Their tradition may be hundreds of years old, but their music is on the cutting edge of contemporary relevance. Their sonic heritage may have been birthed thousands of miles away amidst Irish castles and country sides, but their sound permeates grasslands and prairies today in the heart of the US. Old isn’t simply new. Raging Sea’s music is a reincarnation—a rebirth of traditional Celtic folk music alive and adapted to modern American ritual.
Raging Sea began submerging Wichita with their unique acoustic Celtic/folk blend in 2009. Founder Shawn Craver, a multi-instrumentalist and vocal traditionalist, saw a niche underdeveloped regionally upon his arrival to the city. The son of a family of fiddlers, he was determined to make traditional music relevant. After his first gig at The Artichoke, long known for its support of local music and rich in Irish culture, he teamed up with Nathaniel Lippincott, master of the Irish drum, the bodhrán, to begin formulating the music that would become Raging Sea. Originally known as Shillelagh, their early shows roused audiences. “There’s something about the historical association with castles and kingdoms that draws people in,” says Craver. “Audiences respond to our music in part because it takes them to a different place and time. “
While the ritual harkens back to the days of yore, the themes of their songs are timelessly universal. Their songs include both instrumental blends and vocal journeys. Each is its own expedition, and listeners are melodically transported to a lush Gaelic countryside. Their music is spiritual in nature and authentic in delivery. They explore connections between people in very real ways. Their music is about epic relationships—between men and women as well as between humankind and the earth. They sing of love and loss, death and desire, longing and fulfillment. Most of their songs are literally hundreds of years old, but are altered into modern relevance with new rhythms mixing in shades of rock, bluegrass, and other more modern aspects of music.
Since their formation, the Raging family has grown to include Josh Luper on guitar and Karen Ellington on vocals. Between the four musicians, there are shades of English, Scottish, and Irish influences. Today, they are among the most popular and unique local musicians in Wichita, KS, with an ever-expanding regional following.
Their latest project, Fall and Rise EP, includes a 6 track sampling of their work. It contains 4 vocal tracks and 2 instrumentals. It’s the manifestation of multi-dimensional musical talent and rich cultural backgrounds. With X name for EP, Raging Sea proves that tradition never dies—it is rebirthed and transformed.
