Celts

February 2015 Celtic music updates.

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..And so we have amazing tunes to start the big bang of Celtic music for 2015!

Welcome to my ‘conversational post’ where I talk like a normal person especially when I am not doing album reviews or interviews. 2015 brings us fantastic tunes in the trad and fusion department. Celtic music is colorful as it embraces many. I will

The winning image from the Bodojo Header competition by Matthew Olwell.

The winning image from the Bodojo Header competition by Matthew Olwell.

bring you fresh uploads from musicians you have not or probably heard already. But guess what they have in common? Yes it’s fantastic music. These are artists who dedicated their lives in perfecting their craft. They have released albums independently and I think their persistence is admirable. Especially in a world where ‘common’ or ‘ordinary’ music is praised. But think about it. What’s so great about common right? Why not spice up your life with something you seldom read up the Billboard or Rolling Stone reviews. Why be part of the herd when you can be different. Think different. Act different and dare to be you.

This is a fresh upload from Irish musician Enda Seery(with James Hughes). I think a new album is on the way. What do you think? I love this tune.

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I will be posting an album review of this amazing artist. He is John Breen. 

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Have a taste of Buan, the new album by Danu. Yes they have a new album out if you haven’t heard yet. It’s been creating quite a stir in the trad community these days. Worth a check! Thanks to Trad Connect for this link.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_eYEmuc0hM

Fans of Scottish artist Julie Fowlis will be pleased. She has released a new album called  GACH SGEUL – EVERY STORY. As always, her vocals are in between the haunting realm of Celtic music and the simplicity of indie pop. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/juliefowlis

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http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVvUXsA7is

Bodhran Drum Solo – Abe Doron

Fans of bodhran music will love this! I love the bodhran and I am trying to be an expert but I guess I need more time. If you want to check out anything related to this instrument then be part of Bodojo https://www.facebook.com/groups/bodojo/?fref=ts

Have a great weekend everyone and more to follow!

Celtic Music Fan Podcast #8

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The 8th podcast featuring special guest Donal McCague
tracks:
High Noon-The Indulgers
Erin Farewell-McDermott’s 2 Hours
Walking in the Sunshine-The Folkalists
Interview with Donal McCague
Rant Maggie Rant (3 songs)
-Shadow and Substance/Linden Rise
-Cunla/Kitty Lie Over
-Old Maid of Galway

Shamus and Steve Continue to Bring Celtic Humor For Everyone!

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Steven Hawson: Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 2

With laughter comes inspiration. This is the essence of Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow Vol. 2

Life is hard. I’ve been reflecting on that for the past few weeks now that reality has started to sink in. Three things continue to save me: Humor, curiosity and sweetness from friends who never fail to see the good in me. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I put humor above all. That capacity to laugh at ourselves and others clear the air of disagreements and awkwardness.

I’ve been visited upon by the funny muse when I started following the Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow series by musician and linguist Steven Hawson. The more I listen to his series, the more I realize the depth of creativity that he has put in these recordings. I see them as part documentary, part comedy adventure. It is also a love letter to the lovers of the Celtic culture. It recognizes the three things about people like us:

The love and appreciation of all things Celtic

The love for diversity and respect of other cultures

The celebration of learning history and its importance to the present.

Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 2 is an exciting follow-up to Volume 1. It is also longer with more characters and punch lines that will tickle your inner clown. I admire Steven Hawson’s ability to create many colorful characters and events with convincing candor. Think of this as a combination of On the Road/Even Cowgirls Get The Blues/Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle but with a Celtic treatment.

There are 13 tracks representing 13 chapters of a novel.

In Vol.1, we were left with Shamus and Steve stopping for a night halfway through their trip. Remember, this story is about the twins going on the road to see the first annual Glasgow Celtic music festival in Montana. The album opens with Steve waking  up to discover a spider bite on his left cheek.

Steve: You mean I’m going to have a swollen face at the festival?!

Shamus: Well, only on the left side. You’ll just …have to put your best face forward I guess(snicker).

You see, the hapless optimism of Shamus always gets Steve(or both of them ) into trouble. They meet a handful of colorful characters along to way: The Hari Krishna Cowboys in Cheyenne.The Turkish carpet store owner who explains the relationship between the Celts and Anatolia. There’s also an exciting police car chase which makes Steve throw his accordion out the window.  There is also a hilarious encounter with a fake Druid (who talks like Yoda). There are many interesting encounters that you will enjoy as you listen along but it is for you to find out. I don’t want to spoil the fun.

Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow Vol.2 establishes Steven Hawson as an excellent story-teller with a comedic spirit. This is really a must for those who want to take a Celtic history shortcut. As for me, it’s a cure for sadness. Laughter is the best medicine courtesy of my two heroes Shamus and Steve!

