Ruth Keggin - Sheear (2014)

Ruth Keggin is a singer from the Isle of Man who is passionate about bringing Manx music and language to a wider
audience. Her debut solo album, Sheear (”Westward”), was released in February 2014. The live studio recording
features an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Manx Gaelic songs, arranged in a fresh and imaginative
way.

Ruth (vocals, piano and flute) performs along with guitarist David Pearce and double-bassist Vanessa McWilliam. Irish flautist and sean nós singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Manx fiddle player Tomas Callister also feature on several songs.

The twelve-track album comprises a plethora of different textures, from unaccompanied pieces like Arrane y skeddan
(Song of the herring) through to a more unusual soundscape of bowed guitar, prepared piano, shimmering fiddle and eerie double-bass harmonics used in Tree eeasteyryn boghtey (Three poor fishermen).

"a singer of real range and depth, capable of soaring from warm lows to clear highs ... Sheear represents an important milestone for Manx trad" - fRoots magazine

"a true and most appealing voice" - Irish music magazine