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The Brave Trailer, Madeleine Stowe and The Drovers

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

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You gotta see this movie!

Jimmy sent this link a few days ago and I was so caught up with Annalivia that I forgot to post this. My bad! This current post is dedicated to TV shows and movies.  Here’s the blurb:

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Directed by Mark Andrews (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, John Carter of Mars) and Brenda Chapman (The Lion King, Prince of Egypt), and produced by Katherine Sarafian (Lifted, The Incredibles), Brave is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and the signature Pixar humour enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Sounds like a beautiful movie to me. Not to mention the voices behind.

If you are wondering who is singing the song in this movie, it is no other than Scottish musician Julie Fowlis. Here is the video:

Visit her site here: http://www.juliefowlis.com/

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Remember when she played a Celtic rock fiddler?

My favorite TV shows are: The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, Terra Nova, Revenge and Haven.  Madeleine Stowe plays the character of Victoria Grayson in Revenge(Based on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas). I learned about this show from Timothy. The two movies Last of The Mohican and Blink  where she appeared are memorable to me.

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This is a funny opening scene in Blink where she plays a blind fiddler of the Celtic Rock band The Drovers opposite Aidan Quinn. Parents please take your kids away from the computer!

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The nice violin part…

And now ladies and gentlemen…The Drovers.

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More info about the band here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Drovers

 

Kilrush, John Byrne and Ouch!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Ouch! This headache gets in the way. I am past the age of rock and roll.  But sometimes I have this fantasy of waking up and asking hey where’s my other shoe. There’s also a part of me who is a frustrated DJ.

There’s this local radio station I frequented  a lot. The manager was aware that I was into Celtic music. So apart from bands like The Calling, Lifehouse, Snow Patrol and Keane, they wanted to add something different. Most of the time, people hear Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails and  Emo bands. Then they started hearing a bit of Loreena McKennitt, Clannad, Brigid Boden, and Altan. Soon friends started approaching me saying, were those your CDs? I’d start laughing. I love the idea of influencing people. It is fun.

My music calendar told me that  the band Kilrush will play  this Saturday, January 21. Let me give you a sample of how they sound like if ever you decide to go. It is fun to have a little craic after a long week of work work work work!

Kilrush at The Wellsboro House

When:     Saturday, 21 January 2012
Time:     21:00 until 00:00

Description
Rocking Irish Hooley at the Wellsboro House…Sweet, Sweet Bar and and Awesome place to get dinner too!

Chris (owner of the Wellsboro House) Pours the most awesome pints around….drink and dinner specials….

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John Byrne made a wonderful collaboration with Fiach Moriarty last Christmas and that got him to the radar. But this guy has made countless followers already. I love his ballads. And what’s an acoustic band without a wonderful cello or fiddle player?

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http://johnbyrneband.com/

Blast From The Past: Banba by Clannad

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

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Banba introduced me to the music of Clannad. From there I started digging their old albums and I am still anticipating any release from them. From the somber and haunting opening track Na Laetha Bhi, the movie theme I Will Find You(Last of the Mohicans) up to the rousing The Other Sside, Clannad made an album for all generations.

I  admit I thought they have two lead vocalists. Moya Brennan has a way of making her voice sound different depending on the arrangement of the tracks. In There For You, she sounds breathy and low that her voice sounds like Marianne Faithful. In I will Find You, she sings in higher pitch that she and her sister Enya  are almost identical.

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Speaking of Enya, fans would probably have mixed feelings upon knowing that her hit Orinoco Flow appears in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo…um you may ask which part? Well, the ironic thing is that it is featured in one of the most violent scenes in the movie-at least that’s what people in Unity(Official Enya Forum) are talking about. Look at this trailer:

About Celtic Festivals and Sliotar’s New Album

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I am having my first cup of tea and it is midnight. Patience my friend. That is what my head is telling me. It is hard to resist when you just want to push the buttons and finish it up. But doing things in a hurry doesn’t bring out good results.

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I had a nice chat with Breton musician Dom Duff last night. This guy draws a lot of crowd. He is one of the most influential artists from Brittany. He mentioned that  The Lorient Celtic Festival in France is already being organized for August this year. His wife works with the organizers and if I am interested to come I will be included in the VIP list. Ha! You know how that sort of thing makes me feel  flattered. I have been interested in the Interceltique Festival since I started this blog. It is an event that gives opportunity for musicians to expose their talents. It’s like The Woodstock of Celtic Music. I wonder who will be on the list of performers.

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It says: Ouverture de la soirée par le bagdad de Lann Bihoué

The Interceltique is spectacular!

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I can’t believe that one of the most important event in Cornwall has been turned down. I am shocked beyond words. This is insane!

Golowan festival loses funding

by Tony Townsend

Friday, January 13th 2012 16:30

The application to Cornwall Council for funding was turned down for this year’s event.

Organisers of the popular Golowan Festival in Penzance have been left disappointed after Cornwall Council cut all of it’s funding.
The Council used to give the festival £12,000 a year to help put on the traditional Cornish celebration including the Mazey Day parade.
Last year it’s estimated the summer festival brought £1.5 million pounds to the local economy.
Penzance Town Council have said that the festival will still go-ahead but possibly on a smaller scale and are calling for the community and businesses to help out as much as possible.
A public meeting will be taking place at the Acorn Theatre 6pm on Tuesday 24th January.

Unacceptable!!!

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Siotar CD Launch  

    • When
      Wednesday, 25 January 2012
    • Time
      20:00 until 23:00
  • Where
    The Porterhouse, Parliament street, Dublin, Ireland
  • Description
    		 So the new year is here and with it comes Sliotar’s fifth album Fine Friends, which will be launched with an elaborate bash in Sliotar’s home venue the Porterhouse during the Temple bar trad fest. The event is free in and you are all welcome:-)

Mary Dillon and Déanta: Lullaby for Sad Hearts

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

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She and her sister Cara are blessed with sweet and otherworldly voices. If rainbows make a sound, then they would sound like Mary. I am inviting you to sing along with Mary and the wonderful Northern Irish band Déanta. I guess it is the mood of the night that made me seek out sad but beautiful songs. The name of the band is  Irish for done or made. Check out their Green Linnet discog.

Members are

Mary Dillon
Deirdre Havlin
Rosie Mulholland
Eoghan O’Brien
Kate O’Brien
Clodagh Warnock

Where Are You
Chorus:
Where are you tonight, I wonder?
And where will you be tonight when I cry?
Will sleep to you come easy, though alone I can’t slumber?
Or will you welcome in the morning at another one’s side?

How easy for you the years slip under
And left me a shadow the sun can’t dispel
I have built for you a tower of love and admiration
I see you so high I cannot reach myself

(Chorus)

I look through my window at a world filled with strangers
The face in my mirror is the one face I know
You have taken all that’s in me, though my heart is in no danger
My heart is in no danger, but I’d still like to know

(Chorus)

If there’s a silence, then it can be broken
If there beats a pure heart, it’s there I will go
And time will work its healing, and the spirit will grow stronger
But oh, in the meantime, I’d still like to know

(Chorus)

Where are you?
Oh where are you?
Where are you?