Anticipation Building for The Buachaills

Aaron Dolan – Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Vocals.

 Chris Carey – Drums , Percussion , Vocals.

 Eoin Murphy -Bouzouki, Mandolin , Guitar , Vocals.

 James Fleming – Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals.

Hometown: Cork

 

I used to plan what I post in the past. I decide what day I should post updates and what type of artist or music it should be. These days I don’t care. There are too many bands and albums out there and not enough time. I also want to point out that these albums are amazing. A lot of time and effort have been crafted in these albums. The only thing is that only few get to see the light of day and make their way into the huge pool of listeners. That is why time is of the essence. Why wait for the album release when bands can announce that they are recording something.

Usually a teaser or one song will already tell you what the band is capable of achieving in terms of craft and music. One example is Little Creatures by The Buachaills. A brief info about the track follows:

The last song on The Buachaills up-coming album “At Your Call” which features a poem from James Stephens, “Little Things”. The Buachaills are Aaron Dolan, Chris Carey, Eoin Murphy and James Fleming. The Buachaills are one of Ireland’s top folk acts blending traditional Irish music with contemporary folk/rock sounds and are the official House band of Thomond Park Stadium.

The lively beat accentuated by beautiful melodies and irresistible uilleann pipes really tell you a lot about them. It sounds so unique yet so contemporary that you can play it in your car stereo or anywhere.  

https://www.facebook.com/thebuachaills

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Eoin Murphy said that the debut album “At your call”will be released worldwide on May 10th. Good for him to tell us about it this early. Anticipation is building. This is definitely something I look forward to!

Brishen and Podcast #24

Photo by Ryan MacDonald

Members:
Quinn Bachand, lead guitar

Richard Moody, violin

Reuben Wier, rythm guitar & vocal

Joey Smith, upright bass.

It has long been regarded that Canada is a melting pot of the best traditional music in Europe. What I admire about the Victoria, BC quartet Brishen is how they combine Jazz with world and folk elements. When you are looking for a fusion between sumptuous Acadian folk, jazz and Celtic then you have to listen to them. I think of dancing Gypsies when I listen to any of their tracks. I am sure that to watch them live would be quite an experience. Take for instance the seventeen-year-old Quinn Bachand bringing his own fresh influences with the stalwarts of music like Richard Moody (violin)  Reuben Wier( rythm guitar & vocal)  and Joey Smith( upright bass). That’s really got to be something. I love the vocals of Ruben Weir. I think he will give Michael Buble a run for his money.

They identify with their influences Django Reindhard and Stephane Grappelli which I am yet to hear but I am sure some of you out there already know their music. I don’t know if it’s the hot chocolate in my system or something else but Coquette left me feeling high and jolly. There is something about early jazz music that touches the heart. To combine that with other musical styles prove to be a powerful mix. Quite addicting. Brishen is indeed the storm bringer of fantastic music.

Photo by Ryan MacDonald

Photo by Ryan MacDonald

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The Baxteria Podcast #24

http://old.mixcloud.com/thecelticmusicfan/the-baxteria-podcast-24-celtic-and-indie-variety/

If you missed the tunes I played this Saturday, the tunes are up that link! Enjoy!

CLEGHORN-9 Minutes of Woo – House of Blues
Riverdance-Opening Scene
Dave Sheridan, Michael McCague & Donal McCague-The Independence Hornpipe
Enda Seery-Tatter Jack Walsh
Loreena MCKennitt-Ancient pines
Brian Kennedy-Carrickfergus
Capercaillie-The Tree
J.P. Kallio-River Takes You Over
The Alex MacNeil Quartet-Lullaby for Alice
Don BeeKeeper-Saviour
Alex Pardini-Sad Little King
Love Spirals Downwards-City Moon

Watch Out for the Forthcoming Album by Guitar, Bouzouki Player Michael McCague

Michael McCague in In Derry

Michael McCague:Musician, Composer, Recording Artist and Mathematics Major.

Music follows Mathematical laws. And Traditional Irish musicians like Michael McCague can attest to this. After all, he is a Mathematics major. When he is not into academic things, he plays music with his brother Donal. It’s through Donal that I discovered him. I have seen most of their videos consisting mainly of fiddle(Donal) and Guitar(Michael) duets.

