Áit Ait (Irish for “strange place” or “uncanny valley”) are an experimental folk duo focused on reinterpretations of traditional songs – dark and deep, bright and sparkling; full of noise and life. Based in Minnesota, Áit Ait (pronounced “ahh-tch eye-tch”) is Aja McCullough (song) and Patrick Maun (sound). The two set out to explore the living tradition that is Irish folk music – ever evolving and always changing, a solid footing set in the past but looking towards the future.

We’ve had an exciting year so far! Our CD Live at the Parkway Theater was released in August right after our exciting mini-tour of Germany, culminating in a performance at the Folkerdey Festival in Dusseldorf. We’ve had some amazing shows playing at some of our favorite local venues. AND we successfully funded our first Kickstarter campaign. We’re just finished recording our new album and CD and you can expect to see it January, 2026. Yes, that’s right, we are also doing vinyl for this release. It’s going to be amazing.

Our live performance at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis, March 2024. We’re actively adding new videos to our channel on YouTube. Follow this playlist!

Our latest CD Live at the Parkway Theater was released on August 1st, 2025. We’re excited to release this fun snapshot of our live shows of the past few years. The show captures us at the Parkway Theater in March, 2024 in Minneapolis supporting our friends Boiled in Lead. Many of these tracks are also available on YouTube as concert videos! It’s available on Bandcamp and all major streaming services.
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Our single The Green Fields of Amerikay was released on May 27th, 2024. It is a song of longing for what is left behind, and also of hope and optimism for what the future brings.
“But what matter to me where my bones may be buried / If in peace and contentment I can spend my life”
Bandcamp
Spotify
Apple Music
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YouTube

Our EP On the Salt Sea was released January 1st, 2024 and is available on Bandcamp as both a digital download or a physical CD. You can also stream on all major platforms!
Bandcamp
Spotify
Apple Music
Pandora
YouTube

Our 2023 release Beneath the Cold Silent Dew in available now on Bandcamp and on major streaming platforms like iTunes, Amazon Music, Pandora, Hearnow, and Spotify.

Lyric video for Lovely Ann

Lyric video for Eastersnowe

Aja McCullough is a fantasy/sci fi writer and musician whose love of dramatic narratives, beautiful melodies, and all things weird, old and spooky, led her straight to the shipwreck-filled world of traditional singing.

Patrick Maun began his journey in experimental music while living in Vienna, Austria during which time he performed extensively across Europe. Returning to the United States he discovered the uilleann pipes and traditional Irish music.
It was only a matter of time before the experimental and the traditional met.