The Chieftains featuring Alyth McCormack live at Celtic Colours International Festival

Celebrating 57 years together, the world’s most famous Irish band—The Chieftains—made their fourth appearance at Celtic Colours last year in the namesake opening concert, The Chieftains and Friends, at Sydney’s Centre 200. Among the many standout performances during their set was this rendition of “Red is the Rose”. The traditional Irish ballad, sung to the tune of the famous Scottish song “Loch Lomond”, may be just as well-known as the Chieftains themselves, but rarely is it treated to such a lovely interpretation as this by Scottish singer Alyth McCormack. •