Black Bank Folk - Rising: stories of love and loss told with fluency and grace

Amid the commemorative events marking the 1916 centenary, Rising makes an intriguing contribution with its collection of human stories.

James Sheeran and John Colbert are the pair behind this project.

They wrote most of the songs, with contributions from Damien Dempsey and Grace O'Malley, and a particularly thoughtful interpretation of Luke Kelly's Sons of Róisín.

Narrative is all as stories of love, faith, loss and vision are told with fluency and grace.

Musically, Rising's reach is wide, as Seán McKeon's pipes underscore the momentousness of Realisation.

Brother, which reflects on the relationship between the Pearse brothers, chooses a more intimate tenor.

The sweeping arc shaping this collection gives the stories of the Rising an immediacy that will likely resonate with a whole new audience. blackbankfolk.com