All About the Celtic Woman USA tour

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

Screen Shot 2017-04-15 at 3.56.28 PMIf you’ve been keeping track of Celtic Woman this month, then you know that there have been changes.In fact there is a lengthy article about it in the Chicago Tribune. A harp has also been added to their list of instruments in studio and live. Voices of Angels is the new album that they are promoting in their current US tour. The album was also nominated for the recent Grammys in the category of Best World Music Album. It also entered the Billboard Classical chart at #1. Quite a feat for a group that has undergone so many changes and continues to be a force Irish music internationally.

They will be performing in many places across the United States from this month up to June. So if you haven’t bought your tickets then it is time to do it! Celtic Woman is such a phenomenon like Riverdance. The current lineup are: Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon and introduces the breathtaking new Celtic violinist Tara McNeill.

2017 VOICES OF ANGELS NORTH AMERICAN ITINERARY
3/2
Lakeland, FL
Lakeland Center
3/3
Orlando, FL
Bob Carr PAC
3/4
West Palm Beach, FL
Kravis Center
3/5
Tampa, FL
Straz Center
3/7
Fort Myers, FL
Barbara B Mann Hall
3/8
Melbourne, FL
King Center
3/9
Gainesville, FL
Philips Center
3/10
Jacksonville, FL
Times Union
3/11
Charleston, SC
Gaillard Center
3/14
Savannah, GA
Johnny Mercer Theater
3/16
Columbus, GA
River Center
3/17
Greenville, SC
Peace Center
3/18
Augusta, GA
Bell Auditorium
3/19
Charlotte, NC
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
3/21
Salisbury, MD
Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
3/22
Asheville, NC
Thomas Wolfe PAC
3/23
Durham, NC
DPAC
3/24
Baltimore, MD
France Merrick PAC
3/25
Roanoke, VA
Berglund Center
3/26
Newport News, VA
Ferguson Center
3/30
Indiana, PA
Kovalchick Convocation Center
3/31
Lancaster, PA
American Music Theater
4/1
Lancaster, PA
American Music Theater
4/2
Binghamton, NY
Forum Theatre
4/4
Kitchener, ONT
Centre in the Square
4/5
Albany, NY
Palace Theatre
4/6
Providence, RI
PPAC
4/7
Hartford, CT
Bushnell
4/8
Greenvale, NY
Tilles Center
4/9
Portland, ME
Merill Auditorium
4/11
Worcester, MA
Hanover Theatre
4/12
Bangor, ME
Collins Center
4/13
Manchester, NH
SNHU Arena
4/14
Philadelphia, PA
Academy of Music
4/15
Rochester, NY
Auditorium Theater
4/18
Buffalo, NY
Shea’s PAC
4/19
Erie, PA
Warner Theatre
4/20
Cincinnati, OH
Aronoff Center
4/21
Dayton, OH
Schuster PAC
4/22
Columbus, OH
Palace Theater
4/23
Cleveland, OH
State Theater
4/25
Toledo, OH
Stranahan Theatre
4/28
Rockford, IL
Coronado PAC
4/29
Dubuque, IA
Five Flags Center Arena
4/30
Peoria, IL
Peoria Civic Center
5/2
Topeka, KS
Topeka PAC
5/3
Tulsa, OK
Mabee Center
5/4
Memphis, TN
Orpheum
5/5
Cape Girardeau, MO
Show Me Center
5/6
Richmond, KY
EKU Center
5/7
Louisville, KY
Louisville Palace
5/9
Huntsville, AL
Von Braun PAC
5/11
Pensacola, FL
Saenger
5/12
Montgomery, AL
Montgomery PAC
5/13
Bossier City, LA
Horseshoe Casino
5/14
Biloxi, MS
Belcher Center
5/17
Little Rock, AR
Robinson Center
5/18
Lake Charles, LA
Rosa Hart Theatre
5/19
Grand Prairie, TX
Verizon Theatre
5/20
Houston, TX
Smart Financial Center
5/21
San Antonio, TX
Majestic Theatre
5/23
Mesa, AZ
Mesa Arts Center
5/24
San Bernardino, CA
California Theater
5/25
San Diego, CA
Civic Theatre
5/26
Costa Mesa, CA
Sagerstrom Center for the Arts
5/27
Thousand Oaks, CA
Civic Arts Plaza
5/30
Fresno, CA
Saroyan Theatre
5/31
San Jose, CA
Center for the Performing Arts
6/1
Sacramento, CA
Community Center Theater
6/2
Reno, NV
Reno Events Center
6/3
Boise, ID
Morrison Center
6/9
Des Moines, IA
Civic Center
6/10
Green Bay, WI
Weidner Center
6/11
Rochester, MN
Mayo Arena
6/13
Minneapolis, MN
Orpheum
6/14
Kansas City, MO
Kaufman Center
6/15
Springfield, MO
Hammons Hall
6/16
St. Louis, MO
Fox
6/17
Springfield, IL
Sangamon Auditorium
6/18
E. Lansing, MI
Wharton Center
6/21
Syracuse, NY
Crouse Hinds
6/23
Elmira, NY
Clemens Center
6/24
Springfield, MA
Mass-Mutual Center
6/25
Lynn, MA
Lynn Auditorium

