About Maggie's Music

What Is Maggie's Music?

The Maggie's Music enterprise began with Maggie selling her "wares" off this little yellow cart at folk festivals around the USA. The colorful cart was designed by Mr. Crenshaw, VP, and decorated with Celtic designs at Signcraft, Annapolis, MD.

A genuine work of folk-art, it is still used by the staff at Maggie's Music at many folk festivals.

Maggie's Music celebrates over 25 years in the music industry. It features contemporary, acoustic and early music instruments in new and innovative settings from ancient to modern times with special focus on Celtic (Irish & Scottish) & seasonal music.

The catalog features over 50 recordings by artists that include: Bonnie Rideout, three-time National Scottish Fiddle Champion; world champion City of Washington Pipe Band; Sue Richards, Celtic harp and three-times National Scottish Harp Champion.

It features four of America's premier hammered dulcimer players: Maggie Sansone, founder of Maggie's Music and a hammered dulcimer virtuoso known for her Celtic and Holiday recordings, Karen Ashbrook, who also performs in the Irish/Belgium duo on Irish flute with guitarist Paul Oorts, Ken Kolodner, also a member of the acclaimed folk music trio Helicon, and Jody Marshall on hammered dulcimer and piano.

Two guitarists on the label are: flat picking and finger picking wiz Robin Bullock and Grammy winner on finger-style acoustic guitar Al Petteway who also performs in the duo with Amy White (guitar and vocals): Al Petteway & Amy White.

Irish band Ceoltoiri features Irish-American vocalist Connie McKenna; and finally, two groups that feature early music, American roots & celtic cross over sounds: Ensemble Galilei and Hesperus Early Music Ensemble.

Known for artful classical-like arrangements as well as driving Celtic and world sounds has lent a distinctive sound to the label. Robert Siegal of NPR's All Things Considered said, "Maggie's Music has pioneered what they call 'chamber folk music,' a mix of contrasting styles and instruments that works beautifully together."

Says Schwann's, "Maggie's Music is a musical tour of the wellspring of Celtic music!"

Fiona Ritchie, host of the popular syndicated program, "Thistle and Shamrock," frequently airs music by Maggie's recording artists, and called the label "a gathering place for much Celtic-rooted and inspired acoustic music in the United States."

Maggie's Music was featured on CBS-TV's Sunday Morning and has been featured in numerous articles in the press and music industry magazines. Recent collaborations that feature Maggie's Music artists are with Sony/BMG- The Scottish Christmas DVD; and Time-Live Records: Celtic Tapestry.

Located one hour from Washington, DC on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Shady Side, Maryland, Maggie's Music has won over a dozen Wammies for "Record Label of the Year" from the Washington Area Music Association. But the label's influence has stretched far beyond its home throughout the national and international marketplace, found on most major and INDIE retail and internet stores and has extensive public radio airplay in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide.

We invite you to browse around our site and meet the artists who have taken our Celtic music to the far corners of the world.

Write, call or email us for our complete updated catalog.with all our new items and information about our Celtic music, special collections, t-shirts and Celtic gifts, Holiday recordings, our Scottish Christmas DVD, music books, tin-whistle starter kit and more!

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