Solas in Berkeley

Solas was an Irish-American folk band formed in Philadelphia in 1996 around multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan. Its music drew on Irish traditional material as well as contemporary Celtic music, country and Americana. The group’s releases include the self-titled debut, Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers, The Words That Remain and The Edge of Silence; the 2013 concept album Shamrock City recounted the story of Egan’s immigrant ancestor Michael Conway and the mining community of Butte, Montana. Solas toured the United States and Europe and also performed in Japan. The band played its fiddle, accordion, guitar and multi-instrumental arrangements on the American radio programs A Prairie Home Companion and Mountain Stage.