Free Music Downloads Blog

Cidnie MacNamee and Amy Price met in the mid-1990s and formed the Celtic group Gordian Knot. They garnered critical acclaim, and made many loyal fans and wonderful friends before the band broke up in 2001.

When Cid and Amy met guitarist Bernard Schreiber in 2003, musical sparks flew. They added drums and bass, and thus was Paisley Close born. Going on the "throw-the-baby-bird -out-of-the-nest-and-see-if-it-flies" theory of emergence, their first public performance was at the 2004 nationally lauded St. Patrick's Day Festival of Houston's Mucky Duck.

Paisley Close takes Gordian Knot's energetic Celtic Pop feel and soars with it to fresh, lyrical heights. Their material covers a broad spectrum, including traditional and modern songs arranged in the group's unique idiom; timeless poetry set to original music; and new compositions written by the band. Uncommon musicianship and storytelling are the common threads that run through the music of Paisley Close.

Website: Paisley Close
Download: "Sovay"
Buy CD: All On A Day, also available on The Secret World of Celtic Rock

Similar Artists: The Levellers, Niamh Parsons, Steeleye Span

Irene (ee-re-nay) Mastrangeli is a brilliant songwriter. Her songs are difficult to forget, her melodies just stick with you. They are carried by her fine, powerful and soulful voice. The harmonies of her rhythmic guitar are dense and sophisticated. Her stage presence is powerful, her voice just owns the stage. Even the most distracted audience is completely captivated when she starts singing. Her performances are always successful, since she gives everything with no reservations. If you go see her you are certainly in for a treat.

She defines her music as folk/world. Irene is originally from Italy, and her Italian songs create a unique atmosphere, even if people don't understand her native language, the feeling of the song comes across very well and they are totally fascinated.

Website: Irene Mastrangeli
Download MP3: MP3
Buy CD: Irene Mastrangeli

Similar Artists: Stevie Wonder, Sting, Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco, Bjork, Jeff Buckley, Rickie Lee Jones, Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell, Carol King, James Taylor, Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Madonna, Quincy Jones, Chick Corea, Suzanne Vega, Alanis Morisette, Keith Jarett

Peter was born in a dirty railway town called Swindon in England’s west country. The name “Swindon” derives from “Pig Hill”. Swindon is known for the Great Western Railway Works and for being home to the members of X.T.C., a band that would come to provide much musical inspiration to Peter over the years.

Frustrated by a band break-up, Peter built a new home-studio based around computer technology and resolved to work by himself, writing and recording and trying to obtain from his home recordings the highest quality possible from the technology at hand. A large number of recordings were created, Peter discovered the international MIDI community and became involved with the fringe of song-writers using computers to create music.

By 2004 an album of eleven songs; “Phoebe’s Roundabout” was ready for release. These songs were fairly diverse in style, but all retained strong melodic content and fit somewhere within the very broad boundaries of “alternative pop/rock”. Peter developed a website (www.peterayscough.com) and made these songs available for public consumption in MP3 format. Somehow people found their way to the site and several hundred copies of the songs were downloaded during the year. Late in 2004, Statue Records, a Los-Angeles based independent record company, contacted Peter and offered a distribution deal for the album.

Peter is currently working on a follow-up to Phoebe’s Roundabout. The songs on the new album are darker, more personal and generally “heavier” than those on Phoebe’s Roundabout, but strong accessible pop melodies still pervade the music. Peter is looking forward to playing his songs live again, and intends to continue recording music, and honing his song-writing skills for many years to come.

Website: Peter Ayscough
Download: MP3
Buy CD: Phoebe's Roundabout

Similar Artists: The Smiths, X.T.C., English post-punk, Brisbane music

Carrie Taylor, also known as the Black Bohemian Hippie Chick has been singing a long time performing in choirs and groups perhaps as early as five years old. She played trumpet from grades 4 to 6 and that was the extent of her instrumental know-how until she picked up the guitar in 2002 and taught herself to play. She has a baby accordion, lap harp, violin, keyboard and assorted instruments.

Carrie is a recipient of the ASCAPLUS award for emerging songwriters in 2004. She performed in various festivals in the southeast including Estrofest Seen and Heard, Ladyfest South, Sweet Auburn Fest and others. She's played venues such as CBGBs Downstairs Lounge, Smith's Olde Bar Open Mic Madness competition, Jake's Toadhouse in Decatur among others.

She can be described as an estrogen-fueled pop emo-alterna-folk progressive melancholoy dark anti-establishment acoustic chica who likes to experiment. She is eclectica... Grunk-Rock (post grunge + acoustic punk = G R U N K rock !!!!) She is currently based in Atlanta, GA.

This BUXOM, BLACK LIPSTICK-WEARING DIVA is one to watch. She, her merry band of cohorts and her posse/management plan to take the southeast by storm.

Website: Carrie Taylor
Download: Only Sometimes
Buy CD: CD Single from "Genre Gypsy"

Similar Artists: 90s alternative rock, Sinead O'Connor, Tori Amos, Prince.

The Indulgers formed in March 1998 with the desire to create a new form of original music fusing Irish, Scottish and American upbringings with traditional and contemporary instruments. A quintet with Dubliner Damien McCarron on vocals, songwriting and guitar. Mike Nile on vocals, songwriting, guitar, mandolin, accordion, whistles, and electronic bagpipe. Renee Fine on Violin/Fiddle. Patrick Murphy Jr. on Drums and Chris Murtaugh on Bass.

The band has appeared at festivals including Keystone Celtic Fest, The Colorado Irish Fest, The Long's Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival in Estes Park, Denver's People's Fair, Fort Collins Summer Series and Vail Mt. Concert Series.

Website: The Indulgers
Download: "Sail Away"
Buy CD: Chase the Ghost

Similar Artists: The Beatles, The Chieftains, Thin Lizzy, Oysterband, Horslips, Waterboys