Scottish multi- instrumentalist Fraser Fifield has teamed up once again with Greame Stephen for another delightful instrumental album called Esotero. Release date in unconfirmed but it will be soon. They’re like the Starsky and Hutch of Scottish instrumental music. I have listened to two tracks which Fraser posted on soundcloud and facebook and I say they are fab! Of course you will be expecting these things: haunting tunes, abstract melodies, traditional instruments, jazz and rock influences and traditional Scottish flavour. So it is going to be a buffet! Can’t wait for it.
Fraser Fifield’s career stretches back to more than a decade comprising of albums and collaborations with other artists. What’s more fascinating is that he welcomes all types of genres and he isn’t afraid to experiment. I recall one of the reviews I read where the journalist remarks that he plays the traditional instrument like a jazz musician and the jazz instruments like a Celtic musician. He has the best of both worlds. You can hear more of these things in my interview which will be aired this Saturday October 12 4pm German time. We had a great time doing that interview and he even played a tune on the spot. Yes no rehearsal. I will also be playing the title track Esotero this Saturday.
I am looking forward to the release of Esotero and anything from the Fraser Fifield and Graeme Stephen collaboration is always a work of magic!
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Lament is my favorite track from ‘Honest Water’, released in 2002… A tune dedicated to his Grandmother, Minnie Davidson of Garlogie, Aberdeenshire. This is a work of genius in my opinion.
The great lads of Welsh Celtic band Jamie Smith’s Mabon is finally doing a dedicated tour all over their own county of Wales. After countless touring all over Europe the gang feels that it is time to reunite with Welsh fans and also with their own place. According to drummer Iolo Whelan:
I guess the most exciting aspect for us is that as well as being a tour *of* our home country, it also feels a bit like a homecoming – four out of the five of us live here in Wales, but we work away so often and our fans are so widely spread, that it feels a bit like we’re bringing the music home. I don’t know if that sounds pretentious, but it is making me very excited for this tour!-Iolo
And guess what. They are giving away a FREE SONG DOWNLOAD through their band newsletter. Please subscribe if you haven’t yet and feel free to download their haunting and enchanting track ‘Caru Pum Merch.’ I personally enjoyed this beautiful song which is the last track off their CD Windblown released last 2012. I also got an autographed copy of the album from all of them and I sometimes like to show it off hahaha.
The free track is a good one to point out to people too – the Welsh-language lyrics make it the most relevant to the Welsh tour, and it gives people who are new to the band a good idea of what we do, since it captures some of both the emotional and the more strident aspects of our playing.-Iolo
The band also said that in the Spring of 2014, they’ve got a joint tour of England playing about 15 venues with the young singer Maz O’Connor so watch out for that one too.Awesome update from the band through Iolo and also goodluck to the tour of your homeland! Here is the link to their newsletter where you can download the track ‘Caru Pum Merch.’ http://gmtiny.com/DSQJT/
Heeeello! Celtic music fanatics. I have named the winner of the Meav Ni Mhaolchatha autographed CD giveaway! His name is John Cranmer of Madison, GA USA. All the more reason why you should check this blog every now and then because there are always goodies to giveaway. Tip: these things happen when artists are either launching a new CD or starting a tour. And they are always excited to give something to their fans for the continued support. Isn’t that awesome??!
I was truly knocked out by the video of Meav doing her new song “The Calling”. I truly felt relaxed as I watched her smoothly sing this song. She has, in my opinion, the very greatest voice of today. To list words of description would certainly be long, but I’ll try to use just a few. Enchanting, relaxing but exciting at the same time, moving. I’ve been a fan of Meav since I purchased her first CD. It really seems that her performances get better each time. With “The Calling” she has hit a new high. I look forward to her continued success as she continues to knock our socks off.
John Cranmer
Madison, GA USA
So yes, Meav is sending out that autographed CD to John and I am sure he is going to be happy about it. Thank you all my American readers for your support and I will make sure to give out more surprises often because it will keep this whole thing I am doing exciting. I also want to give my appreciation to Irish artist Meav Ni Mhaolchatha. She really cares about her listeners. Her sweetness will definitely bring more and more fans. And yes she will always have the continued support of The Celtic Music Fan for her shining 5000 watts of pure talent!
Those who tuned in this Saturday might have found yourselves not hearing my show The Baxteria. You weren’t dreaming. We are off the air for the following reasons which I will attach here:
Radio Happy is being taken offline for a few days in order to facilitate a transfer and upgrading of the service we provide to our listeners. Therefore, Saturday’s show with DJ Baxteria, Sunday’s show with DJ Yolande, Monday’s show with Johnny Normal and Tuesday’s show with Flip Martian will not go ahead but will return the following week as normal.
I know you’ll miss us – but please be assured this is only temporary while we put things in place to ensure the service is more robust and reliable in the future! Part of our ongoing commitment to making Radio Happy a professional and reliable source of online entertainment.
