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Dave Rooney: In the Studio.

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Currently recording… 

Dave Rooney is working on a new album called Entertainer. I own two of his albums and listening to each  is always a great musical experience. He is a fine musician who is rooted in the folk and Irish tradition but never losing that pop sensibility. If you like The Waterboys, Wet Wet Wet and Luka Bloom, then I don’t see why ou won’t pick up releases from this talented artist. Here’s our little conversation:

What’s the title of the new album?

The new album is called the Entertainer. I’ve folkafied and re-recorded previous tracks and written 6 new ones for this one I’m really happy with it, sounding very contemporary Irish. All the songs are woven in to the the story line, looking forward to getting on the road.
What can listeners expect from this album?

It’s pretty much a life work for me. Introspective,and a big story line based on a character I met in Temple Bar.That’s where I got the idea for the musical. So a few of the songs are about him,with all the songs based on his life.

Are you working with the same guys whom you worked with in your previous album?

Same studio, Sharon Hussey fiddle player, {this is my home} new drummer, accordion player, pipe player ,double bass player,so on…I’m going back to the acoustic more contemporary out of Ireland sound

That sounds amazing! How do you maintain your amazing singing style and how to you keep being up to your toes during tours.

A lot of people ask me that, how do you find time what with a family and all.
The singing comes naturally, simply because I gig 10-12 shows a week, So I’m singing in my sleep. With regards to tours, I love traveling, gigging in different places and I think once your doing what you love it creates and energy and a zest that gives you the ability to stay on top of it.

Thank you Dave. I will be posting this little interview soon and I hope to get a preview of at least one of the songs to let it build anticipation.

As soon as I have a mastered copy, you’ll have it.
thanks a mill Baxter!!!

Dave Rooney performs his new single ‘She’s Not Here’ Live at the Candlelight Sessions in Buskers Bar, Temple Bar, Dublin. 05/04/11

Escape by Éalú

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About the band:

”  Dynamic quartet who play Irish traditional music with a twist”.

Band members:

Ryan Murphy- Uilleann Pipes, Flute, Saxophone.

Cillian King- Concertina, Guitar, Banjo, Vocals.

Francis Ward- Piano.

Dermot Sheedy- Bodhrán, Drums, General Percussion.

Genre: Traditional,Folk, Acoustic, Jazz

Hometown: Limerick

Website: http://www.ealumusic.com/

Sample tracks:

That’s the Life

Pennywell

Getting Jiggy

Hale-Bopp

You can buy Escape from the official website of the band.

 

As the title of the album suggests, listening to Éalú is an escape from the ordinary into the exciting world of colors and textures created by sounds encompassing Jazz, Celtic and Dance music. Escape, the debut album is now out. The cover artwork depicts splashes of paint against a dark brick wall. Each member brings his own style into the mix. For instance, the often times haunting piano intro of Francis Ward creates that calming balance to the driving percussion of Dermot Sheedy. Ryan Murphy’s stunning command of the uilleann pipes, flute, whistles and even saxophones are all complemented by the rich vocals of Cillian King who also plays the concertina and guitar.

Songs like San Francisco Bay Blues stick with me because of its 20’s jazz appeal. Cillian here sounds like a cross between Harry Connick jr and Marti Pellow of Scottish band Wet Wet Wet. Catch the Wind (originally done by Donovan)has that breezy acoustic guitar strumming and epic singing that stays with you like a glimpse to the best moments of your life. Marion McLean of Eoligary is stunning with its simplicity and grace. That’s Life is so beautifully done that it makes you wish you sound like Cillian King when you sing! The album closes with the stunning Hale-Bop that showcases what makes Éalú the cream of the crop among young Irish bands today.

LiveTrad:Moya and Aisling

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I wrote about LiveTrad and did an interview in my previous article. The people behind it deserve our cheers as they continue to bring traditional Irish music to the world. Well, I was happy when I heard that Moya Brennan was going to be featured along with her daughter Aisling.  It is nice to see Moya perform in such an intimate setting with just few instruments . Her voice can really take the whole room with it’s confounding mystery.

I am also going to note here that Aisling Jarvis is creating her own musical path. I have heard her older tracks in myspace when she was just starting to compose and perform. Her style is modern with ethereal flavor and electronic embellishments.  It is really great to see both of them perform together.  I am happy to watch these videos despite my flu. This sickness is getting to my friends these days. I think it always happens when the weather moves from cold to warm. Anyway thanks to LiveTrad for capturing these moments on video.

