Outlands: the Celtic-bluegrass connection

Thanks to Archie MacLullich for drawing our attention to the new CD Outlands by innovative Scottish piper Fred Morrison. The ten tracks are mostly original compositions; the artists taking part include Ron Block (banjo, guitar) and Tim O'Brien; and the album is produced by Gary Paczosa (Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks, Nickel Creek).

More details and audio samples are available on the Fred Morrison website and MySpace site. Archie also draws attention to an interesting interview with Fred by reporter Sue Wilson for the Hi-Arts [Highlands & Islands Arts] website, which includes his affinities with Irish uillean pipers such as Paddy Keenan and Finbarr Furey, as well as with bluegrass - for which he first acquired a taste in Amsterdam.

The footage of Fred Morrison on YouTube includes one video of him playing 'Kansas City hornpipe/Jarlath's tune' with Bruce Molsky on 5-string banjo.