Wetootwaag's Bagpipe and History Podcast

Original Compositions, Historic Tunes and Popular Culture of the 18th and 19th Centuries

About the show

This show is (mostly) a bi-weekly podcast that explores the likely repertoire of eighteenth and early nineteenth century bagpipers, using historic music collections (written for bagpipes or not), performed on Uilleann pipes, Highland pipes, Border pipes, Lowland Pipes, Northumbrian Smallpipes and whistles. Every episodes notes include links to the historic sheet music when available. For information about my Albums go here:

https://www.wetootwaag.com/albums

For information about Jeremy and the instruments played on the show go here:
https://www.wetootwaag.com/about

Wetootwaag's Bagpipe and History Podcast on social media

Episodes

  • S 08 E 12 Saw a Lassie of Fifteen in the Mines at Wicklow: John Sutherland Manuscript Part 2

    June 15th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 14 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    John Sutherland: The Witches, The Boys of the Mall, Boys Avoid of all Care, Peggy Kelly
    Fitzmaurice: Turn the Pig from the Teapot Jigg
    O’Farrell: The Gay Lass, Saw Ye a Lassie of Fifteen, The Merry old Woman, Old Women’s Money, Tiarnnan Mayo, Lord Mayo,
    Playford: Wou’d you Have a young Virgin or Poor Robin’s Maggot,
    Thomas D’Urfrey: Would ye have a young virgin of fifteen years
    Chappell: Poor Robin’s Maggot
    John Gay: If the Heart of a Man is Distrest with Cares (Scene III The Beggar’s Opera)
    Alan Ramsay: Would you have a young Virgin of fifteen Years,
    Chetwood: Wou’d you court a young Virgin
    Oswald: Saw Ye a Lassie of fifteen Years
    James Aird: Miners of Wicklow, Miners of Wicklow
    Thompson: Tiagharna Mhaighe-co
    James Goodman: Lord Mayo

    Cover Art From William Hogarth’s Marriage A La Mode
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marriage_A-la-Mode_4,_The_Toilette_-_William_Hogarth.jpg

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 11 Exploring Key Signatures from Walker Jackson Part 2 with tunes from Frank Claudy and Patrick Hutchinson

    June 1st, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 9 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Walker Jackson: Cossey’s Jigg, Jackson’s Morning Brush, Jackson’s Night Cap, Jackson’s Dream, Humours of Listivain, The maids in the Morning
    Niel Gow: The Cossy Jigg
    James Aird: Casseys Jig, The Humours of Listivain,
    O’Farrell: The Cosey Jigg, Jerry’s Rambles,
    Francis O’Neill: Jimmy O’Brien’s Jig
    John Clinton: Copey’s Jigg,
    John Bowie: Humours of Listivain, Pither in Enough
    O’Farrell: Jerry’s Rambles, Sally McGee, Sheelina Gra Will You Be Mine,
    Henry Hudson: Jolly Old Woman
    Richard Levey: The Humours of Bandon
    Patrick Hutchinson: Humours of Listivain
    Frank Cloudy: Humours of Listivain
    Many thanks to Patrick Hutchinson and Frank Cloudy for supplying me with their takes of Humours of Listivain.

    Patrick and Frank both mentioned Kieran Jordan’s Sean-nós dance choreography to the tune
    Kieran kindly sent me a link to a video of the dance, which begins around fifteen minutes in (with a solo slow air)
    https://youtu.be/mVxeGJIaDaY?si=2y23oW2oAGoNMfkZ&t=1031

    If you’d like to get a copy of the Album Frank Cloudy sent me (and I highly recommend it) send Frank an email (and $12 to claudyf@msn.com )
    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 10 Tunes from the William Litten Manuscript

    May 25th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 59 secs
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    You can look at the ABC notation of these tunes here:
    http://www.cpartington.plus.com/Links/Litten/Litten%20Info.html

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S08 E09 Exploring the Key Signatures in Jackson’s Celebrated Irish Tunes

    May 18th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 2 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    S08 E09 Exploring the Key Signatures in Jackson’s Celebrated Irish Tunes

