Celtic music

Harp Music, Good Mood!

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Scott Hoye takes harp music to the next level!

I think  these days the harp has been overlooked in much of Celtic music. Chicago based harpist/singer/composer Scott Hoye has added charm and elegance to this instrument making it fresh as a ripe fruit ready to be plucked for your sonic hunger. He weaves his personal style to traditional tunes  to create something new out of the old.

As for the singing, this man can sing! Right now the rain is falling as I write this piece. His music is a perfect companion to that mood. You should try this: make yourself hot chocolate with bread and butter. Find a great spot by your window. Look at the glistening leaves under the gray sky.. and smell that wet scent of the earth rising along with other organic scents. Close your eyes occasionally to the sound of harp music. You will be in a good mood later. I am at peace oh yes! Feeling calm now.

http://www.reverbnation.com/scotthoye

Blurb about Scott Hoye:

Scott was a founding member of the Celtic ensemble The Spriggans, as well as the progressive rock band Seranati. His repertoire includes traditional and original tunes on Celtic harp, vocals, whistles, and percussion. Scott gathers inspiration from traditional sources of Irish, Scottish, other Celtic, folk, and world music, while mixing them together with contemporary sounds to create a new, sonic brew.

Deirdre Shannon, The voice of Goddess Erin.

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Deirdre Shannon Photo by B.Doherty
In this photo:
Deirdre Shannon http://www.deirdreshannon.com

Nothing beats waking up to a great voice of Deirdre Shannon!

Well well well, at last it is official. This site will now become http://www.celticmusicfan.com. Hahaha I am basking at the thought of it all. For two years I dreamed and now  it is going to be my official baby with the help of my two angelic Celtic warriors who are my best pals for life. What would I do without them? Anyway I am so happy and so overwhelmed that I am afraid I might not be able to write an article because of this…joking!

It is a nice warm Sunday. So how are you folks doing? I spent the whole day listening to Celtic music and I was not aware that myspace actually transmits all the songs I listened to online so you can’t imagine the shock I felt upon looking at my twitter widget. I apologize to my followers who were bombarded by such updates. Perhaps it was too early for some of you to get such insistent notice.

Morning is best when it is greeted by a calm, relaxed state. And yes, meditative music helps. I am not one of those who start the day by playing dance music. I’d rather wake up to the Gregorian chants at 5 am than the sound of techno.  That will wait until the evening.

Now this lass I am presenting here looks familiar doesn’t she? That is because you must have seen her already in shows like Lord of the dance, Celtic Tenors and The Canadian Tenors.   Deirdre Shannon’s career blossomed in the mid- 90s when she joined the Celtic choir Anuna.

She has  pure and beautiful soprano that comes with a crossover appeal. Not too high brow classical nor sweet  bright and popsy. Just the right combination. I think people remembered her as the Goddess Erin in Lord of the Dance. I have to tell you I can listen to her for hours and never get tired.

There are few artists who can be naturally beautiful both inside and out. Deirdre is one of them. She doesn’t have to try. Her beauty shines forth sans make up. And yes that voice can make you forget she is a human being.

She has a new album out:

Deirdre’s highly anticipated album – Anamceol – is available for purchase through CD Baby, be sure to click on “Deirdre’s Shop”!  

In this her second album, Irish singer Deirdre Shannon shares unique treasures from her country’s rich musical heritage. This collection of songs, reminiscent of a time almost forgotten, leads you through a rich tapestry of Celtic life. Deirdre guides you on a journey of love, nature and mythology, to a place where your heart is consoled. She brings you music for the soul. Anamċeol.

Concerts, Festivals and Calendars

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Don’t have anywhere to go this month? Oh, please don’t sound like me whose life isn’t going anywhere as of the moment 😀  I have to let you in for something personal. Someone bought the domain I wanted. Remember I want this site to become http://www.celticmusicfan.com? I just found out last night that someone in the United States bought it. Now I just have to settle for a .net.  But so what! It is just a domain name. People can copy names and appearances but they could never ever replicate individuality. It just doesn’t work that way.  In the end it is the traffic that counts. Would you agree? As my  friend Donie  who is  a terrific Irish painter told me when I mentioned this to him :” CANT BE HELD RANSOM TO SOME STRANGER HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.”

