Photo: Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Solas
Group · United States · Philadelphia · formed 1996
Irish music group
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Listen on SpotifyYouTube Music
Also known as Salas
Timeline
35 events+ Member joins 12▣ Album 11− Member leaves 10◆ Formed 1★ Debut release 1
1990s
· Member joins
John Doyle joins the band
guitar,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
John Williams joins the band
accordion,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Karan Casey joins the band
lead vocals,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Séamus Egan joins the band
banjo,flute,guitar,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Winifred Horan joins the band
fiddle,original
source: musicbrainz
· Debut release
Debut release: Solas
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
John Williams leaves the band
accordion,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Mick McAuley joins the band
accordion
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Karan Casey leaves the band
lead vocals,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Deirdre Scanlan joins the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
2000s
· Member leaves
John Doyle leaves the band
guitar,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Dónal Clancy joins the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Dónal Clancy leaves the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Eamon McElholm joins the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Deirdre Scanlan leaves the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Mairead Phelan joins the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
2010s
· Member leaves
Mairead Phelan leaves the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Niamh Varian‐Barry joins the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Niamh Varian‐Barry leaves the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Noriana Kennedy joins the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Séamus Egan leaves the band
banjo,flute,guitar,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Winifred Horan leaves the band
fiddle,original
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Noriana Kennedy leaves the band
lead vocals
source: musicbrainz
Biography
English biography386 words · 1 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1358923800
Biography
Solas (Irish: ‘light’) is an American musical group officially formed in 1996, playing Irish traditional music as well as original compositions influenced by the country, rock, and Americana genres. With several members who are prominent performers, both solo and in other constellations in the Irish traditional music scene, Solas has been described as a "Supergroup". Their name comes from an Irish word meaning "light".
Prior to their self-titled debut album's 1996 release, the idea for a band was conceived by multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan, an Irish champion flautist and multi-instrumentalist who had already recorded two solo albums and a soundtrack to a film (as well as having composed “I Will Remember You”, performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan). He was soon joined by his friends, vocalist Karan Casey, from Waterford, and fiddler Winifred Horan, from New York. Guitarist and vocalist John Doyle, previously a member of Susan McKeown & The Chanting House, soon joined the trio, along with Chicago-based accordionist John Williams.
After the release of their self-titled debut album (1996) and Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers
Sunny Spells and Scattered ShowersSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Wind That Shakes the Barley2:562The Big Reel of Ballynacally / The High Hill / Flash Away the Pressing Gang4:333Aililiú na Gamhna3:364Tom Busby’s / James O’Byrne’s / The Four Posts of the Bed3:515Paddy Taylor’s / McFadden’s Handsome Daughter / The Narrowback / Frank’s Reel / Esther’s Reel5:556The Unquiet Grave4:527The Maid on the Shore4:338Song of the Kelpie4:539Mom’s Jig / Bill Nicholson’s 67th3:5010The Primrose Lass / Molly From Longford / The Four Kisses3:2811Vanished Like the Snow4:3712The Kilnamona Barndance / Give the Girl Her Fourpence / My Maryanne4:1313Adieu Lovely Nancy4:44 (1997), Williams would depart the band to focus on solo projects, being replaced by accordionist and concertina-player Mick McAuley from County Kilkenny (who would ultimately remain with the group). After completing their third record, The Words That Remain (1998), Karan Casey would leave Solas to focus on her own solo ventures, with Deirdre Scanlan joining as vocalist for their fourth album, The Hour Before Dawn
The Hour Before DawnSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Bheadh Buachaillín Deas ag Síle3:182Granny Quinn's / The Lilac Reel / Sporting Pat4:173Last of the Great Whales5:434A Little Child4:025A Miner's Life4:556What's Up With Win / Sonny Brogan's / Cahal's Jig4:357When My Love and I Parted3:018Homeless3:499Boy/Girl Tune3:3710Bruach na Carraige Báine5:3811Bonnie Mae3:5912The New Custom House / The Flavor of the Month / The Tinker's Daughter / Dogs Among the Bushes / Pinch of Snuff5:4913I Will Remember You4:43 (2000). Guitarist Donal Clancy (son of Liam Clancy) would briefly replace John Doyle for one album, The Edge of Silence
The Edge of SilenceSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Darkness, Darkness5:012Charmy Chaplin5:203Prelude #1 / Black Annis6:334Who’s in the What Now3:545Dignity5:066The Poisonjester’s Mask8:077Maybe in a Prayer4:538Beck Street3:219Clothes of Sand4:1810Prelude #2 / Georgia Lee6:18 (2002) before the group was joined by Éamon McElholm on guitar.
