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Deirdre Shannon, The voice of Goddess Erin.

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Deirdre Shannon Photo by B.Doherty
In this photo:
Deirdre Shannon http://www.deirdreshannon.com

Nothing beats waking up to a great voice of Deirdre Shannon!

Well well well, at last it is official. This site will now become http://www.celticmusicfan.com. Hahaha I am basking at the thought of it all. For two years I dreamed and now  it is going to be my official baby with the help of my two angelic Celtic warriors who are my best pals for life. What would I do without them? Anyway I am so happy and so overwhelmed that I am afraid I might not be able to write an article because of this…joking!

It is a nice warm Sunday. So how are you folks doing? I spent the whole day listening to Celtic music and I was not aware that myspace actually transmits all the songs I listened to online so you can’t imagine the shock I felt upon looking at my twitter widget. I apologize to my followers who were bombarded by such updates. Perhaps it was too early for some of you to get such insistent notice.

Morning is best when it is greeted by a calm, relaxed state. And yes, meditative music helps. I am not one of those who start the day by playing dance music. I’d rather wake up to the Gregorian chants at 5 am than the sound of techno.  That will wait until the evening.

Now this lass I am presenting here looks familiar doesn’t she? That is because you must have seen her already in shows like Lord of the dance, Celtic Tenors and The Canadian Tenors.   Deirdre Shannon’s career blossomed in the mid- 90s when she joined the Celtic choir Anuna.

She has  pure and beautiful soprano that comes with a crossover appeal. Not too high brow classical nor sweet  bright and popsy. Just the right combination. I think people remembered her as the Goddess Erin in Lord of the Dance. I have to tell you I can listen to her for hours and never get tired.

There are few artists who can be naturally beautiful both inside and out. Deirdre is one of them. She doesn’t have to try. Her beauty shines forth sans make up. And yes that voice can make you forget she is a human being.

She has a new album out:

Deirdre’s highly anticipated album – Anamceol – is available for purchase through CD Baby, be sure to click on “Deirdre’s Shop”!  

In this her second album, Irish singer Deirdre Shannon shares unique treasures from her country’s rich musical heritage. This collection of songs, reminiscent of a time almost forgotten, leads you through a rich tapestry of Celtic life. Deirdre guides you on a journey of love, nature and mythology, to a place where your heart is consoled. She brings you music for the soul. Anamċeol.

Dòchas : Crystal Bright Music from Scotland

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Genre: Folk

Location Scotland, UK

Website www.dochas.co.uk

Record Label Macmeanmna Records

 

Ever wondered where Julie Fowlis was involved with musically before she became a huge artist of her own? The answer is Dòchas. Her crystal clear vocals are all over these recordings along with the amazing members Kathleen Boyle,  Carol-Anne Mackay, Eilidh Macleod, Martin O’Neill and Jenna Reid. They released two albums An Darna Umhail and the self titled debut Dochas. There has been no confirmed news since 2009 as each members pursued their own individual projects but who knows? One of these days we mght hear them together creating wonderful musical treasures.

Listen to samples of their works in myspace

http://www.myspace.com/dochasmusic

 

and their official site

http://www.dochas.co.uk/music.htm

 

BIOGRAPHY

Hailing from all parts of Scotland, this award winning and dynamic band are heralded as one of the country’s finest exports. Having delighted audiences from Achiltibuie to Austria, Copenhagen to Calgary and Vienna to Vancouver, Dòchas are fast becoming one of the most popular bands on the Festival circuit.

A well worn phrase, but Dòchas really amounts to much more than the sum of its parts. And this becomes all the more impressive when you consider the parts themselves – award winning individuals, and sought after session musicians. With two critically acclaimed albums under their belt, Dòchas have matured into a band who promise dynamic, virtuosic and varied live shows, with both “heart-melting vocals” and “barn-stomping tunes”.

Featuring the many talents of Kathleen Boyle, Julie Fowlis, Carol-Anne Mackay, Eilidh Macleod, Martin O’Neill and Jenna Reid.