    Tunes:
    Ewan MacColl: Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell
    Walker Jackson: Humours of Panteen, Jackson's Bouner Bougher (3 Ways), Jackson over the Water,Jackson’s Turret, The Figure of 3,
    John Bowie: The Humours of Panteen, Pither in Enough
    James Aird: Pither in Enough, Jackson Over the Water,
    John Murphy: Jackson Over the Water
    O’Farrell: Jackson’s Lake, Jacksons Punch Bowl, Jacksons Bottle of Punch
    Sutherland: Jackson’s Lake,
    Francis O’Neill: The Figure of Three
    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 08 John Peacock’s Collection Part 1 (aka 5 days with a Northumbrian Small pipe Chanter)

    May 4th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  46 mins 12 secs
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Peacock: Frisky, Welcome to the Town Again, A Mile to Ride, Niel Gows Wife, New Drops of Brandy, Bonny Lad, Niel Gow, Money Musk, Lady Coventry’s Minuet
    Donald MacDonald: We’ll Gang Nae Mair to Yon Town
    Alexander MacKay: A mile to Ride
    Niel Gow: Niel Gow’s Wife
    Walker Jackson: Cummilum
    James Aird: Niel Gow
    James Bremner (and Frances Hopkinson): Lady Coventry’s Minuet

    Special thanks to Benjamin Elzerman for the chanter and Reed!

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E07 George MacLeod's 1784 Repertoire part 2 (Patrick MacDonald's Piper)

    April 20th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 4 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    William Vickers: Strike The Bell
    Johnson: Simon Pure
    Straight and Skillern: Stage Chace
    Menzies: Taste Life’s Glad Moments
    Patrick MacDonald: Tune 7 (The Goat Herd), Tune 8 (Spoigan/The Innundation), Tune 9 (The Drover Lads), Tune 10 (The Unfortunate Jock), Tune 11 (Behind the Bush in the Garden), Tune 12
    Donald MacDonald: The Goat Herd
    William Gunn: The Goat and Sheep Herd, The Inundation, The Drover Lads, Behind the Bush in the Garden
    Angus MacKay: The Goat Herd
    David Glen: The Goat Herd
    Robert Ross: Spoigan
    David Young: Unfortunate Jock

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 06 Gathering Of the Clans Revisited a Conversation with Barry Shears

    April 13th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 39 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Barry Shears: The Hen's March over the Hill, John MacColl's Favourite
    O'Farrell: The Hen's Concert
    Several other tunes played by Barry Shears

    Check out Barry's New Edition of Gathering of the Clans here:

    https://capebretonpiper.com/content/gathering-clans-collection-volume-1-anniversary-edition

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 05 Thank You Ross Anderson: Tunes from John Sutherland and David Young

    April 6th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 3 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    John Sutherland Manuscript: The Lady’s Favourite, Paddy Whack, Kiss about the Hay Stacks, Salt Beef and Dumplings, The Peasant’s Dance, The Nosegay, Duncan Davison, Nancy Larson, Balty Horah, Trip it Up Stairs, Cock and the Hen, Fanny’s Fancy, The Witches,
    David Young: Tail Todle, Collar Reel, Macfarlane’s Reel, Inverara Reel, The Wood of Fyvie, Four and twenty Highlandmen, What Meikle Sorrow Ails You, Corby Reel, Wattie Laing, O’er Bogie, Up and Worst them All Willy, Because I was a bonny Lad, Unfortunate Jock, The Confederacy, Kirkcudbright, You’ll Ay be Welcome Back Again, The Old Wife Beyond the Fire, Rob Shore in the Harvest, A Ranting Highlandman, Fettercairn Reel,

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    All of the tunes this week come from John Sutherland’s 1780s Manuscript and the Drummond Castle Manuscript from 1737 available on Ross’s Music Page: https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/music/index.html

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    Here are some Obituaries and Tributes to Ross Anderson:
    https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366577932/Obituary-Professor-Ross-Anderson-pioneer-in-security-engineering-and-campaigner
    https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2024/03/31/rip-ross-j-anderson/
    https://www.lightbluetouchpaper.org/2024/03/29/rip-ross-anderson/
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39864210
    https://memex.naughtons.org/monday-1-april-2024/39303/
    https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/news/ross-anderson
    https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/03/ross_anderson_obit/

    FIN

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 04 George MacLeod's 1784 Repertoire part 1 (Patrick MacDonald's North Highland Piper)