More news on the relaunch will appear over the next few days.
Thank you to you all for choosing Radio Happy up to now and thanks for your understanding and patience at this time.
Eddie Sherlock: Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Tom Forde: Bass and Vocals
Ben McGinn: Lead Guitar and Vocals
Anthony White: Drums and Percussion
When I first heard of The Rattling Kind I was excited. They play an amazing combination of folk, rock with a radio friendly appeal. It is also an original sound and I think this is where their charm comes from. Rise Up EP is making its auspicious debut in the ears of Irish music lovers and they are getting converts at a fast rate. I think it is time for them to take the spotlight as our new featured band.
As they say, the most beautiful songs are those that make us cry. So yes, they write songs about the present state of Ireland, from the economic to the immigration situation that’s taking place. They have a lot lot say and sing about. I am glad for the opportunity to catch up with Eddie Sherlock and the rest of the band to share their ideas behind the EP, the music and the things that shaped their unique sound.
Baxter:I think The Rattling Kind created a unique menu of Irish music for international listeners! What are the things that the rest of the band are up to?
Eddie Sherlock: Irish music will always be at the core of our sound, but we are open to try all sorts within our sound to create that rattling kind of music, we want people to be able to identify our sound the second they hear it!
Energy and great song structures. How do you and the rest of the band write songs. What are the processes involved before the tracks are mixed and mastered?
Well before there even was “The Rattling Kind”, Eddie(me) and Tom were sitting around penning songs together. It’s only natural then that the first few songs from the band were written by Eddie and Tom, with “All Around The Town” being produced in this fashion.Songs are written completely separately too and ideas are bounced around then afterwards. The input of others is always respected and songs may develop into a new kind of beast as we jam them out in the studio.
It can be exciting when your fellow band members understand the vibe you’re looking for from a song. Whether it be the need for a really tense atmosphere with a slow build-up to fireworks, or a more restrained approach to give off a sense of deep emotion… If the whole band have that same feeling about a song that you have and everyone’s steering in the right direction, that’s when ya know you’re onto a winner!
All Around The Town is a beautiful music video. Can you tell us a bit about the making of this one?
Truth be told, we were working with very limited resources. We were lucky to secure the services of a clever director (Anthony Downes) and an intense actor (Alan Sherlock) who thankfully saw some promise in the song and had a couple of ideas for the music video. Together with our own ideas, we had the premise and were ready to roll! The subject matter being what it was, you could easily go wrong with an idea and some people may have overdone it a little. But it was beautifully shot and the lads got some great footage out on the road. The fact that the video was more suggestive than in your face, meant it would thug at the heartstrings a little. I like the way you sing. Who are your vocal influences?
Everyone Irish!! haha.. funny enough, my Grand mother and Uncle would have been very strong influences in my singing.. after that.. Balladeer’s like Luke Kelly, Ronny Drew, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Declan O’ Rourke.. Internationally, I love all the big vocalists.. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller.. the list goes on.. can’t say I have one no1, but I love a good song sung well. What’s the first instrument you picked up as a child?
Haha emmm either the tin whistle or the spoons.. Please describe each member.
Kinda hard in a way.. see we all work as hard as each other, both in and outside of the band, in fact where more like brother’s, that purely love what it is we do, and grave to preform our art to everyone who wishes to listen.. but best I can say is
Tom: the calm one
Ben: the only one with a hand on his shoulders haha
Anto: Hard working hungry drummer, always thinking ahead Where can listeners buy and download your album?
Our music is available on iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp. It will be available in some record stores soon. What’s your message to our readers?
So I just got off from a skype interview with Dónal McCague who recently won the TG4 Young Musician of the Year and the award was presented by trad legend Matt Molloy of The Chieftains. I think it is quite an achievement because it is rare to get an award like that.
The skype interview will be available in my radio show on the 12th of October. Donal is down to earth and pleasant to talk to. I think this is also due to the fact that he teaches traditional music to aspiring artists. Like the festival I am writing about.
It’s going to be a big week for lovers of traditional Irish music as something exciting is happening. It is called the Scoil Cheoil na Botha, the 7th Annual Traditional Irish Music Festival. This event is happening in the 11-13th of October 2013 in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan. It will feature artists like Laura Beagon (fiddle), Fionnuala Rooney(harp), Gerry Murray (piano accordion), Darren Breslin (button accordion), Stevie Dunne (banjo), Rona Denkin (concertina), Tommy Fitzharris (flute), Monica Beagon-Treanor (traditional singing), Maire Nic Thaidhg (cohmra gaelige), Michael McCague (bouzouki/guitar) and of course Donal McCague!
If you are near the venue please drop by and experience great traditional music. Also make sure you look at the poster carefully for instructions.
Celtic Music Fan 