The Winter Mountain 2014 UK Tour Interview.

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The outstanding debut ALBUM “Winter Mountain” available NOW on iTunes, Amazon etc.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/win…

https://www.wintermountain.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/wintermountain
https://twitter.com/winter_mountain
https://twitter.com/CharcoalRecords

Please sign up to their mailing list

filmed in April 2013.
Directed by Jack Liley – http://www.weareseallegs.com
Edited by Duncan Rice – http://www.blood-bank.co.uk
All copyrights for video and audio belong to Charcoal Records 2013

Winter Mountain (Joseph Francis and Martin Smyth) are a folk duo that incorporate a wide gamut of musical influences. It is hard to pigeonhole their style or their alliance to one specific sub-genre. But one thing remains: they are here to deliver high quality music for discriminating ears like you and me.

If you want to read about their interesting history, check this page: https://www.facebook.com/wintermountain/info

Below is the interview with Winter Mountain. Big thanks to my friend Paula who talked to the artists after the Cara Dillon concert she attended with our Gilly.

  1. On the scale of 1 to 10, how’s the UK tour going in terms of the excitement.

It’s extremely exciting. We are loving the opportunity to get out there and play our original music. It’s an honour.

  1. Your new album is out in different formats including CD which I love! How’s the experience recording the tracks.

    Winter Mountain concert. Photo by Paula.

    Winter Mountain concert. Photo by Paula.

Recording is perhaps the most rewarding of all the different components that make up a life in music. You get to witness a song you’ve written at home with an acoustic guitar grow into this enormous sonic piece of art. We recorded at some legendary Studios. Also, we were lucky enough to meet a couple of our heroes whilst recording the album. Robbie McIntosh of the Pretenders, Paul McCartney and John Mayer came and played slide guitar on a few tracks. We were honoured!

  1. Can you cite memorable experiences touring with Cara Dillon?

Touring with Cara is an amazing experience because she has one of the most beautiful voices in the world, and that’s no exaggeration. Between her, her husband/keyboard player/producer Sam Lakeman and her band there is so much that we can learn. Just being able to spend time talking and playing with musicians of that experience and calibre is an honour.

  1. Do you like meeting fans and hearing what they have to say about your music and why do you think it is important?

It’s great to hear from fans. There’s nothing better than hearing about how one of the songs you’ve written may have affected that persons life.

  1. I have many favorites including She a Little Light and Tell me. What pushed the move for both of you to release an album?

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    Onstage with Cara Dillon and crew. Photo by Paula.

We wanted to spread our creative wings. We had recorded an EP which was going down well and we felt like we had more to offer. The album is in a fairly eclectic mix of styles and with both really pleased that we managed to draw on a lot of our individual different musical influences. There simply wasn’t room for that on the EP.

  1. Can you site your musical influences?

Where to begin?! Simon and Garfunkel, the Everly Bros, the Beatles, The Police, Ryan Adams, Cat Stevens, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor… We could go on and on and on!

  1. What can we expect from Winter Mountain this year?

Touring, touring, touring! We have a full UK tour coming up in November and loads more dates in 2015 to come!

  1. Are you planning to work on another album next year?

We are writing all the time so there will probably be an album in 2015. We have so many live commitments currently that it’s difficult to find time to get in the studio!

  1. Message to your listeners?

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    So proud of the postcard and CD. Thanks to Paula for making these possible.

Thanks to everyone for listening, thanks to everyone who came to our recent shows and to everyone who supported us in any way over the last few years. We hope to see you out on the road again on our November/December 2014 tour of the UK.

Know more about the Winter Mountain Autumn tour here:http://www.wintermountain.co.uk/

Shotgun Down The Avalanche by Cara Dillon from the New Album “A Thousand Hearts”

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This was posted last April 30. This was supposed to be a blog but I noticed it was part of the ‘menu’ section above. I took it down and placed it here for everyone to see:

Folk diva Cara Dillon is making rounds all over the UK to promote her new album A Thousand Hearts. I already sent the interview questions to her publicist Ali and I am just waiting for the results. It is amazing to finally be able to ask her directly everything related to her musical career. Big thanks to my friend Paula for watching her concert and getting me the spot to do an interview. Here is one of the songs from that album and it’s called Shotgun Down the Avalanche.

It is a fantastic folk ballad featuring Sam Lakeman’s acoustic guitar (joined by equally amazing musicians). Her voice always awakens something in me. It is a beautiful voice that sounds like it’s coming from the pipes of a sad angel.