    March 23rd, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 8 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Patrick McDonald: Ossian’s soliloquy on the death of all his cotemporary Heroes, North Highland Country Dances tunes 1-6, 24, Màraidh bhàn òg. {Potential/likely titles for tune 1-6: Tune 1: Joseph MacDonald’s Jig, Tune 2: Lady Wemyss’ Jig/Whip her and gird her, Tune 3: Far awa Wedding, Tune 4: maybe Shaggy Grey Buck, Tune 5: Stumpie, Tune 6& 24: Lord Reay’s Jig}
    O’Farrell: Apples in Winter
    Holden: Irish Trott
    Donald MacDonald: LadyWemyss’ Jig
    William Vickers: Cold and Raw

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 03 My Approach to Music Theory and the Historical Repertoire

    March 9th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 3 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Bremner: St. Paul/Aberdeen, Bristol
    John Murphy: Miss Boswell’s Jig

    William Dixon: Hacky Honey

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    Here is a link to the music Theory video Rod shared with me about the way white supremacists have used music Theory:
    https://youtu.be/Kr3quGh7pJA?si=GQqtJUc7O6VFbIc6

    I recorded this episode about a month before this article often discussed with some sort of click bait title like “Pythagoras was wrong about music theory” (speaking of clickbait, did you know academics and journalists alike don’t often get a say on the title of their work, so if you see a particularly egregious title, don’t necessarily hold it against the author). The abstract is that our “western musical theory and the idea that there was universal harmonies, and that good music is just about consonance and not dissonance” is obviously a really limited perspective on what good music is, and intrinsically apparent to anyone who plays a drone instrument, or regulators.
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45812-z

    Settings:

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    1762: Aberdeen (In G) from Bremner’s Rudiments of Music
    https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87723589

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    1762: Bristol (In G minor) from Bremner’s Rudiments of Music
    https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87723781

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    1810: Miss Boswell’s Jigg from John Murphy
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_collection_of_Irish_airs_and_jiggs_wit/_Up5WmARde0C?hl=en

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    1733: Hacky Honey from William Dixon’s Manuscript

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    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S 08 E 02 UPDATED Robert Bremner's Rudiments of Music

    February 24th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 3 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Robert Bremner: French, Elgin, Stilt, Jush of Perth, Blue Britches, Dunfermling

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S08 E 01 My Approach to a Historical Repertoire

    February 10th, 2024  |  Season 8  |  1 hr 5 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    O’Farrell: Humours of Toddy
    Niel Dicke: Patti
    Donald MacDonald: Dunrobin Castle
    Jeremy Kingsbury: The Pretty Sporran
    Angus MacKay: The Pretty Dirk
    Patrick MacDonald: Lord Reay’s Jig
    Straight and Skillern: Miss Fowler’s Delight, The Nabob, Pantheon, The Oak Tree,
    James Aird: Rondo

    (Sources and Links Coming Soon, email me If you want something and I haven’t uploaded the Show notes yet)

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • Rerun: The Patrick McDonald’s Discussion With Keith Sanger, Matt Seattle, Barry Shears and Pete Stewart

    January 27th, 2024  |  Season 7  |  1 hr 20 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    From Joe Hughie MacIntyre courtesy of the Barry Shears Collection: Tulloch Gorum, Sandy Cameron, Eight Men of Moidart, Miss Proud.

    On the Podcast this week I’m joined by Keith Sanger, Matt Seattle, Barry Shears and Pete Stewart to have a conversation with Patrick McDonald's Collection of Vocal Airs as the starting point.

    Tunes: From Joe Hughie MacIntyre courtesy of the Barry Shears Collection: Tulloch Gorum, Sandy Cameron, Eight Men of Moidart, Miss Proud.
    Listen wherever you enjoy podcasts (Now on Stitcher!) or by following the link below:
    https://www.wetootwaag.com/s5e22

    email me at wetootwaag@gmail.com if you'd like to participate in a book club discussion of the Patrick McDonald Collection Book If I hear from enough folks I'll try to set one up.

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • Rerun Important Influences: The Patrick McDonald’s Collection of Highland Vocal Airs Audiobook

    January 13th, 2024  |  Season 7  |  1 hr 25 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    This is a rerun of an episode from July, 2021.
    The Preface and Article were Read by Anthony Smith.