Some Music and Dancing this Month

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

Ahoy! How are the people of the page? It’s been a while since my last post because of some changes that will always happen as long as we live 😛

Instead of struggling to find something worthy to feature, I found myself looking for ‘news’ bits from Google which is a great way to know what’s going on in our cultural community. This is when I discovered some action happening in Boston this month. If you are a huge fan of The Tannahill Weavers then you will love this news:

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Celtic Music, Dance Calendar for April

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The Song A Day Project is an interesting channel. This artist by the name of Zachary Scot Johnson loves uploading his tunes and also adding a brief background about them. This talented singer/ songwriter has already shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Keb’ Mo’, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Don Williams, Jane Siberry, The Be Good Tanyas, Rita Wilson, Steve Forbert, The Verve Pipe etc. Expect variety when you tune in to his uploads.
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  …And do pick up the new album by the amazing Moya Brennan now available via Amazon and other outlets. The cover art is her own painting. According to her press release, she went back to painting only recently. This also happens to be a family album in a sense that she is joined by her children Aisling and Paul Jarvis. If you haven’t yet picked up the recording of Aisling then I can assure you that she has a strong voice with the musical intensity of Patti Smith. As for Paul, he’s getting good with his guitar and this is his first professional project playing various instruments and also adding some technological input to the record.

Celtic Woman new video and more new music!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

 

The great thing about the human voice is that it can be honed to stretch its register or to improve its quality. An instrument (a saxophone for instance) can be singular in its quality. You know it’s a saxophone because of its characteristic. But a human voice can have many variations even in the same register. For example, it can be a fuller, bright or powerful soprano. It can be a soft, throaty or smoky contralto.

This is the musical romance that is showcased in the latest recording of Celtic Woman, a new version of Danny Boy. What’s stunning is the utilization of Capitol Records’ Studio A.

Studio A is our largest recording space. Originally built in 1956, Studio A has more than 1500 sq ft of floor space with over 50 years of audio recording heritage. Not only one of the best sounding orchestra rooms in the world, Studio A holds up to 50 musicians comfortably. The combination of timeless history and modern technology is a special feature of this room. Studio A has a variable decay time that can be tailored to your needs, this is accomplished by adjusting the louvered wall panels. Studios A and B can be combined by removing the retractable wall separating the two. The studio additionally features two isolation booths. Ideal for both acoustic and electric instruments, Artists have their choice of a Yamaha C9 or New York Steinway “B” piano. It also has a large private artist lounge above the control room.-Capitol Studios website.

More about the song below:

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Press Release from CELTIC WOMAN
Record “DANNY BOY” for the series, 1 mic 1 take, at the Iconic Capitol Records’ Building

The GRAMMY-NOMINATED GROUP is currently on a 91 city tour of the US
CELTIC WOMAN have recorded a stunning new version of the classic Celtic ballad “Danny Boy ” at the Capitol Records’ Studio A in Hollywood.  Utilizing Frank Sinatra’s microphone and Nat King Cole’s piano it was taped when the multi-platinum international music sensations were in Los Angeles for the Grammy Awards.  The track features Celtic Woman’s exciting new line up of Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon and violinist Tara McNeill. The song and accompanying video are the latest in the 1 mic 1 take series recorded at Studio A. The series is described as “what happens when you take one artist, one mic, one iconic recording studio and give them one chance to show their raw talent.”  Previous artists who’ve recorded 1 mic 1 take sessions include Niall Horan, Gregory Porter, Emeli Sandé, Calum Scott, Halsey, Pete Yorn, Broods, and A Fine Frenzy.  Check out the 1 mic 1 take video, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_7RdcZFYx-U&feature=youtu.be
CELTIC WOMAN are currently out on their extensive US Voices Of Angels Tour in support of their latest album of the same name.  They are accompanied by an ensemble of Irish dancers, bagpipers and a full band playing an array of traditional Irish instruments. The 91-city trek kicked off March 2 in Lakeland, FL and will take Celtic Woman across the country before wrapping June 25 in Lynn, MA. VOICES OF ANGELS, on Manhattan/ Caroline Records, contains some of the most popular songs from the Celtic Woman repertoire, along with several previously unrecorded tracks, all with stunning new orchestral arrangements recorded with the 72-piece Orchestra of Ireland. Celtic Woman has a remarkable 12-year-legacy of introducing the most talented singers and musicians from Ireland onto the world stage.

