With its remarkable energy, fresh perspective, and superlative musicianship, Solas has risen to the top of Irish music in just a few short years, winning scores of fans on both sides of the Atlantic and three consecutive awards from the Association for Independent Music for Best Celtic Recording. The youthful, bi-continental quintet hailing from Philadelphia and Ireland features a formidable lineup including Seamus Egan, who set records with All-Ireland championship titles on flute, banjo, tin whistle and mandolin; guitarist and singer Eamon McElholm; rocking fiddler Winifred Horan; Mick McAuley on accordion and concertina; and Deirdre Scanlan with her clear soprano vocals.

Always known for their penchant for creative arranging and distinctive choice of material, Solas embark in a new direction with their latest album, The Edge Of Silence (Shanachie), on which they expand the musical possibilities of the traditions they've mastered. In addition to virtuosic treatments of traditional Irish tunes, expect a fascinating mix of contemporary works by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Nick Drake, all with a Celtic tinge.