It is hard to say who was more surprised that night in Robert's, the famed honky-tonk on Broadway in Nashville. Was it the Folk Alliance stalwarts who were soaking up some hot country picking and sweet singing when they realized today's hottest young Irish traditional band, DanÚ, was settling in for a beer? Or was it DanÚ, to find themselves recognized in this home of country music? The band was due to make their debut in Music City the next night, but prior to that, they planned on hearing country music and getting a drink in anonymity.

Danú started out as a favor to a friend running a Celtic festival in Brittany. The festival was short one Irish band, so Benny McCarthy, button accordionist, and his boys from Waterford graciously agreed to fill the spot. As the time to publicize the festival approached, according to McCarthy, the organizers thought "Danú" -- the name of a Celtic land-goddess -- would suit. The band was so well-received under that title from their first time out, they've held onto it. Not that there was much need of deliberating over a name. The plan was to enjoy a paid vacation in France, doing something they often did for free.

The enthusiastic response the boys received in France was an encouraging hint of things to come. Danú concerts are never received halfheartedly. At the Folk Alliance this year the band earned one of the highly coveted main stage showcase slots. They played the skin off their fingers for their allotted five songs and were rewarded with hollering, whistling, stomping and the biggest, most spontaneous standing ovation at the conference. And everyone in that audience was a folk music professional of some kind -- presenter, record label rep, press or fellow musician -- so the praise is particularly gratifying to Danú. The reason they deserve this type of acclaim is simple: They truly love the music; there is precious little they would rather be doing. After the main stage showcases were over all seven of the boys repaired to the bar, unofficially rechristened "the Danú room" for the night, as everyone who plays Irish music or admires it crowded in for a good session.

Tom Doorley, flute and tin whistle player, admits the band is hugely influenced by Irish revival bands like The Bothy Band and Planxty. These groups lifted the traditional tunes out of the realm of kitchen music and into the rarefied place where tradition remains strong, but is interpreted by super-players. If they were playing classical music, the word virtuosi would be applied to many in this school. And, as it happens, both Doorley and fiddler Oisín McAuley have degrees in classical music. Doorley recalls the work at the conservatory as, well, conservative. He also remembers feeling blessed by having a sympathetic teacher who saw how much pleasure he got out of playing the old tunes and urged him to follow his heart.

When asked to describe Danú's second CD, All Things Considered (Shanachie), prior to its release last year, McCarthy laughed and said it's more of the same. "People seem to love it! Why change?" Prompted in Nashville to describe their planned May recording session -- again in Liam Clancy's studio in An Rinn -- McCarthy's eyes twinkled as he nodded. "Yep, more of the same." The "same" means high-powered reels and jigs interspersed with traditional songs from Ciarán Gealbháin, winner of Irish television TG4's prestigious Singer of the Year title.

Still, Doorley says "more of the same" doesn't seem like a life sentence the way classical did. "You can play [one song] night after night, because each time you throw your own little twist to it, which inspires another player to take off from it. Immediately someone will answer. Perhaps the whole band will jump in." It's a subtle thing, but it makes the music live for both performer and listener.

DanÚ plays Sun., March 9, 7:30 p.m, $12-$14, Germantown Academy Arts Center, 340 Morris Rd., Ft. Washington, 215-247-1300.