Danú- The Road Less Traveled
What a nice week it has been. No travel this week. Just working from home in Atlanta , playing with my little son, trying to write a song and listening to some great music along the way. The clocks went back last night heralding the definite end to a long summer and almost on cue the rain came down. So today as the rain fell I popped on a raincoat, stuck some headphones in my ears then headed with my bemused dog on a walk to the Chattahoochee River where I found sheltered spot and sat listening to the new Danú CD.

The Road Less Traveled is the Waterford band's fourth album but the first with new singer Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. She is a fine addition to this already accomplished ensemble. The band are one of the most popular traditional Irish bands there is and rightly so. They manage to translate the highs and lows, the light and shade of a real Irish session into a studio performance, something many good live bands have found to be their downfall. With this album they takes those moods and melody and turn in a mini masterpiece for us to savor.

There are 11 tracks to choose from all of which have a little piece of magic in there. The opening reels including one of my favorites Doherty's sound like this band could be from Donegal itself rather than their native Waterford and this is just the start of a lovely collection. Muireann's vocals are the icing on the cake here though giving the band a new layer to work with and a whole new world of possibilities for the future.

This is album is well worth buying but to see Danú live is something else again. If you are in London, Denmark or Ireland in the month of November then you are in luck. The band are on tour. The dates are listed below so do not miss them if you are within shouting distance. For you American fans you will have to wait for more US dates to be announced. I don't think it will be too long before they make it to this side of the water again though and I for one will be front of stage trying not to sing along.

November 2003
Sat Nov 1 - Camden Festival, Camden Town , London , England .

Tues Nov 4 - Sonderborhus, Sonderborg , Denmark .

Wed Nov 5 - Rytmeposten, Odence, Denmark .

Thurs Nov 6 - Skraaen, Aalborg , Denmark .

Fri Nov 7 - Bruunske Pakhus, Fredricia , Denmark .

Sat Nov 8 - Maanen, Haderslev , Denmark .

Sun Nov 9 - Portalen, Greve , Denmark .

Wed Nov 12 - The Town Hall, Galway , Ireland .

Sat Nov 15 - Theatre Royal, Waterford , Ireland .

Sun Nov 16 - Liberty Hall, Dublin , Ireland .

Mon Nov 17 - The Blasket Centre, Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry , Ireland .

Wed Nov 19 - Duiske Abbey Festival, Co.Kilkenny , Ireland

For More info on Danú visit their own web page at

http:///www.danu.net