albums

Pure Celtic

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

The green album box plus the shamrock design looks inviting. For non Celtic listeners this would sound like a chill out record to own. 60 tracks of the best sounds and voices in the world in this Sony release. Quite a blessing especially for a 4CD album with a very reasonable price. The way the songs are compiled create a consistent mood throughout. It’s not like one track is sticking out like a sore thumb. Everything blends seamlessly.

I am the type of person who has to test the record before bring it home. There are hidden agendas here:

  1. To know if the record has scratches or other defects.
  2. 2. Record stores have bigger speakers and it is always nice to have your Celtic music in full blast( in competition with Lady Gaga or Justin Beiber)
  3. I like smelling new recordings.

There are artists here who aren’t really Celtic but I guess Sony decided to include them because of the ethereal mood they invoke. The band October Project (Where You Are, Deep as You Go) and Sarah McLachlan (Angel, Fallen) are examples of this. It’s kind of sad to know that Sony music is the same label that killed October Project. Later on we see it recycling music perhaps after realizing that even now the band still have this loyal following.

The good this about this compilation is the inclusion of Capercaillie’s Coisich, a Ruin and Molly Ban (Bawn) by The Chieftains (vocals by Alison Krauss). The production is superb especially the packaging which sits well with your coffee table.

Release Date: 17 November 2010
Style: Celtic Format: 4
Label: Sony Music Entertainment

CD 1 Tracklisting:

01. Clannad – Theme From Harry’s Game
02. The Chieftains – Molly Bán (Bawn)
03. Sarah McLachlan – Angel
04. Brian Dunning / Janet Chvatal / Jeff Johnson – cùChulainn’s Last Battle
05. James Galway / Marisa Robles – Brian Boru’s March
06. Capercaillie – Servant To The Slave
07. Lisa Lynne – Fields Of Gold
08. Davy Spillane – A Place Among The Stones
09. October Project – Where You Are
10. Mary Mc Laughlin – Stor Mo Chroí
11. Finbar Wright – You’ll Never Walk Alone
12. Christy Moore – Black Is The Colour
13. The Clancy Brothers / Tommy Makem – Irish Rover
14. Cherish The Ladies – Thady Casey’s Fancy/The Ladies Pantalettes/The Monaghan Twig/The Linen Cap
15. The Young Dubliners – Foggy Dew

CD 2 Tracklisting:

01. Jeff Beck – Declan
02. Fairground Attraction – Ay Fond Kiss
03. Clannad & Bono – In A Lifetime
04. David Arkenstone – The Dragon’s Breath
05. Celtus – Moonchild
06. Máire Brennan – An Fharraige
07. Carlos Nuñez – Saint Patrick’s Polka
08. Cherish The Ladies – Rolling in the Barrel/Pinch of Snuff/Vincent Campbell’s/The Galloping Hound
09. Capercaillie – The Whinney Hills Jigs
10. W.G. Snuffy Walden – By The River Shannon
11. Cantara – Waiting For The Wind
12. Aine Minogue / Alasdair Halliday – Rosemary Faire (Song of Lughnasadh)
13. The Incredible E. G. O’Reilly – An Chúileann
14. Christy Moore – Finnegan’s Wake
15. Kate Smith / Arthur Fiedler – Danny Boy

CD 3 Tracklisting:

01. Lisa Lynne – Circle Of Joy
02. Máire Brennan – Eirigh Suas A Stoirin
03. Brian Kennedy – Carrickfergus
04. Phil Cunningham – Strathglass
05. David Arkenstone – Cailleach’s Whisper
06. Nightnoise – The Rose Of Tralee
07. Cherish The Ladies – The Curragh of Kildaire
08. Eleanor McEvoy – Whisper A Prayer To The Moon
09. Clannad – Robin (The Hooded Man)
10. Sally Oldfield – Natasha
11. Davy Spillane – Forever Frozen
12. Capercaillie – Coisich, a Rùin
13. The Gallowglass Ceili Band – Haste To the Wedding/The Irish Washerwoman
14. Roger Whittaker – I’ll Tell Me Ma
15. Finbar Wright – Will Ye Go, Lassie Go

