The Outside Track

The quintet arranges traditional themes with a unique creativity that gives the music new wings. The musicians fire up the old tunes with energy, attitude and good vibrations so that they take off and delight audiences throughout the World. This music gives not only wings to audiences but also impresses media. “This is the best new group we heard in quite a while. Stunning. This album is just the beginning. Wow!” wrote Bill Margeson The Outside Track Tradition with new wings whom we know as one of the brains behind WOMAD. Folkworld is also up-beat: ”Their arrangements are imaginative and the playing is faultless. Celtic music – full of energy and virtuosity.” The four young ladies and the guitarist Cillian Ó Dálaigh created a pan-Celtic sound bridging various Celtic traditions and regions. This is no surprise as the members hail from Ireland, Scotland and Canada. In accordance with the bands name they are refreshingly different. They risk a view from outside to inside. It is a view from a World music perspective towards traditional ways of playing. This results even in self-penned compositions. All five are virtuoso players, with fiddle (Mairi Rankin), harp (Ailie Robertson), accordion (Fiona Black), flutes & vocals (Norah Rendell) and guitar (Cillian Ó Dálaigh) the band is rich on instruments and colours. The harp takes over the track to add gravity with its bass strings, which makes up for a bass player. The band is also rich on vocal fire power. The lead vocals of Norah Rendell are nicely harmonised by the others.
Even step dancing in the gung ho style of Cape Breton is part of their set. Cape Breton is renowned for its fiddle players who are able to step dance while playing fiery jigs & reels. You will be spellbound to see Mairi doing just that.