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Looking at Cornwall

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 10 Comments

I love this shirt!


You can get it here: http://cornish-heritage.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=346


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The Cornish artist is on the rise again….

I interviewed Sue Aston a couple of moons ago and I am so impressed with her responses. Just goes to show that behind that enchanted violin lies a woman who is opinionated and witty. She released her new album this year with a great ensemble of well-heeled musicians. Here’s one of her great videos. Enjoy:

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Traditional Music from Cornwall…


It has everything for everyone. For those who have been looking for something really Cornish and celtic then this is your introduction. This is one reference guide . Great packaging and samples you can hear from the web prior to purchase. Grab your copies now and celebrate Cornwall’s legacy to the music world.

Preview here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cornwallcol2

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Celebrating  Culture with Cornish Gorseth..

What I learned is that Gorseth Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Also, The Gorseth Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at Boscawen-un by Henry Jenner, one of the early proponents of Cornish language revival, who took the name “Gwas Myghal”, meaning “servant of Michael“.

More info here: http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/welcome.htm

http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/about.htm

Map of Cornwall

Map of Cornwall

Thanksgiving Blessings, Music and Great Artists..

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Oona McOuat topped the Canadian Folk Charts.


Congratulations to my pal Oona McOuat for topping the Canadian folk charts with her new album Honey and Holy Water. You might remember way back when I posted an Interview with her and she’s really down to earth, fun to talk and so much witty. Honey and Holy water is available for purchase in several outlets including her official site http://www.oonamcouat.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/oonamcouat

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Capercaillie on tour.

Capercaillie fans will be delighted to know that the band have schedules up to next year. If you remember I wrote once here about the news I got in which it states that Capercaillie is disbanding. But that news proved to be wrong. The band is in top form and Karen Matheson is still bright as ever!

  • 18 December: Paisley Abbey, Paisley. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets available from Marks & Spencer, High Street, Paisley; Ticket Scotland, 239 Argyle Street, Glasgow. Tel 0870 222.116; http://www.ticket-scotland.co.uk; WRVS Renfrewshire Information Centre & Community Cafe, Paisley Centre, 20 Causeyside Street; and Paisley Abbey
  • 6 Feb 2011: Feile an Earraigh, Belfast.
  • 10 Feb 2011: Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. Box Office: 01539 725133 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01539 725133      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
  • 11 Feb 2011: Perth Concert Hall, Perth. Box Office: 01738 621 031 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01738 621 031      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
  • 12 Feb 2011: Warwick Arts Cantre, University of Warwick, Coventry. Box Office: 024 7652 4524 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              024 7652 4524      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
  • 13 Feb 2011: Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester. Box Office: 01243 781312 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01243 781312

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Celtic Thunder extend their thanksgivings!

Yes guys, and here they are:

Moot: Manx Fusion At Its best

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

Moot welcomes you to the Manx landscapes…

It like trekking on a landscape of Sarah McLachlan, Delirium and Bjork. But Moot is actually a trio that have made music since the early part of this decade. The first time I stumbled upon them I am awed by the stage presence of the singers and the spare instrumental intervention. This is elevating music!  Details about them have been sketchy and I am still haunting the cyberspace for things I can get. But here’s is Moot singing gloriously from a sound that can only come from the Isle of Man.

According to youtube:

Song: Baiht

Baiht is an original love song in Manx Gaelic written by band’s flute player, Breesha — its chorus
translates: ‘I am drowned in your rays/I am full of light/I am at one with the world’
Moot is made up of three friends from the Isle of Man, who draw
inspiration from the Manx music that they were brought up with; Gaelic
songs of fishing and farming, love and loss. Their music does not
remain in the folk tradition – not initially a conscious decision – just the
result of drawing inspiration from somewhat eclectic record collections.
Aalin’s ‘soaring, jazz-tinged vocals’ are complemented by Breesha’s
mellifluous flute, driven along by Robert’s dub-tinged looping
soundscapes and random percussion!

Moot enjoys performing and meeting musicians from other cultures
and has featured at various music festivals such as the Festival
Interceltique de Lorient (2002&2003) and the Liet-Lavlut international
song contest for minority languages, Sweden (finalists 2006).

In 2006, Moot’s second CD, Holdfast, appeared. It features original and traditional songs in Manx and
English. Moot can also be heard on the compilation of contemporary Manx music The Lighthouse,
and on the debut album Uprooted.

For more information on booking this band for your festival please contact mhfmusic@mhf.org.im.

Filmed by the Manx Heritage Foundation for the promotional DVD Manx Music & Dance/ Kiaull as Rinkey


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Damien Dempsey In A New Book

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The Irish Lion is featured in a new book along with other news..

Damien Dempsey is among those featured in a new book called With Love, From Me…To Me Letter to my sixteen year-old self  here .

About the book:

With Love, From Me…To Me gathers these words of advice, reassurance, admonition, praise and comfort. The letters range from funny to encouraging, hopeful to regretful, but always heartfelt. Contributors include Miriam O’Callaghan, Joe O’Connor, Ray D’Arcy, Sonia O’Sullivan, Maeve Binchy, Charlie Bird, John Boyne, Jason Sherlock, Nell McCafferty, Paddy Moloney, David Norris, Ross O’Carroll Kelly, Ardal O’Hanlon, Patricia Scanlan and Victoria Smurfit. With Love, From Me . . . To Me: A Letter To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self is the ideal gift this Christmas for family, friends – or yourself!

All royalties from this book benefit the Irish Youth Foundation.

You can buy the book @ Amazon.

He will also join Glen Hansard for  a Christmas charity single. More news here.

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But of course we are always awed when we hear something about Julie Fowlis and Salsa Celtica-the latter which has my pal  Kenny Fraser playing the fiddle.

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More info on the Golowan Festival 2010 in Cornwall and Sue Aston’s pics.

It is Cornish and Celtic. It happens every year. Penzance come alive with parades and music. Colorful people come from all over the world. Musicians play their wonderful tunes.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/things_to_do/newsid_8727000/8727584.stm

Sue Aston

Fiach Moriarty On The Radar

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

The hardest working artist in Ireland is finally getting his due….

Some of you might ask who Fiach Moriarty is. But for those who are acquainted to the Dublin music scene, Fiach has been known as the hardest working artist in Ireland. He has been in a lot of TV shows and live performances. Also one thing to note is that last year he came first in the annual Celtic Language Contest in Inverness Scotland. So how’s that for a 27-year -old used to be under- the- radar singer? The Irish Times calls his album So I a debut album of depth and courage, guile and wit. I stumbled upon him the first time in YouTube and that’s it. His charisma is undeniably powerful and there is so much positivity in his songs that you can’t help but be uplifted.

This is an interesting performance of a song sang in Gaelic, a love song called Sea Taim at minority language song contest Liet International 2009. Sea Taim is about a young lad who is down and out – and drunk – after his girlfriend left him.

http://www.myspace.com/fiachmusic

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Caladh Nua 2nd Album Launch

What a terrific, young band. We are going to play a lot of them. We suspect they are going to be around a long time”

–American Public Radio

Yes, this wonderful band is making an early announcement for the February 2011 launch of their second album. Be sure to be there. More info here:

http://caladh.net/

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YAOUANK 2010

YAOUANK 2010: Here’s a video featuring my pal Dom Duff from Brittany!

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Sacred Art

Courtney Davis inspires Celtic Spirituality

Have you visited his website lately? I think there’s a lot of things there for everyone. I just love the wonderful pieces he created. I have been a fan of Celtic art for years and when I stumble upon something as beautiful as this I like to tweet it out.

http://www.courtneydavisart.com/