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Our Review

Sheri O'Meara, Locklin Road (the folk trio of O'Meara, Dan Kowalke, and Gregg Weigand), and "Friends" perform a rustic, rich mosaic of well-crafted originals and beloved Scottish/Celtic holiday pieces on Christmas Light. This is a terrific choice for those who love warmly-executed folk music; every note is a treasure.

What an emotional, lovely opening! On Christ Child's Lullaby, the album's longest track, O'Meara sets the tone with a soulful rendition of the traditional Scottish carol. Her textured alto--and the layers of supporting harmonies that subsequently join in--create the most marvelous tapestry of sound! From the first bars of the opening track, I knew that Christmas Light would be a first-rate treat.

O'Meara contributes six new holiday pieces, and she definitely knows how to marry melodies with lyrics into masterful Christmas tales. I particularly enjoyed A Bed for the Baby and Ring That Bell. Both have addictive melodies, and the stories had me hanging on every word. Nice!

Folk aficionados who enjoy Celtic stylings and embrace newly-minted holiday pieces should have a field day with this one. Enjoy the brilliant Christmas Light!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

Lights burn brighter on Christmas Eve. Have you ever noticed? Christmas trees sparkle that night above all others. Outdoor Christmas bulbs are magical. Candles, breathtaking. Every year I forget this, and yet, every year, it happens that way, coming back like a welcome memory. So, when I learned of the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the traveling stranger; it all fit. I hope thhis collection of songs brings a little light to your season.


From the artist's Website:

Sheri O'Meara: Lead vocals, guitar
Dan Kowalke: Vocals, guitars, mandolin, and assorted wondrous sounds.
Gregg Weigand: Vocals, guitars.
Joan Olson: Flute (Light a Candle, Cherry Tree Carol, Auld Lang Syne) and vocals (Light a Candle)
Joanne Keenan: Vocals (Auld Lang Syne, Light a Candle)

Produced by Dan Kowalke at RVM Music.

Setting out to record a Christmas album is daunting. You just don't want to mess with people's idea of what Christmas is. But neither did I want to do an album of all those wonderful but "same old" carols. What we ended up with is a group of songs very dear to me that reflect a more personal view of Christmas. We hope they resonate with you, too.

About Sheri O'Meara: Sheri has performed Celtic, folk and her original music at events including Irish Fair of Minnesota, Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and at songwriter showcase concerts in Ireland. She leads Irish singalongs, coordinates the music workshop tent for Irish Fair of Minnesota, and has performed with vocal groups and theater companies.

About Locklin Road: Locklin Road is a folk trio playing compelling Celtic and original music in an updated style with three-part vocal harmony, guitars, mandolin and bodhran ... as well as the occasional pennywhistle, banjo-guitar and whatever else is catching their spirit at the time.
The trio does a lot of musical storytelling, from traditional Irish ballads to Sheri's original work. The band's three-part harmonies often feature Sheri (who, according to the Irish Gazette, has "crystalline vocals perfect for this material"). The group often features instrumental solos led by Dan (who, again, according to the Gazette: "carries the bulk of the instrumental work on a variety of stringed instruments, notably a mandolin that gets a merciless workout"). Gregg is the go-to guy for singing crowd-favorite pub songs that get the room clapping along. When it fits the occasion, Locklin Road also mixes in a few non-Celtic contemporary favorites from related genres like American folk, country and bluegrass.

Sheri O'Meara & Locklin Road

Christmas Light

Artist link

Track List