Solas: Shamrock City

Shamrock City is a novel undertaking: Séamus Egan documents the adventures of his great uncle, Michael Conway, who emigrated from Ireland in 1910, and worked in the copper mines of Butte, Montana, where he died tragically six years later.

Solas populate their newly-minted, wily western landscape with gamblers, drinkers and women with enviable monikers such as Shoestring Annie. All are embroidered into a richly-textured musical backdrop that could be a first- cousin-once-removed of Springsteen's The Seeger Sessions .

Guest vocalists Rhiannon Giddens (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops) and Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan add emotional depth. Egan's orchestrations are another bonus. Expect more in terms of multimedia undercurrents on their forthcoming tour.

Download tracks: Arbor Day, Lay Your Money Down