June Tabor  
June Tabor is probably the finest female traditional British folk singer of the late 20th century -- if not the best British folk singer of her time, period. What links her to Britain's past traditions are the chilling and emotional qualities of her voice. What links her to the British present is her fine taste in material, arrangements, and backing musicians, along with a willingness to try different things and interpret work by contemporary songwriters.

Tabor's first high-profile project was a duet album with Steeleye Span'sMaddy Priorr in the 1970s (the duo dubbed themselves the Silly Sisters for the occasion). An all-star cast of some of the leading lights of the British folk scene supported the singers, including Martin Carthy,Nic Jones,, and Andy Irvine. For her own albums and tours she has worked with outstanding guitarists, most notably Jones and Martin Simpson. She's also tread into folk-rock waters with Fairport Convention (whom she's guested with onstage) and the Oyster Band (with whom she collaborated on a 1990 album). Her 1994 album, Against the Stream, found her still at her peak, interpreting both traditional tunes and efforts by modern-day composers, including Elvis Costello and Richard Thompson. Richie Unterberger, All-Music Guide

The Tannahill Weavers  
The Tannahill Weavers, who started as a band 20 years ago, occupy a unique position among the groups on the Scottish folk scene. Stalwarts Roy Gullane and Phil Smillie have surrounded themselves wuith a rotating cast of great musicians. Their music, which uses the highland bagpipe, flute, and fiddle as its melodic core, is tighter, more intense, and harder-driven than the Battlefield Band, Silly Wizard, or other of their contemporaries. Despite their mostly acoustic sound, they're the closest thing to a rock and roll band in intensity and attitude that the Scottish traditional music scene has to offer. Steve Winick, All-Music Guide

Touchstone  
Consisting of Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, Claudine Langille, Zan McLeod and Mark Roberts, Touchstone mixed Irish music with bluegrass on two albums, The New Land and Jealousy. Fiddle player Skip Parente joined the group on the latter album. John Bush, All-Music Guide

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