CD 4 Tracklisting:

01. The Chieftains – Opening Medley
02. The Young Dubliners – Rocky Road To Dublin
03. October Project – Deep As You Go
04. Celtus – Strange Day In The Country
05. Sarah McLachlan – Fallen
06. Aine Minogue / John Arimond – Silence
07. Clannad – I Will Find You
08. William Coulter / Todd Denman / Shelley Phillips / Deby Benton Grosjean / Paul Machlis / Heidrun Hoffmann / Barry Phillips / Theo Paige – Keening Of The Three Marys
09. Mary Mc Laughlin / William Coulter – Caoineadh Na Mara/Amen (Lament of the Sea)
10. Phil Coulter – The Shores Of The Swilly
11. Jeff Johnson / Rick Crittenden / Tim Ellis / Roger Hadley / Brian Willis / Brian Dunning – Way of the Warrior
12. Christy Moore – Beeswing (Live)
13. The Clancy Brothers / Tommy Makem – The Leaving Of Liverpool
14. Eileen Ivers – Crowley’s/Jackson’s
15. James Galway / Henry Mancini – Pennywhistle Jig

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 Music News

All Ireland Fleadh 2011 Cavan – Harcourt Hotel

Time

Monday at 20:00 – Tuesday at 02:00

Location

Harcourt Hotel, 60 Harcourt St, Dublin 2.

Created by:

Traditional Harcourt Sessions

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All Ireland Fleadh 2011 Cavan
FUNDRAISER CONCERT CAVAN FLEADH 2011
In Harcourt Hotel Dublin April Monday 18th 8.30pm
HOSTED BY MARTIN DONOHOE CAVAN
ADM PRICE €12 ON NIGHT €10 PURCHASED IN ADVANCE AT HOTEL
… Call 01 4783677

Your Host on the night Martin Donohoe Cavan ! Please join us and all the Musicians participating from 8.30 pm – A great evening of Ceol, Amhrain agus Craic galore.. with Dancing and maybe a few sets if space allows

Among many travelling to the Event and giving their services free on the night are :

Sean O Se Cork (Singer)
John Carty Roscommon (Banjo and Fiddle)
Seamus Fay Cavan (Lilter)
Fintan Mc Manus Fermanagh (Bouzouki)
Patsy Hanly Roscommon (Flute)
Roisin OReilly Cavan (Singer)
John Mc Sherry Antrim (Piper)
Donal OConnor Louth (Fiddle)
Cathal Lynch Tyrone (Singer)
Anton McGabhann Cavan (fiddle)
Brid Harper Donegal (Fiddle)
Martin Gaffney Cavan (Flute)
Darren Maloney (Cavan (Banjo)
Daoiri Farrell Dublin (Singer)
Gary Lynch Fermanagh (Fiddle)
Kavan Donohoe Cavan (Harp)
Dave Sheridan Leitrim (Flute)
Philip Clarke Cavan (Piano)
Trevor Bury Cavan (Bodhran)
Laura Crossan Leitrim (Dancer)
John Campbell Louth (Guitar)
Niall Preston Dublin (Bodhran)
Joe Brennan Cavan (Guitar)
AND A FEW SUPRISE GUESTS on the night !

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POITIN – A.C.W. Saloon, Plzen

http://www.reverbnation.com/poitin http://www.poitin.cz http://www.myspace.com/poitinkapela
http://www.soundclick.com/poitin

Time

 15 April · 20:30 – 23:30

Location

 A.C.W. SaloonKollarova 18Plzen, Czech Republic

Created by:

 Jeremy Poitin

More info

 Irish night!

 

The High Kings, The Chieftains And Hints of Gypsy

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

Welcome back Celtophiles. I have fresh news for you today. Just finished my jug of black tea and all geared up to rock the keyboards…..

If you are looking for irresistible vocals with great instrumentals then Memory Lane by The High Kings will bring you those. From the lively Star of the County Down backed by a nice banjo to a capella Red is the Rose will surely grow on your Irish music garden.

