Solas

Solas is an Irish traditional folk group that forms in Philadelphia, United States, in 1996 and performs through 2017. The name means “light” in Irish. The group’s music centres on Irish traditional material and original compositions, with additional elements from country, rock and Americana.

Line-up and instrumentation

The original line-up includes Seamus Egan on flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, low whistle, guitar and bodhrán; Winifred Horan on fiddle; John Doyle on guitar; John Williams on accordion; and Karan Casey on lead vocals. Over time, Egan and Horan remain the most constant members, while later members include Deirdre Scanlan on lead vocals, Eamon McElholm on guitar, and Mick McAuley on button accordion, piano accordion, concertina, low whistle and backing vocals. Other members associated with the group include Dónal Clancy, Mairead Phelan, Niamh Varian-Barry and Noriana Kennedy.

Style

The group is generally identified with Celtic and folk music, and its repertoire combines Irish traditional folk with newly written songs and instrumentals.