I was checking my news feed just now and saw the post of musician Eoin Murphy of the Buachaills regarding the passing of Celtic Thunder’s George Donaldson. He was known for his guitar and flute talents on top of his amazing vocals. This is really tragic. He was a strong presence in the group. He recently released a solo album in the middle of 2013 called The World in My Mind. According to the Inquisitr:
George Donaldson had been the face of the band Celtic Thunder since he joined in 2007, but now the 46-year-old has died after suffering a massive heart attack.
Donaldson died Wednesday at his home in Glasgow, Scotland. The self-taught musician joined the group Celtic Thunder six years ago after auditioning for producer Sharon Browne, and served as the principal singer since then.
His powerful shone though his stage performances. He brought something different to Celtic Thunder as he drew influences from his native Scotland and added diverse materials from contemporary music. Donaldson’s passing is one of the tragedies that struck the Celtic music community recently. He was too young to go. Such a loss of talent and beautiful life. My condolences to his family. May he rest in peace. May his musical legacy continue to shine through and bring comforts in our hearts in times of darkness.
True love is when you put someone on a pedestal, and they fall – but you are there to catch them. Anonymous
He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler Yeats, Irish, 1865-1939
Don’t even get me started about today. A lot of people get emotional. I wish they rename it as Dark Chocolate Day. But who am I to complain? This world is filled with lonely people looking for someone to fill that void. I think the problem here is that we look. Why can’t we just sit still and appreciate what’s already there? Sometimes we forget simple act of kindness because we are to caught up with our hangups and histories. We forget the people who helped shape our lives and who were there along the way. It’s Hollywood that makes today depressing. Because if you think about it, it isn’t. I think if we just turn around we already have something. We just forget to take time to appreciate it.Think about it.
This video is like a light in the dark. I love the Spanish flavour.Nice design! Here’s that it says:
“Mahaday” is an Ann Malone composition that celebrates the Spanish and Latin side of the Celtic tradition. Expressing the joy of love, the song exudes the romantic spirit of Valentine’s Day.
Inner Splendor Media is a recording company that specializes in pure, simple, elemental and beautiful music found all over the world.
Produced by Vidura Barrios, Ann Malone, Alan Reekie and Rob Smith
This post is dedicated to my friend Paula O’Brien who lives in England. She sent me these items :
Some Celtic pieces stitched for my friend Jose Rommel Labatos who lives in The Philippines. Jose writes a Celtic music blog so the Celtic theme was ideal. He chose the bookmark aida fabric from a choice of colours, it’s the first time I’ve created a home-made bookmark. The card shows a Celtic bird.He received them yesterday. — at UK before being posted to The Philippines
About Paula:
MUSIC RULES…..I love the creative arts and working on music projects, warm weather,travel, exploring new and interesting places, fond of animals especially cats,pastel shades, birdsong, my synths and piano, beautiful synth sounds, recording studios, harmonious music and environments, historical sites/ruins, camel rides, Spring & Summer, Indian food ..vegetable korma and naan, mango chutney & mango lassi, fruit juice esp.cherry and also red orange, beautiful skies, democracy, those who play fair i.e. 50:50 , loyalty,courtesy, mutual respect and support, zany humour, easy-going & relaxed people, eating fruit..
Dislikes – sub-zero temperatures, England’s freezing weather….cigarette smoke, the colour orange, grapefruit, horrible spiders aaarrggh!, injustice, arrogance, dishonesty, disloyalty, egomania, insincerity, people who take others for granted, selfishness, teaching (my job), people who harm/hurt animals, intrusive noise, arguing, people who don’t honour their word, being let down..
Ok it could not be denied that Celtic Thunder is sweeping the globe by storm. Never has the big “C” been around like Superman’s signature. These guys are simply everywhere and are invading the mainstream. Well, them and Celtic Woman. This is not surprising. These guys have the looks and talent and they can all play a musical instruments. They are not just your average groups who does dancing. These are serious musicians trying to spread a kind of music that is reserved for people with impeccable musical taste-albeit elitist musical inclination. Well, it takes all kinds when something is not mainstream and one continues to devour it. At least they are out there bringing you all Irish music at its most catchy.
Tremolo is an act of creating a “shudder effect” in music as in the tremolo arm of a guitar. It is also a name of a group-four guys accomplished in their own solo projects. These are musicians from the traditional Irish music scene. Two tracks are available in their website that you can listen to. Technically they are amazing but couple that with their love for melodic and passionate sound -Tremolo becomes a dragon that breath’s fire into the scene that reminds us: this is how Irish music should sound like.
Violinist Eileen Ivers celebrates Celtic influence with music, dance, film and fiddle, of course(March 13)
Down the road: Eileen Ivers brings her show “Beyond the Bog Road” to Miller Auditorium March 13. It uses video, music and dance to explore the experiences of the Irish.
