h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought that the Afro-Celt Sound System formed after all that Riverdance Malarky.
They are still darn good live though as you say being able to get everyone at least tapping their feet if not up and dancing

Yes, A-CSS are good - but to write off Irish music because of Riverdance is a bit of unnecessary over-emphasis on Riverdance. I agree that it has caused a lot of damage to the real Irish music, which is full of passion and good tunes, but that shouldn't mean that you give up on Irish music. I think Shane McGowan is still alive - enough said? I know this probably doesn't come under the definition of not quite traditional music, but there is still a lot of good Irish music out there.

Yes. Maybe the article was a little harsh on the old diddly-dee music, but it's a fine line - exotic/not exotic. Irish music simply isn't exotic any more, even as an ingredient in world fusion. Nor is rock music, folk music, classical music etc etc. But that's not a criticism of those genres' quality or entertainment value.

The article is about bands/artists who combine all sorts of sources and come up with something slightly bizarre and other-worldly - not only in the music but in the band members' names, cover art, costumes, web sites etc etc. They've come up with a unique sound and style all of their own and this entry was an attempt at grouping those people together a little and defining their product shall we say. Difficult to make that point though I suppose.

The exotic nature of Riverdance has an interesting source.

Andy Irvine spent many summers in the sixties busking in Rumania and Bulgaria. He brought back some records of Balkan folk music, which fascinated him with its intoxicating rhythms -- 7/16, 11/16 and so on. Although few things could be further from the Irish tradition, he began to incorporate some Balkan tunes and Balkan sounds into his work with Planxty, and he found a ready collaborator in Donal Lunny (a master of rhythm who had been greatly influenced as a youngster by Dave Brubeck's "Take Five"). New influences were welcome in progressive Irish groups at the time; Johnny Moynihan had been to Greece and brought home a bouzouki and it quickly "became" an Irish Traditional Instrument, restrung, retuned and remodelled (I used to make them).

The original Riverdance piece for Eurovision was written by Bill Whelan in a style which represents the apotheosis of Andy Irvine's Balkan researches.

Not a lot of people know that.