What do you get when you bring together two hibernophiles with a passion for merging the old with the new? You get quite a rakish duo — hence the name of the folk pair, Rakish. With a strong affinity for Irish culture (i.e., hibernophile), Maura Scanlin and Conor Hearn are serving their take on contemporary folk-Americana music with a heaping helping of Celtic flair.
Getting its name from the traditional Irish tune, “Rakish Paddy,” Rakish is the brainchild of two multi-instrumentalists whose shared love of Celtic music drew them together. While attending college in Boston, Scanlin and Hearn first played shows as part of the folk group Pumpkin Bread. From there, the two began performing as a duo, developing music based on a mutual Irish cultural background.
Drawing inspiration from classical chamber music and as well as the robust cultural backdrop of Ireland and Scotland, the duo is dedicated to celebrating the past while making room for the future. Their brand new album, Now, O Now, merges literature with music in a dazzling homage to two of James Joyce’s poems. With 11 innovative tracks, the release is an exploration of tradition that is unafraid to face the future.
Originally released as a single, the album’s opening track, “Lonely Hotel Room,” features masterful banjo and fiddle playing from Scanlin. Hearn shines on both acoustic and electric guitar alongside special guest Dylan McKinstry on drums and electric bass. This number is an emotional yet lively contemporary folk pop gem. Scanlin reveals that she wrote this while sick in a hotel room on tour, reflecting on “the passage of time and the changes that come with it.”
The album’s title track, “Now, O Now,” is one of two James Joyce poems illuminated by this duo. Hearn lends his vocal stylings on this one, singing the poem with a gently lilting string melody. Scanlin’s sweeter tones meet in subtle harmonies here and there.
Harbinger of the rare “Celtic electronica,” “765” is an absolute treat. This is the only song off the album produced by Jamie Oshima (the rest were produced by Scanlin and Hearn). A foot-stomping blend of fiddle and rhythmic beats, this one was made for dancing. The uptempo melody will transport you straight to an vibrant Irish pub.
Another homage to literature, “Lightly Come or Lightly Go,” is the duo’s second James Joyce poem set to music. Hearn is once again at the lyrical helm, accompanied by Scanlin in more of her delicate harmonies. Yet again, Rakish seamlessly blends several art forms into a folk-fueled masterpiece all their own.
Ending on a proverbial high note, “Fool’s Spring/The Tourtoise,” wraps the album up with a bow. With a tone of finality, pay close attention to this purely instrumental track. Deceptively long and slow at times, this scintillating number beckons listeners to stay ’til the last note.
Scanlin hails from the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where her love of Americana and Celtic music was born. A hub of musical inspiration in itself, this place formed the backdrop for her burgeoning fiddle career. As a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, she is proficient in a number of musical stylings.
Hearn’s experience with Scottish and Irish cultural heritage was just as rich as that of Scanlin. Growing up amidst Irish communities in both Washington D.C. and Maryland, Hearn found himself enamored with the various forms of music that surrounded him. As both an active performer and instructor, his keen ear and knack for both fiddle and guitar has made him an in-demand collaborator.
Throughout the fall and into winter 2025, Rakish can be found touring the U.S. to promote their new album.
Rakish Tour Dates
Oct. 12 – College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C.
Oct. 13-17 – Celtic Colours International Festival, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Oct. 18 – Sycamore Center, Steubenville, Ohio
Oct. 19 – Hamlin Street Diner, Washington, D.C.
Oct. 20 – Stoltz Listening Room, Easton, Md.
Nov. 1 – The Lyceum, Alexandria, Va.
Nov. 3 – Celtic Junction Arts Center, St. Paul, Minn.
Nov. 5 – Café Paradiso, Fairfield, Iowa
Nov. 6 – The Bur Oak, Madison, Wis.
Nov. 8 – Northfield Mandolins, Marshall, Mich.
Nov. 9 – Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, Chicago, Ill.
Nov. 10 – Riverdog, Oberlin, Ohio
Nov. 13 – Lovin’ Cup, Rochester, N.Y.
Nov. 23 – Cheboygan Opera House, Cheboygan, Mich.
Jan. 22 – Club Passim, Cambridge, Mass.
Jan. 23 – The Word Barn, Exeter, N.H.
Jan. 24 – Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jan. 27 – Groton School, Groton, Mass.