After eight successful years, Deirdre Scanlan retired from the band in June 2008. Solas then welcomed Máiread Phelan, the featured vocalist on their record For Love and Laughter (2008). Two years later, in September 2010, Niamh Varian-Barry from Cork replaced Phelan as vocalist. Then, on 11 July 2013, Solas announced via Facebook that Varian-Berry was leaving the band, with Noriana Kennedy replacing her. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in early 2017.
That indefinite hiatus ended in July 2024, when it was announced that they would be doing a 30th anniversary tour starting in spring 2025. The current lineup is Nuala Kennedy or Moira Smiley, John Williams, Seamus Egan, Alan Murray and Winifred Horan
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 35 | 97.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 29 | 64th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 11 studio albums)
Albums · 11
1996 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 55:06
1Níl ’na Lá2:232The Flowing Bowl / Máire Breatnach’s #1 / The Doon / The Mason’s Men3:543The White Petticoat / Stan Chapman’s / The Miller’s Maggot3:474I Wonder What’s Keeping My True Love Tonight5:275The Yellow Tinker / Cranking Out / Master Crowley’s #24:126Crested Hens5:167Johnny’s Gone for a Soldier3:558Dougie MacDonald’s / Máire Breatnach’s #2 / The Antrim Rose / Atlantic Wave / Toss the Feathers5:539The Newry Highwayman3:2410Gan Ainm / The Humours of Whiskey / Leslie’s March4:0411Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile4:0712Lament for Frankie3:1713Timmy Clifford’s / The Return Home / O’ot Be Est da Vong / John Joe Casey’s5:27Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers
1997 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 56:01
1The Wind That Shakes the Barley2:562The Big Reel of Ballynacally / The High Hill / Flash Away the Pressing Gang4:333Aililiú na Gamhna3:364Tom Busby’s / James O’Byrne’s / The Four Posts of the Bed3:515Paddy Taylor’s / McFadden’s Handsome Daughter / The Narrowback / Frank’s Reel / Esther’s Reel5:556The Unquiet Grave4:527The Maid on the Shore4:338Song of the Kelpie4:539Mom’s Jig / Bill Nicholson’s 67th3:5010The Primrose Lass / Molly From Longford / The Four Kisses3:2811Vanished Like the Snow4:3712The Kilnamona Barndance / Give the Girl Her Fourpence / My Maryanne4:1313Adieu Lovely Nancy4:441998 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 57:55
1Pastures of Plenty3:242The Stride Set6:093The Waking Up Set4:484The Grey Selchie6:115Song of Choice3:376La bruxa4:397I Am a Maid That Sleeps in Love5:218The Vega Set4:149A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn Ó4:4410Sproggies Set4:1211The Beauty Spot6:5912Sráid an Chloig3:372000 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 57:26
1Bheadh Buachaillín Deas ag Síle3:182Granny Quinn's / The Lilac Reel / Sporting Pat4:173Last of the Great Whales5:434A Little Child4:025A Miner's Life4:556What's Up With Win / Sonny Brogan's / Cahal's Jig4:357When My Love and I Parted3:018Homeless3:499Boy/Girl Tune3:3710Bruach na Carraige Báine5:3811Bonnie Mae3:5912The New Custom House / The Flavor of the Month / The Tinker's Daughter / Dogs Among the Bushes / Pinch of Snuff5:4913I Will Remember You4:432002 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 52:51
1Darkness, Darkness5:012Charmy Chaplin5:203Prelude #1 / Black Annis6:334Who’s in the What Now3:545Dignity5:066The Poisonjester’s Mask8:077Maybe in a Prayer4:538Beck Street3:219Clothes of Sand4:1810Prelude #2 / Georgia Lee6:182003 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 53:48
