Yes folks Elva MacGowan is returning, this time with an EP called Secret Love. As the title suggests, expect standards, silky vocal delivery and exquisite musicianship. According to her:
“I have just recorded a single (Cry Me A River) taken from my forthcoming EP Secret Love.”
What can we expect from Secret Love?
“I am blending my knowledge of vocal performance with my love of old time jazz standards and traditional Irish accompaniments.
Who are the talents involved? You will be pleased: traditional musicians Donncha Moynihan on Guitar and Karl Nesbitt on Low Whistle and Bodhran.
Arthur Hamilton’s ‘Cry Me A River’ is a unique cover because it features traditional Irish instruments by traditional musicians. Elva MacGowan’s Celtic music projects are widely acclaimed and supported by peers in the industry. And this single is a testament to that fine artistry and control. I love other types of music and Jazz influenced my growing up. To have it in the same room as Traditional Irish music is such a wild thing!
How’s your Sunday folks? I want to give a big shout out to my friend The Wild Irish Poet Alan Cooke. It’s his birthday today. I also read in advance the copy of his new book The Spirit of Ireland(An Odyssey Home) . The cover above is just a possible cover as nothing is decided yet. I will be publishing my review soon and I got important quotes from this book. Anyway here’s the trailer:
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The Scottish New Music Awards: If you have any UK artist whom you think deserves and award, then go ahead and submit your nomination to http://www.scotmusicawards.co.uk/index.html
It is great to open up emails over coffee and so I had this conversation with artist Eve Williams who lives in Northern Ireland. She’s the one who actually talked about the link. According to her:
I really like the idea… coz nowadays music is not just about what’s in the charts. There are some great independent artists and they contribute to their local communities by playing and getting people out to hear them! The music industry in Northern Ireland is woeful. Hardly any venues, no publishers… the republic is better.
Members: César Ricky (eletric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocal) and Jackie M. Mendes (tin whistles, low whistles and vocals), and some friends!
Tracks:
When I survey the Wondrous Cross
Close to you
Panic
Build Me Up Again
With All My Soul
Wherever you Go
Saved My Soul
Two Little Princesses
Carried Me
Follow the Way
I’m Not Condemned
Nearer My God to Thee
Back to the New bolted out of the gates upon its release via Noisetrade. Noisetrade is one of the most accessible sites to showcase bands of all genres . For this Brazilian band to spotlight their work internationally is a great thing. After all, the sound of Tehilim is really something that American and UK listeners will embrace. All tracks are sung in English. I dig the influences: Iona, Moya Brennan, The Corrs, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow and others.
Most of the compositions in Back to the New is built around the guitar flourishes of César Ricky Mendes who is also the band’s lead vocalist. Jackie Mendes plays the whistles and backing vocals. The couple has four album credits . There are three guest musicians who played in Back to the New for the bass, drums and other instruments.
The music of Back to the New reminds me of American Southern Rock with an arena packed energy. It is a kind of music that’s best to be played live and in a wide setting as opposed to something intimate. The vocals are robust with remarkable range. Most of topics in back to the New revolves around Christianity, soul searching and finding meaning in life. I think I can label this album safely as Celtic Christian Rock album with mainstream appeal. I also think they are better known as Tehilim Celtic Rock as opposed to just Tehilim. That way people who pick up the recordings will have an idea what to expect.
Consider track 7 Saved my Soul as an example:
Lord, you saved my soul And gave me hope You loved me so And made me new Lord, I want to know Who needs your love And save their soul And make them new You saved my soul, Saved my soul Don’t let me go without your love You saved my soul, Saved my soul I sing for all, you saved my soul.
It’s also the most Irish sounding track in the entire album.
Lyrically, think of early Moya Brennan albums like Perfect Time and Whisper to the Wild Water meeting up with Jars of Clay and you will appreciate each Tehilim releases. Although the content of the album is Christian-centric, Tehilim is never preachy which makes it accessible to all ears even if you are not a Christian. And yes in the end it is the beautiful music that’s worth listening to again and again which is actually what universal love is all about: embracing all and pleasing all. You can download the album via Noisetrade.
