After an association with Vancouver's Blackthorn that goes back many years now, I'm delighted to hear fresh material from their long anticipated sophomore release, 'Singing The Travels'. They obviously spent the time well, crafting a knockout CD of songs and instrumentals. I'm most impressed with the polish on the product. 'Sailor Boy' is one of the most achingly beautiful songs I have heard by any artist. The arrangement is breathtaking and Michelle Carlisle delivers the lyrical melancholy with the voice of an angel.

—Cal Koat, Producer, Celt In A Twist

Singing The Travels is their third CD, and it's their most impressive to date. There are lots of warm-hearted musical rambles on this solid CD from local group Blackthorn. The eye-catching cover painting suggests they are out for an enjoyable afternoon's tour, and finds them in energetic form as they canter through the magical early spring landscape. The sextet has honed their skills over the years and are totally at home with close vocal and instrumental harmonies.

Accordionist Dianne Foster and fiddler Rosie Carver are melodically inspired and provide lively settings for the songs, and a lot of the musical force on leaping sets of tunes. The Pullet/Hard Road/Billy Wilson's Reel in particular should be a favourite with dancers, and the Misty Braes set, a session-like fling, as well as the Lea Riggers set (a salty air, a sassy dance and a high stepping march) should keep listeners hopping to the brisk kinetic tunes. Bassist Tim Renaud gets right down to the bottom line as well, accentuating the rhythms in all the right places.

Both Graham Carver and Michael Viens sing with stirring commitment, and hit the mark particularly well on Bonnie Dundee and Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore. If there's a star turn here though, it's Michelle Carlisle's beautiful vocals, and each of her four numbers is a delight. Joy Of My Heart is lovely, and on Do You Love An Apple she gives a bravura performance. Sailor Boy is a real highlight, her voice shimmers on the atmospheric air, and she lifts off and soars on The Ploughman. Michelle has a grand tone and great feeling in her voice, and is also tremendous all over the album on flute.

This one is a good listen, and helps prove how well the music travels from across the Atlantic, and what good hands it's in locally with the musicians inspired to keep it going.

—David Ingram – Rogue Folk Review – Vol. 17 No. 4

Finally, a second album from the Vancouver folk group Blackthorn with songs from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on Market Town. While new to the music scene, these six have put together a sound that leaves one wondering whether they have been playing together as long as the Chieftains. The blend of music and tunes is first class and the instrumentals, with a range of instruments from harmonium to penny whistle, is in the finest tradition. ...when the group gets going on a high-stepping tune you can imagine yourself in a pub on the west coast of Ireland singing along.

—Patrick Murphy, Times Colonist

Blackthorn: Market Town - Just about the time I thought I'd had enough Celtic along come these splendid stalwarts with this new package and away I get blown: by the tunes, the playing, the fun and fire of the whole thing; saying nothing of the excellent production (a lot of big labels don't sound this good). It's fresh and crisp and full of charm and energy; rousing dances and lovely lilts

—Jurgen Gothe, DiscDrive, CBC Stereo

[Market Town] is a completely self-produced album. All the artwork and all the creative efforts in it are their own... and we'll be hearing more of that in coming weeks, I can guarantee you.

— Steve Edge, What the Folk, CFRO FM 102.7

What a treat! I like the sound of Blackthorn very much. Many thanks for the CDs [Dark Island & Market Town]... They will go into our music library and I'll notify the other producers who use music in their programs...

— Margaret Isaacs, Weekender, CBC Stereo

I've just listened to the entire performance and it's great! It will be a pleasure to share my enjoyment of Blackthorn's music with the network audience.

—Max Ferguson, CBC Stereo