ABOUT CELTIC WOMAN
Following its debut on PBS in 2005, Celtic Woman has achieved massive success encompassing twelve chart-topping albums, nine DVDs and nine public television specials leading to sales of over ten million albums, with platinum success in nine countries. Each of the twelve CDs–including 2016’s Voices of Angels–has reached #1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. The group has been named Billboard Magazine’s #1 World Albums Artist six times.  Celtic Woman received its first-ever Grammy-nomination in the World Music category for its 2016 release Destiny. As a touring powerhouse, the group has performed for over four million fans across 23 countries and six continents, with an especially devoted following in America. Their shows are renowned as high quality entertainment with exceptional musical performances and stunning visual productions, enthralling audiences of all ages.

For full tour and more info go to www.celticwoman.com

Media Contact: Anita Daly / Daly Communications /2127720852 / anitadaly@yahoo.com
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The Crazy Rogues – Fleet (EP teaser)

 

Check this band out! They are from Hungary and they admire the music of Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Paddy and the Rats, Firkin and Dubliners. Their unique style is heavily influenced by Irish punk and celtic punk music, as well as country and other folk music.They also like heavy metal and rock music.

They are happy doing concerts in Hungary and also abroad.
“From small pubs to big venues, our own shows as well as festivals, public events.”

Band members are:

Biermann Teo – flute |
Verrasztó László – lead vocals |
Fellegi Krisztián – banjo, mandolin, backing vocals |
Faragó Dániel – violin, backing vocals |
Fazekas Gábor – guitars, backing vocals |
Öcsi Levente – bass |
Nagy Ákos – drums |

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCrazyRoguesBand

https://www.instagram.com/thecrazyrogues/

https://thecrazyrogues.bandcamp.com

 

 

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I Think I posted this video already but it is worth seeing and hearing again 🙂

Post St Patrick’s Day Hangover

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

I mean tunes not drink haha!

St Patrick’s has taught us that music is alive and well!

I admit it’s the first time I came across this YouTube vlogger by the name of Jack. Now I have to warn you. There are lots of expletives here. If you are like me who don’t care jumping from childlike innocence to morbidity in a split second then this is for you! Why? Because St. Paddy’s day covers everything under the sun!

Irish Time With Jack ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZw-…

►Twitter : https://twitter.com/Jack_Septic_Eye
►Instagram: http://instagram.com/jacksepticeye
►Facebook : https://facebook.com/officialjacksept…
►Merchandise: http://jacksepticeye.fanfiber.com/

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Celtic Thunder Billboard St Patrick’s Day

I love these guys. They continue to make good music in the midst these dark times. Wonderful performance of Galway Girl and many more!

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So fitting for the times: And the Wasters are making music for the millennials!

This post originally appeared in http://www.spheremusic.me. I thought of sharing in here because I want more people to take notice.

Music is a substitute for caffeine. If you wake up in the morning and the music is right then the day is auspicious! I am always looking forward to releases from this group (Now called And the Wasters) as their subsequent albums have proven to be really good! Notice the change in the line-up(and name). Here’s a blurb from their site:Screen Shot 2017-03-21 at 1.27.06 PM

2016 saw the band change name and take on a new lineup to play main stages at UK festivals such as Bearded Theory and Boomtown Fair, complete an extensive tour of Europe and bring global influences into their sound with their instrumental diversity of accordion, trumpet and violin.

They are the most hard-working group I’ve known and they get better every year in both their studio and live recordings. It is no brainer that everyone in the group has his or her own musical influence and the diversity makes And the Wasters appealing to all music lovers. There is also nuance and complexity I’ve noticed in their music as they strive for artistic growth:

Lyrically, the EP reflects on a sense of sadness, anxiety and uncertainty faced in the modern world, while also promoting an empowering message of solidarity, DIY culture and collective action in their rowdy Punk sound and spirit.

I think this is shown in their song Small Victories. I get that mournful tune on top of the ska-powered rhythm. It is fitting for the times. This contradicting forces are present in all songs. Notably in Reduce, Reuse, Rebel. The Wasters are showing us that the punk spirit is still alive. Despite the excesses and the entitlement that litter this generation, there are still those going against the flow. The production quality is noted here:

Recorded in 2016 across at Music Ape studios & Worse than Bad studio. Mixed and mastered by Matt Martin at Made of Ale (Pumpkin Records). Overdubs on ‘Intro Dub’ by Ian Upsettah.

So the album just dropped. Check out their awesome video below:

Give this band your two thumbs up and buy their albums! It’s a pay-as-you-fee download. Free if ya like 😉 Show your support by giving the world conscience through music!

