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The Thistle & Shamrock Award-winning radio host Fiona Ritchie explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America.
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The Thistle & Shamrock

Host Fiona Ritchie explores Celtic roots music on her weekly radio program
Thistle & Shamrock: Ballads

Americana singer and guitarist Sarah McQuaid is featured in this week's episode. Jörg Detering/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jörg Detering/Courtesy of the artist

Thistle & Shamrock: Ballads

Hear Sarah McQuaid, Karen Matheson, Jean Redpath and Planxty on this week's episode.

Thistle & Shamrock: Ballads

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Thistle & Shamrock: Mountains

Irish bluegrass quartet JigJam is featured in this week's episode. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Thistle & Shamrock: Mountains

Hear Fiona Ritchie's collection of songs for the mountainous hills. This week's episode includes JigJam, Jamie MacLean Al Petteway and Amy White.

Thistle & Shamrock: Mountains

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Thistle & Shamrock: Wintersong

Celtic harpist Kim Robertson is featured in this week's episode. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the Artist

Thistle & Shamrock: Wintersong

Listen to Fiona Ritchie's hour-long curation of winter songs featuring artists Maddy Prior, Atwater Donelly and Kim Robertson.

Thistle & Shamrock: Wintersong

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Thistle & Shamrock: New Year Sounds

Cellist Ofra Harnoy is featured in this week's episode. Denise Grant/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Denise Grant/Courtesy of the Artist

Thistle & Shamrock: New Year Sounds

Hear Fiona Ritchie's collection of new sounds for the new year. This week's episode includes The Chair, John Doyle and cellist Ofra Harnoy.

Thistle & Shamrock: New Year Sounds

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The Thistle & Shamrock: 'These Are The Hands'

Award-winning author Alexander McCall Smith penned the lyrics to These Are The Hands. Chris Watt/Courtesy of the Author hide caption

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Chris Watt/Courtesy of the Author

The Thistle & Shamrock: 'These Are The Hands'

Meet internationally-acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith and award-winning composer James Ross, who collaborated on song cycle These Are The Hands.

The Thistle & Shamrock: 'These Are The Hands'

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Celtic Christmas

The Gathering is featured in this week's episode. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the Artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Celtic Christmas

On this week's episode, hear Fiona Ritchie's reflections on this holiday season amidst such a challenging year, featuring Joel Mabus, Carlos Nuñez and The Gathering.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Celtic Christmas

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Gifts

The Spell Songs Ensemble is featured on this week's episode. Elly Lucas/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Elly Lucas/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Gifts

Fiona Ritchie handpicks a stack of recordings as gift suggestions for music-loving friends and family.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Gifts

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The Thistle & Shamrock: All In Good Time

Scottish composer, tutor and fiddle player Marie Fielding is featured on this week's episode. Marie Fielding/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Marie Fielding/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: All In Good Time

On this week's episode, hear excerpts from The Spectrum Project by Scottish composer, tutor and fiddle player Marie Fielding.

The Thistle & Shamrock: All In Good Time

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Karine Polwart Live

Scottish songwriter and musician Karine Polwart is featured on this week's episode. Sandy Butler/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sandy Butler/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Karine Polwart Live

Scottish songwriter and musician Karine Polwart curated a special evening of songs with connections to literature, poetry and stories for the 2019 Birnam Book Festival.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Karine Polwart Live

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Vintage

Irish fiddler Michael Coleman is featured on this week's episode. /Courtesy of the Coleman Irish Music Centre hide caption

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/Courtesy of the Coleman Irish Music Centre

The Thistle & Shamrock: Vintage

We travel back to the early recording era to hear legendary musical talents such as Michael Coleman, James Morrison, and James Scott Skinner.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Vintage

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Harvest

Instrumental acoustic ensemble, Hawktail, is featured on this week's episode. Tilt at Windmills Photography/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Tilt at Windmills Photography/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Harvest

New releases from musicians are a bright reminder that they will sing and play and record their music even through tough times.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Harvest

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The Thistle & Shamrock: All Hallows' Eve

Award-winning guitarist, songwriter and singer Sarah McQuaid is featured on this week's episode. Phil Nicholls/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Phil Nicholls/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: All Hallows' Eve

On this show, artists Cathie Ryan, Garefowl and Sarah McQuaid take us on a musical journey through myth and mystery.

The Thistle & Shamrock: All Hallows' Eve

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Biomimicry

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by John Doyle. Keith Wright/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Keith Wright/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Biomimicry

Hear music inspired by the natural world featuring artists John Doyle, The Bothy Band, and Nickel Creek.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Biomimicry

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The Thistle & Shamrock: New Late Summer Sounds

Luka Bloom believe.be/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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believe.be/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Late Summer Sounds

Hear new releases from Anadama, Skerryvore, The Black Brothers, and Luka Bloom.

The Thistle & Shamrock: New Late Summer Sounds

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Banjo Roots And Branches

Our Native Daughters is featured on this week's The Thistle & Shamrock. Terri Fensel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Terri Fensel/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Banjo Roots And Branches

Hear how the migration of the banjo from its African roots to the heart of American music crosses over to sit within the Celtic sound.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Banjo Roots And Branches

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Now On ThistleRadio

The music of Rhiannon Giddens is featured on this week's The Thistle & Shamrock. Michael Weinthrob/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Michael Weinthrob/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Now On ThistleRadio

Celtic music is ever-evolving and Fiona Ritchie's music library is ever-growing. With new tracks being added to the award-winning ThistleRadio music channel, it's time to hear what's coming on stream.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Now On ThistleRadio

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Salm And Soul

Hijas del Sol (formerly Sibeba) is featured on this week's The Thistle & Shamrock. /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Salm And Soul

In this episode, African American gospel and Hebridean psalm singing are explored and celebrated.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Salm And Soul

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The Thistle & Shamrock: Americana Celts

Archie Fisher is featured on this week's The Thistle & Shamrock. /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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/Courtesy of the artist

The Thistle & Shamrock: Americana Celts

Piedmont blues and old time music of Americans Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Aunt Samantha Bumgarner were all early influences on this episode's Scottish singers and guitarists.

The Thistle & Shamrock: Americana Celts

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