Hi there folks and welcome to our Saturday edition. This is what happens when you put things aside and then realize you have things piled up at the last minute. So, let me bring you great tunes once more and also recommendation. And please don’t be shy. If you have anything to share, use the comment thread of this post and post your own stuff. Be the blogger too!
Donal and Mick McCague: These two brothers are always popping up in my newsfeed so I finally got a good video to showcase their amazing instrumental talents. Donal (Fiddle) and Mick (Guitar) pay a set of reels at the all Ireland Fleadh in Cavan in August 2011.Check this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-8imeWmCKY
Yes I wrote a review about this amazing album from way back: Everything in this album bumps and pulses. No need for you to think deep thoughts. Just the pure fun of knowing that Black 47 is there to shake your day into burst of ecstatic energy. Buy it here: http://www.black47.com/
Another album lovers of Irish music should not miss: Memory Lane is an album worth of repeated listens. It’s a collection of tracks that sound familiar to everyone Irish or not, but given a new life and freshness by The High Kings. This is just their second album but it looks like they have achieved a lot. These guys know their stuff. They are real musicians with real instrumental talents. They are seasoned vocalists and their individuality shines in every track. They are also charismatic figures that looks good on your CD library. I am pleased to own this album. In terms of production, the album shimmers with clarity and lushness of sound. Buy it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memory-Lane-High-Kings/dp/B0036V0VPY
I am still enjoying this gem:
Expect to hear instrumental arrangements that were made popular during that time. I am a fan of harpsichord and recorders and they’re highlighted here! What I love about the recording is the variety . You hear English Country dances, James Oswald, Matthew Locke, Traditional Scots Tunes, Traditional Irish and so much more.
The tunes are lively and melodic. I should also mention that I adore the packaging of the album especially the very informative liner notes. Buy it here: http://www.musicapacifica.org/recordings.html#
With five albums released and an amazing collection of tunes, I just feel that the Kilfenora Ceili Band is one of those underrated Ceili bands. Their gig calendar is busy as they have upcoming shows in Clare, Sligo, Limerick and Portmarnock up to May this year. Kilfenora was formed in 2009(the current lineup). It is composed of ten-piece band that features three fiddles (Anne Rynne, Pat Lynch and Annemarie McCormack), two flutes (Anthony Quigney and Garry Shannon), two sqeezeboxes Tim Collins and his wife, Claire Griffin), banjo and leader (John Lynch), drums (Sean Griffin) and piano (Fintan McMahon).
Kilfenora Ceili Band is under the leadership of John Lynch. Their forte is instrumental music with some harmony and a driving rhythm. They also have profitably collaborated with vocalists and invariably include a singer or two in concert.
What makes Kilfenora Ceili Band really interesting is the introduction of set dancers in their every performance. It’s like they have everything in one group because Irish music is really complete when it isn’t just about the playing of music but also the dancing. To be in their presence is an aurally and visually inspiring event!
You can also get the contact info of band leader John Lynch in case you need to have them booked for a show.
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Huzzah!
Welcome to our Friday edition. Yes our second article under this week’s featured artist Blair Dunlop. Don’t forget to check the links I wrote on the last article which was my interview with the singer/songwriter. This week is very inspiring as a lot of music was brought to my attention. And more to come.
Acoustic/Folk/Celtic artist Peter Daldry
First, I want to tell you about the artist Peter Daldry whom I wrote about before.
He is one of the names in the Independent Music Awards. He is nominated in the A Capella category for best performance of the song ” I Wish I Was in Glasgow ” He mentioned that he is overjoyed at this nomination as it is a world wide awards program which covers six continents! and one of the best online awards program for independent artists.
The judging process is twofold, a panel of industry judges decide on who wins, but there is also a Vox Pop award where the fans get to choose their favorite. It would be great to get the word out to the “Celtic” community to try and get some votes. Information on the awards can be viewed at his web site http://www.peterdaldry.com/ or his Facebook page or going to the Independent Music Awards page which explains how to register and vote.