 

 

Ready for the biggest Celtic Music Festival in the Czech Republic?

To those who have been following my posts since late last year would have known that there are really good bands in terms of Celtic music in the Czech Republic. Jeremy of the band Poitin confirmed this today in his facebook post. I think you might have to add that to your travel plan this July 20!

The biggest Celtic Music Festival in the Czech Republic. It’s going to be great. Our mates Sliotar from Ireland’ll be there and the Spanish band Street Wings, as well as us and all your favourite Czech Celtic bands.
http://www.keltska-noc.cz/GB.html

 

 

 

 

KILRUSH @ The East Durham Irish Festival and Shamrock house

http://kilrushband.com/

Can you still make it today? They will be playing live.

Memorial Day weekend in East Durham has been nothing short of an Irish Tradition for many years…as for Kilrush, it’s it’s our 7th year returning to the Irish Alps….we are playing Friday Night at

1 am at the SHAMROCK HOUSE following the Narrowbacks!
12:45pm on the COOR’S Music Pavilion (East Durham Mem. Irish Fest)
2:15 pm The KILLIAN’S Music Tent (also East Durham Mem.Irish Fest)
1 am at the SHAMROCK HOUSE folowing Shilelagh Law!!

Here is the map : https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Durham-Irish-Festival/226458027379907

 

 

 

Troy MacGillivray in Concert!

Marc Gunn’s Music Revolution

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It’s a breeze for big record labels to push songs up the charts. They just open up their pocket books and wave a wad of cash around. Boom! They own the Celtic Top 10.

If you listen to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, you know that it’s not that big labels have better music, it’s that they have more money and expertise to promote the music they own. That is not the case for the indie Celtic musician… all we have is YOU!-Marc Gunn

I like Marc Gunn’s idea of breaking down the walls of major record labels. For musicians out there who might be having cold feet, this is the time to stop the hesitation and I’d say go for whatever musical ideas you have. Don’t be afraid to form a band or play solo, don’t be afraid to record and MOST of all don’t be shy to spread your music.

Talent is one thing but confidence is another. If we read the bios of famous bands or singers, we learned that they started like everyone else. They aren’t gods. U2 did not become U2 over night. So let us all start a music revolution and start recording whatever you got there. So get up, get on and get everyone involved. If you are a blogger and you are reading this, I hope this will help you start a chain of events in your community by helping out artists that you think deserve such attention.

Check this link out to learn about Marc Gunn’s Top of the Charts.

http://www.celticmusicpodcast.com/topthecharts/

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Stetrice are a band from Nantes and they are making waves in the local scene right now. Time for giving these fellas a much wider audience.

www.stetrice.com.

If you have bands you want me to feature just email me and I will check them out.

Kernow Film Society Presents The Rabbit

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Home grown movies!                                           

Here is a preview of a locally made film and it is very Cornish. Those who love the quirky and the novel will like this one. Now my site doesn’t embed anything other than youtube so all you got to do is click the picture and you will be directed to the movie site. Thank you!

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Cheers!-Pulsing Celtic Rock Band from the Czech Republic

Like I have said before, this country is oozing with Celtic talents. Go check them out when  you are in Prague. They were discovered by Jeremy of Poitin.

More about Cheers!

Cheers! – Celtic Rock’n Reel combining the pulsating energy of the Dropkick Murphys with the powerful stadium anthems of the Levellers, rewriting the rules of everything Celtic.

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Amazing Duo

My friend Jimmy shared this video and I think it is interesting in a sense that we have only two dueling instruments and yet they sound like they occupy the whole room if you know what I mean. I like the way how the video was taken.

More about this:

Watch James’ full episode: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBAA76076F7410378

The second musical segment from the HI*Sessions studio featuring James, his amazing ukulele skills, and Anne Davison on cello. Stay tuned as we update more videos from James’ episode featuring his music.

Watch previous videos of HI*Sessions featuring James:
“Heart Shaped Tattoo” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlfrHelmX34

Visit http://www.hisessions.com to see a complete list of artists, and tune into our bi-monthly podcast featuring a behind-the-scenes look at what makes them all great!

Follow HI*Sessions:
http://hisessions.com
http://www.facebook.com/hisessions
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