1Bird in the Tree5:312Scarecrow’s Dream4:223I Wandered by a Brookside3:484It’s Still Raining / Carlisle Street Reels7:405Just You4:016The Highlands of Holland3:537All That You Ask Me5:158Máire Mhilis Bhreá4:139The Wiggly Jigs4:1910This Love Will Carry4:2411Seoladh na nGamhna3:2012Another Day3:022005 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 59:11
1The Hanover Reel / John James' Reel / The Copperplate5:012The Silver Dagger4:313Tom Sullivan's / Mick's Polka / The Newmarket Polka3:324On a Sea of Fleur de Lis5:445The Night Visit5:336The Coconut Dog / Morning Dew3:547Doireann's Waltz4:188Lowground4:009The Ballerina Jig3:5510Erin6:0811The Ploughman4:0912Steven Campbell's / The Road to Ringussoon / The Bag of Beer4:4813Mi pequeña estrella (Little Star)3:382008 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 51:00
1Eoin Bear’s Reel / Tune for Sharon / The Rossa Reel4:012Seven Curses3:523Tilly’s Jig / The Happy Traveler4:114Mollaí na gCuach Ní Chuilleanáin4:085Merry Go Round4:356Sunday’s Waltz / Solo Double Oh5:067Vital Mental Medicine / The Pullet3:398Sailor Song4:109There Is a Time3:2510John Riordan’s Heels / Hoban’s White House / The Lisnagun Jig4:2111The Gallant Hussar4:4012My Dream of You4:522010 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:43
1Hugo’s Big Reel3:122The Ditching Boy3:473The Crows of Killimer / Box Reel #2 / Boys of Malin / The Opera House5:454A Girl in the War4:145A Waltz for Mairead3:416Ghost of Tom Joad4:577A Sailor’s Life2:498Grady Fernando Comes to Town3:019Sadhbh Ní Bhruineallaigh3:1210Trip to Kareol3:0111Sorry3:1412A Tune for Roan4:502013 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 16 tracks · 56:13
1Intro1:072Far Americay6:523Tap 'Er Light0:144Tell God and the Devil3:415Michael Conway6:086Girls on the Line4:147My Fancy1:038Lay Your Money Down4:269Columbia Gardens0:3910Arbor Day5:0411Welcome the Unknown3:4212And Now, a Banjo Moment0:1713High, Wide, and Handsome (The Wagoner / Twenty-Eighth of January)2:4014Labour Song5:4615Am I Born to Die?4:4716No Forgotten Man5:332016 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:08:34
1Roarie Bummlers4:152Standing on the Shore4:323Lay Me Down4:304Lucy Locket’s / The Quiet Pint / The Sleepy Sailors5:155Wandering Aengus4:296Darkness Darkness4:467Lost in Quimper4:118Unnamed Shetland Reel / Da New Rigged Ship3:049Pádraig Óg Mo Chroí6:1710Not Alone4:5011Little Bird of Heaven3:2112Mr. and Mrs. Walsh4:1413As I Went Out Walking4:0914Willie Moore4:2915Sixteen Come Next Sunday3:2216All These Years2:50
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dancing on Dangerous GroundSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 1:13:591Prologue4:19 2At the Court of Finn McCool1:56 3Grania's Arrival1:36 4Diarmuid Drills Finn's Army4:28 5The Gift of the Bodyguards1:40 6Women of the Court3:32 7Wedding Celebrations Begin2:11 8Diarmuid's Reflection2:45 9Fate Brings Diarmuid and Grania Together9:59 10At the Wedding of Finn and Grania12:25 11Lover's Song3:49 12Finn's Army Wake From Their Drugged Stupor7:07 13The Cry for War3:20 14The Pursuit1:02 15Diarmuid's Capture and Death4:51 16Grania's Lament3:33 17Reunited in Myth5:26 | Soundtrack | 1999 | |
| 2000 | LiveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:21:441Start Program5:28 2Timmy Cliffords5:54 3Roger the Miller5:51 4The Beauty Spot6:41 5She Is Like the Swallow3:47 6The Maid on the Shore5:28 7Crested Hens5:11 8Big Reel of Ballynacally7:03 9My Parents Reared Me Tenderly4:32 10Pastures of Plenty4:09 11Patsy Touhey's Set6:33 12The Wind That Shakes the Barley4:00 13Paddy Taylors11:03 14The Newry Highwayman6:04 | Live | 9 May 2000 | |