The Indianapolis Ceili Band

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Do you ever get that feeling when you have  a lot of things to tell but you just have no choice but to it back and tell them bits by bits? That is what I feel with hundreds of bands I want to recommend but I have to take it easy because we can’t fit everything I  one page.

Today I am highlighting the Indianapolis Ceili Band.  The musicians in this group make music for the purpose of performing the songs in ceilis and also to show what it means to be American and Irish. Expect members to be just musicians and not a bunch of Celtic Woman or Celtic Thunder wannabes. Just guys performing together for the love of music.

Their album Every Wednesday Night is out. Now if you are curious to listen to sample tracks you can actually hear them for free through their official site’s music page . I heard few tracks and they are magnificent! You should check them out.

Members:   

Fiddles:
Maggie Davis
Samantha Stelting
Flutes:
Alberta Lathan
Dmitri Alano

Concertina:
Ed Delaney

Accordion:
Dianna Davis

Tenor Banjo:
Mario Joven

Keyboards:
Robyn Ton

Percussion:
Chris Deis

Visit their facebook band site

See also Ennis Clare Irish Band

Concerts, Festivals and Calendars

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Don’t have anywhere to go this month? Oh, please don’t sound like me whose life isn’t going anywhere as of the moment 😀  I have to let you in for something personal. Someone bought the domain I wanted. Remember I want this site to become http://www.celticmusicfan.com? I just found out last night that someone in the United States bought it. Now I just have to settle for a .net.  But so what! It is just a domain name. People can copy names and appearances but they could never ever replicate individuality. It just doesn’t work that way.  In the end it is the traffic that counts. Would you agree? As my  friend Donie  who is  a terrific Irish painter told me when I mentioned this to him :” CANT BE HELD RANSOM TO SOME STRANGER HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.”

 

 

Ready for the biggest Celtic Music Festival in the Czech Republic?

To those who have been following my posts since late last year would have known that there are really good bands in terms of Celtic music in the Czech Republic. Jeremy of the band Poitin confirmed this today in his facebook post. I think you might have to add that to your travel plan this July 20!

The biggest Celtic Music Festival in the Czech Republic. It’s going to be great. Our mates Sliotar from Ireland’ll be there and the Spanish band Street Wings, as well as us and all your favourite Czech Celtic bands.
http://www.keltska-noc.cz/GB.html

 

 

 

 

KILRUSH @ The East Durham Irish Festival and Shamrock house

http://kilrushband.com/

Can you still make it today? They will be playing live.

Memorial Day weekend in East Durham has been nothing short of an Irish Tradition for many years…as for Kilrush, it’s it’s our 7th year returning to the Irish Alps….we are playing Friday Night at

1 am at the SHAMROCK HOUSE following the Narrowbacks!
12:45pm on the COOR’S Music Pavilion (East Durham Mem. Irish Fest)
2:15 pm The KILLIAN’S Music Tent (also East Durham Mem.Irish Fest)
1 am at the SHAMROCK HOUSE folowing Shilelagh Law!!

Here is the map : https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Durham-Irish-Festival/226458027379907

 

 

 

Troy MacGillivray in Concert!

Azarbe-Taking the Spanish Folk Scene by Storm!

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I am blogging using other people’s computer. Don’t ask me how this happened but I am on the run right now. However I could not pass an opportunity to present this interesting band.

Azarbe are a  folk group from Spain that are going to take the cultural music of Spain by storm. The music is nostalgic and caped with pure energy. The musical style borrows heavily from flamenco with traces of Galician flavour. The group was formed in 1999 composed of  the following members :

Emilio J. Mateos

Spanish guitars, lute, mandolin, and vocals guitarro.

Oscar Esteban

Cajon square tambourine, djembe, tambourines, dabúll and choirs.

Peter J. Lopez

Spanish guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor guitar and vocals.
Collaborators
Teresa Fernandez
Voice and chorus.

Alvaro Martinez
Violin.

Constantino Lopez
Low.

Paco Botia
Shakers, bongo, sabar, cajon, congas, triangle, square tambourine, tambourines, claps, a gogo bells, bells, mortar and effects. Botia Paco plays with instruments Percussion Chambo .

http://www.azarbe.com

http://www.surefolk.es/