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More of these if you go to LiveTrad youtube channel

Julie Fowlis, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and More…

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Julie Fowlis was one of the presenters in the 2012 BBC Radio 2 folk awards. If you remember, she won awards from this events for her albums . Check the highlights here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/folk-awards-2012/

I posted the video of Seth Lakeman because he’s the artist that often pops up in the discussion between my friends.

Presented by Mike Harding and Julie Fowlis, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards took place at The Lowry Theatre, Salford on Wednesday 8 February at 7.30pm.

The ceremony, which included live music from The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Don McLean (pictured above) and Seth Lakeman, celebrated the folk highlights of the last 12 months, including awards for Best album, group, musician, live act and Folk singer of the year. There were also be lifetime achievement presentations plus the announcement of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award winner.

Clannad 40th Anniversary Performance on public TV this March‏

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Well well well, there is no denying that one of the most influential Celtic bands in history are making it to public television. After decades on the business it is true that a band like Clannad pack a punch no matter how soothing most of the music might sound. I am blogging in a public place for lack of internet at home. It seems that someone missed an appointment today and I am having coffee all alone.

Anyway I got this press release as an email from Susan Hellman.

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Clannad at Leo's Tavern

WLIW21 CELEBRATES ST. PATRICK’S DAY WITH RARE CONCERT FROM IRISH MUSIC ICONS CLANNAD

CLANNAD LIVE AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN

EXCLUSIVE NEW YORK AREA BROADCAST PREMIERE

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 AT 3 PM AND 10 PM

In January 2011, the five original members of Clannad, the legendary family group from Donegal, Ireland, came together for a rare live performance marking the band’s 40thanniversary.   It was the first full concert in 20 years featuring all five founding members.    Recorded at the 11th century Christ Church Cathedral as part of the Temple Bar Tradfest, that magical evening has been captured in the new public television special– Clannad Live at  Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, premiering, appropriately, in the New York metropolitan area on WLIW21 on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.

Clannad Live at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin will premiere Saturday, March 17 at 3 pm with an additional airing at 10 pm (check local listings) as part of WLIW21’s March membership drive.   The broadcast will include exclusive interviews with Moya Brennan.   The special will be distributed by WLIW21 to public television stations nationwide beginning Monday, February 27, 2012 (check local listings).

The special continues WLIW21’s longstanding commitment to programming that explores Irish culture and heritage, including recent broadcasts of the Music of Ireland series hosted by Moya Brennan and distributed nationally by WLIW, Órla Fallon’s Celtic Christmas, original productions including Visions of Ireland, and Out of Ireland on the WLIW World channel. 

Highlights of the set list of the Live at Dublin program underscore the impact Clannad has had beyond traditional Celtic music into international pop culture —  “Theme from Harry’s Game,” originally a TV series theme, became the United Kingdom’s first top ten hit in the Gaelic language and went on to international attention in the film Patriot Games and in Volkswagen ads in the U.S.; “Newgrange,” a song given pop culture attention again recently as covered by Celtic Woman; and “I Will Find You,” the haunting love theme from The Last of the Mohicans.

Featured guests are Anúna, Ireland’s National Choir, and Brian Kennedy, known for his years singing with Van Morrison and as the lead singer in Riverdance on Broadway. Brian joins the band for “In a Lifetime,” originally a duet with Bono on Clannad’s album Macalla.

Siblings Moya Brennan, Ciarán Brennan, Pól Brennan, and their twin uncles  –   Noel andPádraig Duggan – comprise the current lineup of Clannad.  Clannad first made their mark in thefolk and traditional scene in the 1970s in Ireland and mainland Europe. With their hauntingly beautiful songs, mesmerizing vocals, and captivating sound, Clannad has sold over fifteen million records worldwide.

The Grammy Award-winning Clannad is widely regarded as the band which paved the way for mainstream success for many other Irish artists by putting Irish “traditional” music, sung in the Irish language, on the world stage for the first time.  It has been said that what today is so widely regarded as Celtic music was first called “Clannad music.”

Clannad Live at  Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is produced and Directed by Cathal Watters, Odyssey Media. Co-Produced by Shane McDonnell. Executive Producers are John Scher, Keith Naisbitt, Gustavo Sagastume and Carole Myers.  For WLIW21 – Gillian Rose, executive in charge of production in association with WNET New York Public Media.