Sharon Shannon...Diamond Mountain Sessions, she is a superb Melodean player from Ireland and mixes up many styles,folk, blues,jazz,country. In a similiar way Kathryn Tickell has done this with the Northumbrian small pipes,that is taken the instrument into areas further afield than the starting point of folk.  So I also love most folk rock groups, Fairport Convention, Oyster Band.
My own contribution comes from playing by ear using a melodean and Sharon Shannon is my goddess.