An unusual version of a Status Quo song, “Gerdundula”, arranged and performed by Phil Holland and Dave Palmley.
Phil: Celtic Harp, Fiddle, Vocals, Keys.
Dave: Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Perc.
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McPEAKE Irish Fusion Music Group in St Louis Missouri
March 11, 2010MCPEAKE
One of Ireland’s best known musical families coming to St. Louis!
March 11, 2011 – 7:30 PM
Union Ave. Christian Church
(Home of the Union Ave. Opera)
733 Union Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
MCPEAKE
One of Ireland’s best known musical families coming to St. Louis!
March 11, 2011 – 7:30 PM
Union Ave. Christian Church (Home of the Union Ave. Opera)
733 Union Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
“The McPeakes have been a musical force, resource and national treasure for nearly a hundred years.” — The Belfast Telegraph
“I could sit and listen to the McPeake musicians all day.” — The Irish News
For generations of folk music enthusiasts the name of the McPeake Family of Belfast has stood for one of the most distinctive sounds in Irish music. Francis McPeake IV, the fourth generation of this world-famous musical dynasty and one of the few authentic uilleann pipers in the world today, has put together a revived band, ‘McPeake’, which is unique in the world of music with its fusion of original Celtic compositions and contemporary rhythms and styles.
Ticket prices
$15 (Regular)
$12 (Seniors 65+ & Students)
Special Group rates for 15 or more
For Ticket Information please call 314-721-6556 or email us at gitana@stlouis.missouri.org
More info
Doors open at. 16, concert begins at. 17
Admission: DKK 120 for non-members / £ 90 for members
With over 100 concerts annually in Canada, USA and more than 15 European countries, it is with great pleasure that Copenhagen Folk Club now offers the Canadian band Le Vent Du Nord, welcome to the metronome.
…
Le Vent du Nord has since 2002 enjoyed great success and has received several prestigious awards including a Juno. The band is now one of the world’s most beloved bands Quebec people. ”
Le Vent du Nord consists of 4 Canadian singers and multi instrumentalists from Quebec. The highly acclaimed and award-winning band that complements the songs from the traditional repertoire with original compositions, is a cheerful and unpretentious concert experience with commitment, humor and energy. The instruments are guitar, violin, accordion and Hurdy-gurdy, and there are plenty of beautiful four-part singing in French.
The current lineup consists of Nicolas Boulerice, Simon Beaudry, Olivier Demers and Réjean Brunet. On stage manages these four friends to spread their contagious joy out of any audience. Le Vent du Nord knows how to deliver music that moves the audience – both the heart and the feet.
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Colm O’Snodaigh (Kila) & Mundy: ‘She’s Not There’ by The Zombies
Well no one told me about her, the way she lied
Well no one told me about her, how many people cried
But it’s too late to say you’re sorry
How would I know, why should I care
Please don’t bother tryin’ to find her
She’s not there
Well let me tell you ’bout the way she looked
The way she’d act and the colour of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright
But she’s not there
Well no one told me about her, what could I do
Well no one told me about her, though they all knew
But it’s too late to say you’re sorry
How would I know, why should I care
Please don’t bother tryin’ to find her
She’s not there
Well let me tell you ’bout the way she looked
The way she’d act and the colour of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright
But she’s not there
But it’s too late to say you’re sorry
How would I know, why should I care
Please don’t bother tryin’ to find her
She’s not there
Well let me tell you ’bout the way she looked
The way she’d act and the colour of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool
Her eyes were clear and bright
But she’s not there
Congratulations to my pal Oona McOuat for topping the Canadian folk charts with her new album Honey and Holy Water. You might remember way back when I posted an Interview with her and she’s really down to earth, fun to talk and so much witty. Honey and Holy water is available for purchase in several outlets including her official site http://www.oonamcouat.com/
Capercaillie fans will be delighted to know that the band have schedules up to next year. If you remember I wrote once here about the news I got in which it states that Capercaillie is disbanding. But that news proved to be wrong. The band is in top form and Karen Matheson is still bright as ever!
18 December: Paisley Abbey, Paisley. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets available from Marks & Spencer, High Street, Paisley; Ticket Scotland, 239 Argyle Street, Glasgow. Tel 0870 222.116; http://www.ticket-scotland.co.uk; WRVS Renfrewshire Information Centre & Community Cafe, Paisley Centre, 20 Causeyside Street; and Paisley Abbey
12 Feb 2011: Warwick Arts Cantre, University of Warwick, Coventry. Box Office: 024 7652 4524 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 024 7652 4524 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
13 Feb 2011: Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester. Box Office: 01243 781312 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01243 781312
Celtic Music Fan 