Irish Music Stories Podcast

By far my favourite podcast! Comfort, joy, laughter, curiosity - the whole spectrum of emotion in one wee parcel. Absolutely delighted to see the sidequest episodes come on 💖

Shannon Heaton’s podcast is an excellent, insightful view into a vibrant musical tradition for those who know something about Irish music and those who are interested in learning more. Heaton, a noted flute player, offers a highly textured approach to each episode’s topic. In doing so, she weaves together many strands: a highly sophisticated appreciation for the music itself with a keen awareness of the social and community dynamics in which it’s played and performed; the complexities of keeping a tradition alive and adapting the music to changing musical sensibilities among performers, audiences, and consumers in varying contexts; the dynamics of the social and community contexts; and the ways in which changing social dynamics affect those within the community. While there’s a lot going on in each episode, she keeps things lively and interesting. There’s great music in each episode, too, with links to the tunes and bands that are showcased in the episode. Highly recommended!

I’m really enjoying this podcast cast. Keeps me engaged and going back to play my flute which has sat too long untouched.

Shannon is a great storyteller and produces an amazing show. She weaves interviews and music throughout. I find something to love in each one and am enjoying learning more about the music I love in this engaging format. You can tell this is a labor of love and I wholeheartedly encourage us all to support this podcast so she can keep on producing more!