Buy the new album here: http://www.caradillon.co.uk/albums/thousand-hearts-1

Repair by Fraser Fifield

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https://soundcloud.com/fraserfifield/7a-1

I was perusing my Soundcloud wheimagen I found that Scottish piper Fraser Fifield has a new tune out. It is called Repair and it is a gradual tune that has the same abstract beauty as his earlier releases. What I admire about Fifield is his ability to make timeless melodies. They don’t sound tired after repeated listens even for years. Part of me loves Jazz and this is the element that he introduces to his compositions. Repair evokes the calm of the Scottish countryside. The title speaks to me in a personal level in a sense that is what I am doing with my life. Slowly but surely. Somehow we have to get back to the loop of things but we do it in a phase that is right for us. I hope you enjoy this track and give the man a follow.

New October Songs

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New music from Rachael McCormack and Cheers!

The exciting month of October is here! So how’s everyone? I am starting to bring out my Halloween decorations. I hope you are enjoying your time embellishing your houses with creepy and eerie goodies. This month is exciting because lots of music have arrived. And you will read about them soon. First of all let me showcase my own Halloween thingy:

So what do you think about that picture? Anyway, like I have mentioned exciting musical things are coming. Take a look at this wonderful soundcloud page by Czech group Cheers! The have new music up and watch out for these tunes via soundcloud as well as their official page.

The exciting month of October is here! So how’s everyone? I am starting to bring out my Halloween decorations. I hope you are enjoying your time embellishing your houses with creepy and eerie goodies. This month is exciting because lots of music have arrived. And you will read about them soon. First of all let me showcase my own Halloween thingy:

mrbaxteria's goodies.

mrbaxteria’s goodies.

So what do you think about that picture? Anyway, like I have mentioned exciting musical things are coming. Take a look at this wonderful soundcloud page by Czech group Cheers! The have new music up and watch out for these tunes via soundcloud as well as their official page.

Their new tunes retain that Celtic punk spirit but they always add new things to the mix.

 

 

 

Our Irish chanteuse is making waves in the music scene! Rachael McCormack has a new video out. It is an uplifting tune with a nod to the flower power spirit. It is called Stand Up, Be Counted [Ft. Deanie]. Ms McCormack has earned her star as she worked for it, starting her career performing live all over Dublin. Karma has been kind to her as I can see she in on her way to stardom. She keeps me updated and with that I will keep you all updated about her.

 

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But what is Autumn without the spirit of Celtic music huh? Here’s Loreena McKennitt for you with The mummer’s Dance.

FALL SHOWs at THE PARAMOUNT on LONG ISLAND

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Hi Friends,

This will be a short introduction but an informative post below. Great things are happening in Long Island. Our long time friend Anita Daly provided the deets. Check the press release below:

Imelda May is coming to The Paramount on September 28th at 8pm!  This native Irish singer-songwriter’s unique rockabilly sound and 50’s inspired style has caught attention of many fans around the world.  She has shared the stage with artists such as Jeff Beck, The Supremes, Elton John and many more.  May will also be making another New York stop on her tour performing at Irving Plaza on September 29th.  Tickets for The Paramount show can be purchased on ticketmaster.com.

Imelda May, photo courtesy of http://www.liquidroom.com/

Imelda May, photo courtesy of http://www.liquidroom.com/

Come out to see Imelda May at The Paramount on September 28th at 8pm.  370 New York Ave. Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. 11743.  www.paramountny.com 613 673 7300.

 

The Kooks are coming to The Paramount on October 9th!  This British rock band has had extraordinary global success since forming a decade ago.  Although they are a self-described “pop” band they possess a very unique rock sound which can be attributed to inspiration from various sources. After two years of no new material from the group they have released their fourth album, “Listen”.  Tickets for their show at The Paramount can be purchased on ticketmaster.com.

Come out to see The Kooks at The Paramount on October 9th at 8pm.  370 New York Ave. Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. 11743.  www.paramountny.com  613 673 7300.

 

Flogging Molly is coming to The Paramount on November 28th!  The group’s sound infuses punk rock with Celtic instruments and clearly pulls inspiration from traditional Irish music.  Flogging Molly’s incredibly loyal fan base is said to be due to not only their sound but also the social and political awareness that truly drives the music.  Tickets for their show at The Paramount can be purchased on ticketmaster.com.

Come out to see The Kooks at The Paramount on November 28th at 8pm.  370 New York Ave. Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. 11743.  www.paramountny.com  613 673 7300.

Comedian Kathleen Madigan is coming to The Paramount on November 6th!  Madigan has had a 25 year career as a stand-up comedian and has been seen on comedy televisions shows such as Leno, Letterman, Conan, Ferguson, and so on.  She has been described by Leno as being “One of American’s funniest female comics.”  Tickets for Kathleen Madigan at The Paramount can be purchased on ticketmaster.com.

Come out to see Kathleen Madigan at The Paramount on November 6th at 8pm.  370 New York Ave. Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. 11743.  www.paramountny.com  613 673 7300.