The traditional Irish music scene in Baltimore is seriously underrated — at least according to Billy McComiskey.

“Just about any night of the week, if you go out, you can hear good traditional Irish music. It’s just one of those understated things,” the Parkville resident said.

A master of the Irish button accordion, McComiskey began studying the instrument in first grade, then honed his skills in his early teens with the late accordion player Sean McGlynn. His love and respect for traditional Irish music is evident in “Outside the Box,” his first studio release in more than 25 years.