Thanks for all the info, guys! It has made everything so much clearer and I can at last see their true importance in the world of Celtic music. But please don't put down the "electro-Celtoid rock." I know it sometimes loosely based on the elements of Celtic music, but I can respect such groups as Wolfstone, Runrig, and AfroCelt Sound System as much as the traditional performers. In fact, when I ever find a group of musicians to play music with me, I'll find that most of the music I compose is traditional sounding, but with a decidedly rock influence. In my opinion, the bass guitars and drumsets can enhance traditional music, but they don't always neccesarily destroy the traditional music by including such instruments. For example, Noirin Ni Rian's rather funky version of "Song of the Pooka" and the Chieftains traditional version (called "Tin Whistles") are both good --the more modern version is not an insult to the traditional, and the traditional is not so stuffy and "old-fashioned" that it needs modernizing; the same goes for such selections as Paul Mounsey's hip-hop-esque "Journeyman" and the Clancy Brothers traditional version "The Little Beggarman." I think both deserve credit where credit is due. Also, I think that in some strait rock and roll numbers, the guitar solos and riffs are perfect little quasi-fiddle tunes and can work well in the Celtic medium; e.g. did anyone ever notice "Karla With a K" by The Hooters, "The Boys Are Back In Town" by Thin Lizzy, "Fields of Fire" by Big Country, or "Down Home Town" by The Electric Light Orchestra all contain riffs that could easily be played by traditional Celtic musicians and sound like traditional music? Maybe I'm rambling, or maybe I need to start a new thread for a further discussion of this. Oh well. Thanks again for all the info!

--Mbo (who likes Celtic Rock)