Produced by Paddy Moloney The critically acclaimed and two time Grammy Award nominated ‘Down the Old Plank Road’ was one of the major events in roots music circles last year. The record paired the world’s most famous traditional Irish band with some of the greatest pickers, troubadours, country stars and American favourites in Nashville. The Chieftains were out to demonstrate the musical bedrock that Ireland and America share. Sometimes the songs were native to one side of the Atlantic and sometimes they came from the other. It made no difference. Whatever the song’s origin, the collaborations on Down the Old Plank Road worked brilliantly. The subsequent TV special and DVD included several performances that did not appear on the album, suggesting the The Chieftains had more Plank Road “in the can”, and ‘Further Down the Old Plank Road’ is proof of that. Whether it’s a sad ballad or a hornpipe, this is music that unites our cultures in a profound way. And whether in a studio in Nashville or on a stage in Dublin, The Chieftains communicate in a universal language. The album’s 16 tracks feature performances by Chet Atkins, Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ricky Skaggs, Nickel Creek, John Hiatt, Allison Moorer, Tim O’Brien, John Prine, Jerry Douglas, Joe Ely, Don Williams and Doc Watson.