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This video by Skilda was published October 4 2012. The Celtic influence withing their pop and electronic groves is unmistakeable. They are totally amazing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgD2tfbMAM
Check out this site where you can order music. It’s called Veteran Mail Order. It contains Irish traditional music and song in CDs & DVDs. http://www.veteran.ie/
There you have it folks. I was not feeling energetic for the past few days due to the busy situation at home. But I am sure I will be able to catch up.
I am a big fan of The Fairport Convention. To talk to someone like Blair Dunlop who is genetically linked to the musical greats, is such an amazing thing. He has crafted his own artistic identity through the release of his solo album Blight and Blossom(Rooksmere Records). Get to know him more through this interview.
Breton singer/songwriter Dom Duff introduced me to Blair Dunlop. “He met me in Midlands airport last September.” Dom added that Blair’s new album is now out and that his father’s the founding member of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and Albion Band. Another interesting trivia: Blair appeared in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as the young Johnny Depp. So Dom offered Blair’s contact information and I took it from there. See how blogging connects people?
So I got in touch with the singer/songwriter and we introduced one another before launching this interview. He provided his phone number in case I want to do it by phone by I suggested doing an email interview would be easier for both of us. And it gives us more time to think what to write each other.
Your hands are full between promoting The Albion band and your solo album. It must be a good start of the year for you.
Yeah it’s a busy time, but it’s exciting. I like to push myself
musically, so to have different projects on the go feels right for me.
They’re very different projects too, so that keeps me stretched as a
musician. Which I like.
How do you describe the sound on your solo project compared to The Albion band which I believe has a more Celtic sounding style?
The sounds are very different. The Albion Band sound is definitely
fuller and rockier. Not really Celtic though, it’s English folk rock
based on traditional English tunes and traditions as opposed to Irish
or Scottish. My solo stuff is far more stripped back and showcases
more of my songwriting and acoustic guitar playing. In short, it’s
more acoustic.
What’s the feeling after bagging the prestigious BBC folk award?
Winning the Horizon Award was great. It was a great night and I met
some great people, but to be acknowledged by the BBC was special. It’s
an organization that has a reputation all over the world, so the award
has a certain weight. It was a welcome start to the year.
What are these projects you hinted on the first question and can you expound on them for the benefit of our readers?
I have my solo work (I now go out solo, as a trio and as a band)
doing my personal material; the Albion Band which is a more folk/rock
outfit; and an EP and some gigs in April with 2 American songwriting
sisters, the Lovell sisters of Larkin Poe.
How do you describe your smooth singing style and who are your vocal influences growing?
It’s easier for me to cite guitar and writing influences as opposed
to singing influences… Hmm, good question. My biggest singing would
probably be Jim Moray (who I have a gig with tonight, actually!)
because he treats traditional material in a very modern way, we have
similar voices naturally and I can see some of myself in him.
How does it feel to be part of the family that made the legendary band Fairport Convention?
It’s normal for me I guess, so it’s hard to answer. It’s a great
family of people and musicians and it’s been a big part of my growing
up, especially Cropredy Festival. The traditional music is inside me,
and that’s probably largely to do with Fairport.
Blair Dunlop is currently promoting his album Blight and Blossom all over UK. You can catch him through these venues by visiting http://blairdunlop.com/gigs/
Blair Dunlop is 20-years old, a captivating vocalist, and has rapidly emerged as one of the finest of singer-songwriters. His vocals have a paradoxically light and raunchy feel, a very much ’once heard, never forgotten’ sound. On guitar, he is forging a style of his own which is quite breathtaking and featured recently in Acoustic magazine purely as an up-and-coming guitarist. Listen to the beautifully crafted lyric of Blight and Blossom (title track) to understand then song-crafting beyond his young years. This coupled with contributions from, friend, Richard Thompson who has given Blair one of his own previously unrecorded compositions -Seven Brothers – to début on his new album. The full-bloodied sound on the album is created by Blair interacting with a wonderfully cohesive, intuitive and sympathetic group of musicians. Among the latter are Larkin Poe, Joan Wasser (Joan As Policewoman), the legendary Ashley Hutchings, Pete Zorn, Tim Harries, Mark Hutchinson, Guy Fletcher and a string quartet. Blight & Blossom is truly an adventurous and unique affair. In performance, Blair has confidence and a very real stage presence. Certainly, having started out as a young actor, appearing on TV and in the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton movie ’Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’, will have helped in this regard. Yet when it comes to discussing his own songs, Blair can be quite modest and happy to let critics and the listeners decide what they think of them. After a little coaxing, however, he talked a little about their genesis and the context from which each grew.
