Tim,

I was brought up on Jazz myself. When I hit the "rebellious phase" 16/17, I listened to lots of heavy rock stuff from the 70's - including Led Zeppelin who are my favourite all time rock band. I was never much into the mainstream pop music. I started playing acoustic rock after listening to Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Joan Armatrading and Bob Dylan in my late teens. Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention came next and then, when I moved to Ireland I got hooked on the Bothy Band, Altan and a whole load of other brilliant traditional Irish Groups. Although I love singing and listening to Folk songs there's nothing to beat a wild and tempestous reel set.

I'm not a fan of rap myself, but you should hear, if you ever get the chance, the Irish Trad group from Dublin - Kila. They do sort of reggae/rap chants in the Irish language. Has to be heard.

The Irish trad group (I think they're from the States) Sanachie, have recorded a mad rap song with a strong Nationalist bias i.e. pro Sinn Fein. At the end of the Belfast Festival last week it was played all night, over and over, on the local festival radio station. The psychiatric wards reported a huge increase in patients the following day!

Laoise.