipes

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson sings a Skye "walking song". Chuir m'Athair Mise Dha'n Taigh Charraideach (My Father Sent Me to the House of Sorrow), incorporating Seudan a'Chuain (Jewels of the Ocean).

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson sings A Skye Walking Song. The first line is Chuir m'Athair Mise Dha'n Taigh Charraideach (My Father Sent Me to the House of Sorrow). This video is from British television's The Highland Sessions.

This song is found on Capercaillie's CD Nadurra.

Tonight's Music

Another video from the Transatlantic Sessions featuring Fiona Kennedy and Karen Matheson. It is called the Sanseptique Set and I recognize Karen Matheson's solo from the Beautiful Wasteland CD, a piece called Finlay's.

BTY, the tin whistles that they are playing cost less than $20.00 and that includes a booklet and CD on how to play them. You can get one of your own here.

Tonight's Music

Another video from the BBC's Transatlantic Sessions. Paul Brady sings A Marriage Made in Hollywood with:
Karen Matheson on backing vocals
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Russ Barenberg - mandolin
Breda Smyth - fiddle
Danny Thompson - bass
Tommy Hayes - percussion

Here are the lyrics:

Jimmy's not a high concept guy
But he's front page news, let me tell you why
He's on the cover of the New York Post
All three networks, coast to coast
All he needed was a hot night in June
'Cos he had the needle and he had the spoon
When he spiked it bit, and man, he flew
Into America's living room

We all love tragedy, it loves us too
It's a marriage made in Hollywood
Between greed and you
All you need to be a star is to die in open view
It's a marriage made in Hollywood
Between greed and you
Between greed and you
Between greed and you

Loved by women, admired by men
He walked down broadway with his best friend
His brain was wired like a light in a socket
With his old friend in his back pocket

That horse could kick, that horse could scream
Ride you out of here into a different scene
Unrequited love, that makes it fair
But who keeps score when you're in mid-air?

Repeat Chorus

Like a free-fall chute that didn't open
He looked down to see his dream was broken
He stared back up at a hot grey sky
Re-run his life and then he died

Well if you jump off a building, brother beware!
'Cos my friend Jimmy woke up mid-air
No time to smile, no time to wave
They buried him in a media grave

Repeat Chorus

This is from Paul Brady's 1995 CD Spirits Colliding

Tonight's Music

From The BBC's Transatlantic Sessions Michelle Wright and Karen Matheson perform The Reason Why I'm Gone. The Transatlantic Sessions soundtrack is available on CD as is the followup Volume 2.

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson of Capercaillie sings Mi Le M'uilinn.

Karen has some good news for Capercaillie fans, from the band's website:

A wee update for you guys re the new album!

Have just spent a wonderful 4 days up at Crear in Kilberry (where I recorded Downriver) rehearsing like fury. When Donald suggested we all go there to work out some new material I have to say I had my reservations. No pub, no telly nothing but sheep, and the ocean, and views of Jura and Ireland, and food to die for, and peace and tranquility! My idea of paradise, but thought the lads would get cabin fever pretty quickly. I was wrong and the atmosphere was amazing, the creative juices were flowing ( or was that the wine!). Anyway we managed to put together 17 new numbers, and more to come. Donald had spent some time at the school of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh doing some research and writing, and then him and I went over to Donegal to do some prep with Manus - (working holiday, beautiful trips to the beach with the kids). We are now planning the next stage in Glasgow for some serious recording in the next few weeks and hopefully the whole process will be quicker this time as we plan to create as much of a live sound as possible, as that is where we feel our forte is at at the moment.

There is also a concert DVD due to be released soon.

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson singing Iain Ghlinn Cuaich from the BBC's Trans-Atlantic Sessions.

Tonight's Music

Karen Matheson appearing with the James Ross Trio in Glasgow back on the first of this month. The song is Riobainean Riomhoch (Gorgeous Ribbons).

Tonight's Music

Another version of Suil A Ruin (Walk My Love).

Tonight's music

James Grant and Karen Matheson sing Evangeline.