Videos:
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Huzzah!
Hello beautiful people of the page. Yes, I am currently featuring Blair Dunlop. In a span of a week, you will be getting news from him . Our Huzzah is getting to be a great source of buzz where you can get fresh music and gig news. So make it a habit to spread The Celtic Music Fan.
Goitse perform for the Ojai Concert Series. My big thanks to Jeremy King of Poitin for sharing the link to this terrific performance! Here’s the video: http://youtu.be/0k6EUKpx_GI
Enda Seery is currently shooting a video for Síocháin na Tuaithe.
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Live show for Deep is the Well coming this May!
Hear the complete new album – Live!
Join Kevin O’Donnell for a rare live performance of Deep is the Well, along with a bit of storytelling. The shows will feature many guest artists from the album, including: Maurice Lennon, Jim DeWan, Larry Gray, John Rice, John Williams, and more…
Be among the first to purchase a copy of Deep Is The Well – and join Kevin for a pint at the pub.
Only two Chicagoland performances, so don’t miss out:
Sunday, May 5th – 1pm-5pm – Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant and Pub
8 N. Vail Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 577-7733
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Album promotion time!
Ok I am going to renew, my album recommendations.
The BibleCode Sundays: Always a joy to listen to. Never boring, always energetic and totally amazing melodies! Ghosts Of Our Past is released in 2006 by this London-based celtic rock band. Their music is a lively mixture of traditional Irish folk music and contemporary rock music.
Listen and buy the tracks by following the link below.
To quench your rockaholic Celtic thirst is the album called Skulduggery Street by Barleyjuice. 14 tracks filled with Celtic rock music, comedy and poetry. I reviewed this album around 2010 and got a nice response.
” Nice review and this looks like a really cool group. I can definitely see what you mean about the catchiness. I’ve only played the video once and it’s already sticking in my head.
It also looks like they have enough spirits on that table to keep their fest going for quite some time!”-http://andrewjwalsh.com/
People love their Celtic music to rock, some to haunt but there are those who want a more operatic approach. This is where Irish singer Emma Kate Tobia rises to the occasion. Co-produced by Frank Buckley, Niall “Herbie” Macken and Emma Kate, was recorded in St Multose Church in Kinsale and the lofty acoustics fit perfectly with Buckley’s arrangements.
“Aisling na nGael introduces traditional Irish Songs to the world as rich orchestral and choral masterpieces,” says Emma-Kate.
Players: Jim DeWan, Finbar Furey, Larry Gray, Kathleen Keane, Bill Lanphier, Maurice Lennon, Haley O’Donnell, John Rice, John William, and Jessica Willis
Style: Irish Country, Americana
Tracks:
A Letter Home
When I Was Young
Factory Girl
Downtowner Motel
Girl from Durango
Illinois & Michigan Canal
Camp-Farm Road
Rusted Dreams
She
The Ballad of Jackie Ryan Fagan
Saint Malachy’s Waltz
There are recordings that accomplish the purpose of entertaining. There are those that serve to tell. Deep is the Well by Kevin O’Donell accomplishes both of these aspects. The album reads like a biographical book as it explores the lives of Irish immigrants to the United States. Those who are fascinated by Irish history and the American Antebellum period will take this album close to heart as any jewels uncovered from the treasure chest.
The album starts with A Letter Home . The spoken letter takes us back to the sentiments of someone sending a message to those close to the heart more than a century ago. There is something poignant and also I sometimes feel the hair on my skin stand as I realize that that the owner has been dead a long time ago. To uncover these intimate details about another person’s life long after he or she is dead is such a fascinating thing.
Factory Girl is the promotional single which is available online. It’s a story of Mary Helen Dougherty (1879-1918)
Born a blue-collar daughter in an old river town,
where the slow-rolling water from the prairie run down
the bend of the river is the edge of her world,
there’s no place it seems for the modest of dreams of a Factory Girl…
Makes you want to find out more right? There are more vibrant lives through the liner notes of Deep is the Well.