His style is hypnotic and rhythmic. Although I am yet to hear his solo album, his name has been all over the traditional Irish music map.  I you haven’t heard of him, then look for recordings by the following:

Idir – by At First Light (arrangement, guitar and bouzouki)

Bits N Pieces – Donal Mc Cague (arranger, guitar, bouzouki, piano, tenor guitar)

Banjo – Stevie Dunne – (arrangement, guitar, bouzouki)

Its Not Racket Science – At The Racket (arrangement, guitar, tenor guitar, bouzouki)

Sheridan’s Guesthouse – Dave Sheridan – (arranger, bouzouki, guitar)

Edel Fox & Ronan Flaherty (guitar, bouzouki, arranger)

Idir – by At First Light (arrangement, guitar and bouzouki)
Bits N Pieces – Donal Mc Cague (arranger, guitar, bouzouki, piano, tenor guitar)
Banjo – Stevie Dunne – (arrangement, guitar, bouzouki)
Its Not Racket Science – At The Racket (arrangement, guitar, tenor guitar, bouzouki)
Sheridan’s Guesthouse – Dave Sheridan – (arranger, bouzouki, guitar)
Edel Fox & Ronan Flaherty (guitar, bouzouki, arranger)

You can also read an update about the forthcoming album through his TradConnect blog:

http://tradconnect.com/profiles/blogs/album-update

Videos with Michael playing:

Bodhrán Theory and Technique-Where the best bodhran tutors hangout

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Bodhrán Theory and Technique-Where the best bodhran tutors hangout

Only a few hours joining the page called Bodhrán Theory and Technique and I got an awesome welcome. Bodhran masters like Jacob McCauley, Matthew Bell and Australian percussionist Jeremy Sibson are frequent visitors. Members post amazing links that newcomers can learn. I think my journey as a bodhran student is more on info gathering. I want to share the discovery to other aspiring musicians. Of course the perks of learning the instrument is being able to play in a local Celtic band. And I already got an invite from my friend Ralph who plays the tin whistle in his own band.

I will be interviewing bodhran teachers in my upcoming posts. In the meantime, I invite you to visit Bodhrán Theory and Technique. Feel at home and post your ideas.

Disclaimer from the page: Bodhrán Theory and Technique group is for the open discussion, critique of language, concepts, theory used associated with and the analysis of technique and the sharing of exercises, lessons for the furthering of the art of playing music of any kind on the Bodhrán.

Anything that is not a discussion on the aforementioned may end up being removed!

Don’t worry it still can be fun!

Haha I like the idea of fun while learning.

Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bodhran.tnt/

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Ireland Timelapse from Lucie S on Vimeo.

My friend Jeremy King of Poitin shared this amazing video made by her friend(an uilleann piper, she’s Czech, works as a vet in Ireland, (that’s a story in itself, isn’t it!?)  called Lucie Šmahelová . She’s just made this beautiful video of the places around where she lives).

Enjoy!!!!

Jack Raven’s Whores Plus Podcast #23

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Anyone who loves good old whiskey will find something familiar with the band’s logo. Think of  Jack Daniel’s and Jack Sparrow-then you get the idea behind the logo of the band Jack Raven’s Whores. Ok I admit I am not confident to say the last word out loud but these guys have the right to be confident with their music.

Adventurous

Beautiful

Wild

Combining Irish folk, Balkan, sailor music (and a hint Breton music)l; they weave songs that celebrate the wild adventures straight out of a pirate movie. In terms of craft, they are serious. Bad Trip is  their latest single. It has a long instrumental intro. But then it dips into a beautiful folk song.  The band are:Greg Raven(Lead vocals and guitar), Cormac Jones(Vocals and Mandolin), Mathieu Vigouroux(Clarinet and tin whistle), and Ju Rosh Lcmte(Fiddle).

 

https://www.facebook.com/PIRATEIRISHFOLK

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Podcast # 23

http://old.mixcloud.com/thecelticmusicfan/the-baxteria-podcast-23/

My latest radio show is now available on podcast. Visit the link and enjoy great music!

The High Kings-All Around the World
The High Kings-Come with Me Now
The High Kings-Gucci
The High Kings-Friends for Life
The High Kings-Galway Girl
The High Kings-Health to the Company
The High Kings-Peggy Gordon
Steven Hawson-Maids: In the Meadow; At the Churn; At the Spinning Wheel
Ashley MacIsaac-Devil In The Kitchen
Lisa Gerrard-Sanvean: I Am Your Shadow
Sleepthief-Skimming Stones
J.P. Kallio-Northern Boy
Siouxsie Sioux-Heaven and Alchemy
Samuel Smith-The Way of the World