The High Kings just returned from their successful January 29 The Children Need You Concert. As what these guys say:

“We are honoured to have performed with 12,000 champion children, who are the Hallelujah choir over the course of 3 days. Thank you for being the best backing choir ever!”

Memory Lane will be  released on  March 8, 2011!

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American fans in Indiana, be  sure to catch The Chieftains , who will be appearing at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the IU Auditorium. These guys brought us decades of magical Irish music that are love by both old and new.

Originally founded in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, the band’s style  is grounded in traditional Irish instrumental music. From playing only  the fiddle, flute, tin whistle and bodhran, which gave the music a rustic and traditional sound, they incorporate world materials byt collaborating with artists like Loreena McKennitt, Sinead O’ Connor and MOya Brennan. More news in this link: http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=80100

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Florida Welcomes Scythian

Gypsy grooves meets Celtic spirit, Cythian(sith-ee-yin) will set you on your feet with their brand of fusion mixing blue grass, and world styles. Yes the core is Celtic and these guys have their own punk humors to keep you amused. I love them and you should check them out as they perform live at Skipper’s Smoke House courtesy of WMNF88.5 FM.

Source :http://www.wmnf.org/events/scythian-plus-holy-ghost-tent-revival?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WmnfEvents+%28Upcoming+WMNF+Events%29

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With a voice darker than Sarah Brightman’s but with music more organic than Enigma or Era, Hayley Griffiths unleashes Silver Screen. The title will probably give an impression of covers but the press release has confirmed she adds her own trademark to the songs. Check her out with that sample video. What do you think?

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Hearing the Legend.

I stumbled upon Cape Breton’s fiddle legend Dan R MacDonald. Gives me shivers. More here: http://danrory.com/home.html


Awesome January

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Looking for Moss,a metaphorical search for life and hope in the darkest,bleakest moments.
Phil: piano,violin,celtic harp,bass,keys.
Dave: acoustic guitar,electric guitar, mandolin
all dave and Phil’s CDs are available by writing to lmcrecords2011@gmail.com

I am not just saying this because I am a Capricorn. I mean it because I feel that 2011 has a lot in store for lovers of Celtic music. Remember that Loreena McKennitt’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley is already out so tour is on the way. Clannad is back to performing and a possibility of another album is  not far …I have conducted wonderful interviews. I recently talked to Sue Aston from Cornwall. She kicked off the 2011 with her new album Between Worlds. You better grab your copies. Phil Holland has also released The Visit with Dave Palmley so you better look for that one because it is really different from her previous albums! So 2011 is going to be great and I hope you are  a part of it where ever you are. So come out , come out.

Pic Courtesy of Phil and Dave.

Pic Courtesy of Phi Holland and Dave Palmley.

This Is My Home: Dave Rooney

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

Dublin’s Temple Bar performer is currently on tour in the United States promoting his album This is My Home.

Be sure to visit Dublin’s Temple Bar when you drop by because I am sure you will hear this distinctive voice playing nightly. Dave Rooney has a voice that can calm an angry soul and inspire tired hearts to hope and love.

The first time I heard the title track ‘This is My Home’ I am carried away by his bold lyricism and his decision to take the high road-that’s going independently , not waiting for some money-eyed record exec to pick his songs up for commercial release. Instrumentally, this album is rich. Backed by seasoned musicians of excellent caliber, the tracks shimmer. You can hear the dobro, fiddle, whistles piano and keyboards, saxophones bass guitars and drums arranged with excellent taste. The album has energetic tracks but are balanced with introspective ones for those who just want to chill out. If you like Chris de Burg, Luka Bloom, Christy Moore and the likes, then this one’s for you.

Dave’s music has soul and wisdom. Coupled with wit he creates an album that’s solid and artfully crafted. Hear him out and I am sure you will never forget him.
http://www.daverooneymusic.com/

Special thanks to Daly Communications: http://www.myspace.com/dalycommunications

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