The rest of the album play like old pages with the breath of freshness. Something like old pages smelling of tobacco, dust and the lives exposed to it. The music is lush, vibrant but unhurried. It is a story teller’s album. The intention is to tell you something with the accompaniment of music. The spotlight is on the lyrics, although the musical depth and richness are always present. Cellos, viola, acoustic guitar, dobro and other beautiful sounds embellish this album.
Kevin O’Donnell has a resonant and expressive voice that can appeal to any genre. The production is crisp, clear and bright. Appreciation also goes to the album packaging. That cover artwork is a piece of eye candy.
Inspiration (at least the great ones) always comes from something deep. Something that’s steeped in history and the passionate lives led by people who handed out their legacy to us through books and songs. This is what I found in Deep is the Well. It’s an album that’s focused on something that is lasting. It speaks of feelings across time, and the wisdom comes with age and experiences.
Do you recall how older relatives tell us how life was harder and how they struggled to make ends meet. I realize how everything comes easy now, in this age of instant gratification. How we get spoiled and would like everything to happen when we want it. They struggled and fought just to get us where we are now. It isn’t hard to acknowledge all the sweat and blood that paved way for something like a generation of the free. It’s the very sentiment that’s found in Deep is the Well. Just acknowledging and not forgetting , I think is enough for those who came before us.
I recommend this album to people who are fond of history and ballads. You will get so much out of Deep is the Well, not just musically but something to feel your soul.
Singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and published author: these are the distinctive hallmarks of Kevin O’Donnell’s public career. He is affectionately called “uncle tunes” among his family and close circle of musician friends, and is more broadly recognized in Chicago music circles as the founder and front man for the Irish-American folk group Arranmore.
Kevin’s commercial success as a songwriter dates back to the 1986 release of Island Home. He has frequently been compared to such writers as Gordon Lightfoot, Cheryl Wheeler, and Bill Staines. Americana and folk artists have recorded his early works and his historically based compositions have been featured in television documentaries both in the USA and Ireland. Under Kevin’s leadership and direction Arranmore attained musical success in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Kevin traded concert stages for theatrical stages in 2000, performing with the prestigious Racine Theatre Guild, playing leading roles in several plays including Twelve Angry Men, The Sensuous Senator, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Flowers for Algernon, and Neil Simon’s, I Ought To Be In Pictures.
Hi friends. Sunday edition comes too soon. That’s because this week is really hectic for me. And this is a good kind of busy because it’s all about music and writing projects. I hope your Sunday is being spent wisely: more naps and music. Yes those are good things. Anyway what you will meet below are links to what’s hot today. At least these are the things that people are talking about. So let me start:
An event for Battlefield Band:
“A warm welcome back to Scotland’s BATTLEFIELD BAND Thursday April 11th. This a a fundraiser for NC Chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma. We hope you will come out and support the event . Local Celtic Musician James Olin starts of the evening at 7pm with a 45 minute set of Celtic Music, Award Winning Wake & District Pipes & Drums open for ” The Battlefield band. Tickets are $8 in advance on ticketleap.com. or $10 at Door. Great Raffle Prizes plus brilliant Scottish Dinner special will make this salute to Tartan Day a great Celtic event. Please call 919 833-7795 to reserve seats stage side for dinner.”-Tir Na NOg Annie
Wow if you are in the area better check this out. It’s filled with amazing artists. According to Corrina Hewat:
“A good day! And tomorrow will be even better as the CH Band are playing. Me and Fraser FifieldAlyn CoskerTom LyneDave Milligan Woop. I suppose the sensible thing to do would be to create an event and invite you all, but on the other hand, I could just catch up with friends, hear harpy goings on and not be in front of the computer. I choose the latter!”
Photo from Wild Irish Poet
Spring has Sprung in Ireland: Our featured artist Alan Cooke, The Wild IrishPoet this week has posted this photo of the sunny Ireland today. It looks like the sun is finally here to stay!
Celtic Music Fan 