Virtuoso instrumentalists are a dime a dozen in the industry, but some transcend talent with vision. Irish accordionist, whistle player, and singer/songwriter Mick McAuley grew up in Calan, Kilkenny. At the age of nine he procured a button accordion that incited a love affair with traditional music and the eventual mastery of anything with keys. Over the years he's performed and recorded with Ron Kavana, Karan Casey, and Niamh Parsons, and is a full-time member of the award-winning Celtic group Solas. He released his first record of solo material, Ocean's Breadth, on Shanachie in 2003, which featured traditional as well as original compositions. ~ James Christopher Monger