| 2006 | Reunion: A Decade of SolasSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 42 tracks · 1:15:59Disc 1 1Pastures of Plenty3:46 2Coconut Dog / Morning Dew4:07 3Silver Dagger4:55 4Timmy Clifford's5:26 5Newry Highwayman3:17 6Reasonland5:01 7Highlands of Holland3:34 8Le poules huppées (The Crested Hens)5:12 9Rain and Snow3:35 10Black Annis5:35 11Who's in the What Now3:48 12On a Sea of Fleur de Lis5:14 13Lowground4:10 14Beauty Spot6:32 15Níl 'na Lá2:47 16The Flowing Bowl3:24 17Lament for Frankie5:36 Disc 21Shola na nGamhna / Wiggly Jigs 2Silver Dagger 3Timmy Clifford's 4Newry Highwayman 5Coconut Dog / Morning Dew 6Black Annis 7Who's in the What Now 8Wind That Shakes the Barley 9Le poules huppées (The Crested Hens) 10The Big Reels 11On a Sea of Fleur de Lis 12Leslie's March 13Reasonland 14Pastures of Plenty 15Bird in the Tree 16Níl 'na Lá 17Rain and Snow 18Beauty Spot 19Unquiet Grave 20Lowground 21Gossip's 22Erin 23Darkness Darkness 24The Flowing Bowl 25Lament for Frankie | Live | 25 April 2006 | |
| 2025 | Solas LiveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:09:331Laurel’s / Dougie MacDonald’s / Dick Gossip’s4:35 2Bheadh Buachaillín Deas ag Síle / Beck Street6:30 3Poor Ditching Boy3:54 4Charleston / The Contradiction / Viva Galicia6:10 5Tell God and the Devil3:39 6Wiggly Jigs3:55 7My Dream of You4:29 8Wandering Aengus4:31 9Brogan’s5:59 10When My Love and I Parted4:09 11Sunday’s Waltz / Solo Double O4:45 12Flowing Bowl3:50 13Seven Curses4:00 14Bird in the Tree9:07 | Compilation | 2025 |
EP · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Shamrock CitySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 18:091Tell God and the Devil3:32 2Michael Conway5:40 3Girls on the Line4:14 4Am I Born to Die?4:43 | 2012 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Solas head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 35 | 97.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 29 | 64th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Doyle | 1996 | 2000 | guitar,original |
| John Williams | 1996 | 1997 | accordion,original |
| Karan Casey | 1996 | 1999 | lead vocals,original |
| Séamus Egan | 1996 | 19 March 2017 | banjo,flute,guitar,original |
| Winifred Horan | 1996 | 19 March 2017 | fiddle,original |
| Mick McAuley | 1998 | present | accordion |
| Deirdre Scanlan | 1999 | 2008 | lead vocals |
| Dónal Clancy | September 2000 | April 2003 | guitar |
| Eamon McElholm | May 2003 | present | guitar |
| Mairead Phelan | June 2008 | September 2010 | lead vocals |
| Niamh Varian‐Barry | September 2010 | 11 July 2013 | lead vocals |
| Noriana Kennedy | 11 July 2013 | 19 March 2017 | lead vocals |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solas.JPGaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ae389557-f85b-4954-88f2-7b542db07ff8discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ae389557-f85b-4954-88f2-7b542db07ff8core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2041474genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2041474seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solas_%28group%29biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solas_%28group%29
Why this artist is in the database
- List of folk musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q2041474 · MusicBrainz: ae389557-f85b-4954-88f2-7b542db07ff8
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