Upcoming Shows For The NYC ST. Patrick’s Day!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments
Wow the year is moving so fast. I am reminded by two movies I watched today: Passengers and The Space Between Us. Although I have something to say about both films, this isn’t the right place! And hey Asa Butterfield reminds me of my  singer-songwriter friend Layne Greene.
Saint Patrick’s Day Season is just a few days away and Anita Daly (who runs the amazing Daly Communications) is involved with these shows. So if you are around NYC, check these wonderful artists.
I am a huge fan of The Chieftains for decades and it is great to know that they are touring again. Also, Canadian couple Donnell Leahy and Natalie MacMaster will thrill their American fans with their own brand of Celtic music. I posted a review of their holiday album a few months ago and you can tell it was a great listening pleasure for me!
March 4th, the legendary Chieftains bring their 55th Anniversary Tour to Kupferberg Center at Queens College, Flushing NY @ 8:00pm 
 
“55 years, wow, where have they gone as we’re still going strong”, says Paddy Moloney, leader of the six-time Grammy Award winners, The Chieftains.  The Chieftains have been highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and International scale.  The Chieftains were formed in Ireland in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, one of the top traditional folk musicians in Ireland and around the world. Their ability to transcend musical boundaries to blend tradition with modern music has notably hailed them as one of the most renowned and revered musical groups to this day. After more than fifty five years of making some of the most beautiful music in the world, The Chieftains’ music remains as fresh and relevant as when they first began.  Paddy Moloney says, “This tour will have all the musical force of what we’ve accumulated and achieved over the last 55 years, with a few extra gems thrown in for good measure”.
For Tickets Visit: www.ticketmaster.com  Discount Code CHIEFS
March 17, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy bring their family of fiddlers to Webster Hall, NYC for a special ST. PATRICK’S DAY performance of their ‘From Ireland to Cape Breton & Beyond’ tour @8:00pm
 
The first family of Celtic fiddlers, The husband and wife duo, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, command the stage with an explosive celebration of raw energy and passion that infuses their traditional heritage with their taste for the contemporary. With this show Natalie and Donnell will blend the legendary musical traditions of Ireland with that of their hometowns of Lakefield Ontario and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The show is a family affair including special performances with their children and highlights the unique talents, influences and stories of this amazing, growing clan through dancing, singing and, of course, world-class music making.  The couple is touring after their recent album release of ‘ONE’, possibly the best fiddle album ever recorded. 
 
For Tickets Visit: http://www.websterhall.com/
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I love instrumental music! I feel that… it just goes into your subconscious smoothly. Without the distraction of the lyrics, there is no room for intellectualized things. You just go for the cheese in the sandwich right away. Check this dude out. He’s based in Wales and he plays a hot guitar! I attached the link below where you can listen to his music. His name is Bedwyr Morgan.

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Have you heard of  McPEAKE ? www.facebook.com/mcpeakemusic and they have just released a new EP – Gypsies in the Wood. They put a fresh contemporary spin to traditional songs. For instance, Wild Mountain has that pop vibe with an almost R & B rendering. But it still manages to evoke that traditional vibe.
Their songs can be heard via their website: http://www.mcpeakemusic.com

A brief bio I got from their website:

Ask Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, or Bono about the roots of Irish Music, and they will point you to the McPeake Family!

The four generations of the McPeake Family are one of those rare Irish gems that have been whispered as ‘folk-royalty.’  Their beloved song “Wild Mountain Thyme” has been on the lips of music lovers across the globe – in Irish pubs, concert halls, and music festivals worldwide – since it was first performed in the late 1940s.  This hauntingly beautiful folk anthem has been covered by music superstars such as Glen Frey (The Eagles), Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan and Judy Collins, to name but a very few.

Francis McPeake I penned “Wild Mountain Thyme;” Francis McPeake II influenced Van Morrison, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan; Francis McPeake III taught John Lennon the Uilleann Pipes; and now Francis McPeake IV – who has worked with iconic Hollywood film companies, such as Walden Media, and Academy Award-winning actors – has formed the vibrant new band McPEAKE.

Figuring prominently in the EMMY Award-winning PBS Special “Music of Ireland,” McPEAKE is now taking the world of Celtic music by storm with its own contemporary brand of self-penned songs and compositions. Since their initial tour of USA in 2009, McPEAKE are now on the main stages of the USA festival circuit, performing regularly to audiences in excess 10,000 people. The new generation of this legendary family has developed a distinctive sound that is totally immersed in the popular culture of today, while maintaining a firm anchor in the influences of past generations.

McPEAKE’s unique blend of Indie, Country, Folk and Irish music attracts widely diverse audiences that might not otherwise commingle. Fans consistently use superlatives such as fresh, authentic, original, and dazzling to describe the experience that is – McPEAKE!