Sample and download the track here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevenhawson

About the artist:

Steven Hawson has been described as the “Weird Al Yankovic” of Celtic music. Now, with Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, the Albuquerque-based musical gagman has taken his deft (and daft) talents where no Celtic laddie has gone before! A multi-faceted musician and gifted voice actor, Hawson breaks new creative ground in this two-volume comic misadventure with an array of off-beat characters, “Monty Pythonesque” sketches, unorthodox settings of Irish and Scottish melodies, and an intricate story line replete with egg-headed non-sequiturs and side-splitting banter. Destined to become an instant classic, Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow is a must have for everyone who enjoys the Celtic genre…and a good clean laugh.

Here’s a video os Steve Hawson (banjo) by the way when not doing comedy, Harlow Pinson plays the fiddle.:

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Huzzah!

More exciting things going on in the Celtic music scene and here they are:

Click the link to this video called Killiecrankie by The Picts (As The Court of Equity) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Kp590Ovsw

The Court of Equity is the acoustic alter-ego of Scottish folk rockers The Picts. The song Killiecrankie is the first track on their album ‘Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect’ The Songs and Poems of Robert Burns, Volume 1.

For more information about The Picts / The Court of Equity visit
http://www.picts.co.uk

Or Join The Picts on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thepicts?fre…

The Video was Directed by Greg Frielhttp://www.frielancemusic.co.uk

 

Steven Hawson: Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 1

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STEVEN HAWSON: Shamus and Steve's Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 1

 Winner:Clean and intelligent fun with Steven Hawson’s Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 1

1 – Top O’ Da Morning
2 – Here We Go, Amigo
3 – Only One Room Left
4 – The All-You-Can-Eat Celtic Buffet Sketch
5 – The Boyisshecrankie Sketch
6 – Hold the Mayo
7 – Rockabye Steve

For those who are in need of something informative but at the same time entertaining then I better introduce you to something I stumbled upon this weekend. The album is called Shamus and Steve’s Crazy Celtic Journey to Glasgow, Vol. 1. by Steven Hawson. It’s  an audio comedy presented the creator’s notable talent for voicing different characters. He also created an interesting plot that really works.

The main characters of this story are Steve and his twin brother Shamus. Steve plays an accordion while his twin plays the banjo. Steve works as a manager of a fish and chips store while Shamus is a free-spirited entomologist. Their personalities are complete opposites. Steve is uptight while Shamus is cocky and loves adventures. It’s Shamus who actually dares Steve to go on a road trip. The aim is to attend the first annual Glasgow Celtic music festival in  Montana, with hopes of playing on stage with the great musicians. I found myself drawn to the banter between the two.

Steve: What’s really amazing in how negative in effect your exiting the womb three minutes before I did has had in your personality-

Shamus:I am the older and wiser than the two of us. It’s not your fault really, I simply have three more minutes of life experience than you do. So you need to follow my lead. It’s a clan obligation!

I am sure you will enjoy the Steve and Shamus series. A volume two is coming very soon. Although this is Celtic culture project, the recording also celebrates the cultural diversity of  the United States. There are several references that point to the connection of the Celts to other cultures. This happens when they start their journey.

For example, there is a part that explains the  deep connection between Mexico and Ireland as Steve and Shamus stop to buy burritos from their Mexican friend. For the delicious Indian curry, it is explained how India is deeply connected to the Celts. A quick stop to buy Chinese food( The All-You-Can-Eat Celtic Buffet Sketch)  uncovers a Scottish Celtic ensemble based in China. History goes further as how the Celts reached the tropics  in the 10th century. This little known but significant history happened in March 17 1065 in Northern England(The Boyisshecrankie Sketch). Wait until you get to  Hold the Mayo where Steve pretends to be Irish in order to impress the motel residents only to find himself in embarrassing situations. The recording closes with both of them halfway through their journey. I can’t wait to get the volume 2 and find out if Steve really got to become an accordion superstar during the Celtic music fest. It remains to be seen. Bring on volume 2!

If you want clean and intelligent fun, then better keep Steven Hawson in your Celtic radar. He is the funny man with great love for Celtic history. Buy the album here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/stevenhawson2

Huzzah!

Now it is time to help out of Celtic musicians to make their projects come true and also to spread the word. Let’s do what we can to keep the spirit of Celtic music alive.

HELP MAXIM AND GERVAIS CORMIER MAKE AN ALBUM!! Watch the video and go to the indie gogo page for details.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-maxim-and-gervais-cormier-make-an-album

Promotional video by John Breen:

The Carnyx:An Ancient War Trumpet.

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thm_carnyx Imagine living with the Iron Age  Celts. Imagine hearing them taunt the Roman  soldiers with the strangest fear inducing sound. The Celts have always been known to use music  even in war. Music was not only for Bards but also for soldiers.

This is evident when an excavation unearthed one of the best finds of this century. And that’s through the discovery of this wind instrument called the carnyx.This link further explains the discovery. Some simplified details can be found here.

The video below shows how it’s being played.