    Get in touch with him about any voiceover projects via email:
    2acanthonysmith@gmail.com

    You can watch his excelent Bodhran Videos on his Instagram:

    https://www.instagram.com/smithpercussions/

    If you would like to see the Patrick McDonald Original book you can read it here:
    https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Collection_of_Highland_Vocal_Airs_To_w/XCvLHYWLkFcC?hl=en&gbpv=0

    You can buy the annotated print of the book with tune titles filled in here:
    https://www.scotlandsmusic.com/Product/SM-V7M9GD/the-patrick-mcdonald-collection

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S7 E29 Susanna Blamire (the Muse of Cumberland) and the Season Finale

    December 30th, 2023  |  Season 7  |  1 hr 20 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    S7 E29 Susana Blamire and the Season Finale
    Tunes:
    Eliza Ross: Miss Mary____, Unnamed, Will you Take a Wife Donald,
    Christian Dalrymple (via James Watlen): Miss Watson’s Favorite
    Anna Gordon: Clark Colven
    David Young: Tibbie Fowler of the Glen, Hey My Nanny,
    Ewan Maccoll: Tibbie Fowler
    Susana Blamire: I’m Tibby Fowler of the Glen, Oh Jenny Dear I’ve Courted Lang, Oh Donald! Ye are Just the Man, Jack Lattin, Cumberland Scold, Dear Nancy, Oh Jenny Dear the Word is Gane,
    Henderson: Lucy Campbell
    William Blackstone: Commentaries on the Laws of England
    William Vickers: Cold and Raw

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag

  • S7 E28 Mixtape Episode

    December 16th, 2023  |  Season 7  |  1 hr 29 mins
    bagpipes, baroque, border music, celtic music, country dance, dance music, eighteenth century, greath highland bagpipes, history, irish bagpipes, irish history, light music, nineteenth century, performance, recorded music, scottish bagpipes, scottish history, talk show, uilleann pipes, united kingdom history

    Tunes:
    Innes Watson and Jarlath Henderson: The Final Trawl
    Dàimh: An Dubh Ghleannach
    Brìghde Chaimbeul: Crònan
    Dave Rowlands: La Chanterelle and Spinning Jenny
    Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Dan Trueman: The Fate of Bones
    Plúirín na mBan: Two Brothers
    Matt DeBlass: Middlebook
    Jeff Mann & Andrew Morrill: The Highland Vamp
    The Fabled Folks: Enkidu
    Jason Rouse: The Fairy Hill (Sí Beag, Sí Mór) & Fergus McPhilimey and his Sarcastic Son
    Fàrsan: Pronn an Caoran (Smash the Ember)
    Cleveland Celtic Ensemble: Ole Joe’s Jig & Road to Banff

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    The Final Trawl from Innes Watson and Jarlath Henderson’s Album “A Moment in Time”
    https://innojar.bandcamp.com/album/a-moment-in-time-2

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    An Dubh Ghleannach from Dàimh’s new album SULA.
    https://daimh.bandcamp.com/album/sula

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    Crònan from Brìghde Chaimbeul’s “Carry Them With Us”
    https://brighdechaimbeul.bandcamp.com/album/carry-them-with-us

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    La Chanterelle and Spinning Jenny from Dave Rowlands “Final Disclosure”
    https://daverowlandsbagpipes.bandcamp.com/album/final-disclosure

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    Fair and Equal Fable from Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Dan Trueman’s album: “The Fate of Bones”
    https://irishmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-fate-of-bones

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    Two Brothers from Plúirín na mBan’s debut album: “Female Rambling Sailor”
    https://pluirinnamban.bandcamp.com/album/female-rambling-sailor

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    Middlebook from Matt DeBlass’s album “Small Musics”
    https://mattdeblass.bandcamp.com/album/small-musics

    You can Also Follow Matt on Tik tok:
    https://www.tiktok.com/@mattdeblassmusic

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    The Highland Vamp by Jeff Mann & Andrew Morrill on “Whippin' the Coo's Hoof”

    Enkidu by The Fabled Folks on “Whippin’ the Coo’s Hoof”

    https://poopoop.bandcamp.com/album/whippin-the-coos-hoof

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    The Fairy Hill (Sí Beag, Sí Mór) and Fergus McPhilimey and his Sarcastic Son From Jason Rouse’s Album “Frontier Nua”
    https://pipingrouse.bandcamp.com/album/frontier-nua

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    Pronn an Caoran (Smash the Ember) from Fàrsan’s debut album, “Fàrsan”
    https://farsan.bandcamp.com/album/f-rsan

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    Ole Joe’s Jig & Road to Banff from Cleveland Celtic Ensemble’s Upcoming Album
    https://www.kbbproductions.net/
    https://www.facebook.com/CleCelticEnsemble

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    FIN

    You can support the Podcast by joining the Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/wetootwaag