Hello friends. New tunes are up plus more emphasis on Christmas music in my Celtic music show. As for the indie variety, I am featuring tunes from Radio Happy Music Compilation for the Haiyan/Yolanda Victims.
Visit www.celticmusicfan.com
Here’s another podcast for you as heard via www.radiohappy.eu yesterday. To those who are very dependent in their mobiles to listen to music, Mixcloud isn’t available on Windows phone yet. But if you are using an iphone ar an android device then this one works. All you need to do is download the mixcloud app from Google play and you are set to go. I am not sure if it works using a mobile browser but you can try.
I have not posted on Soundcloud because my paid account has run out so I need to give them another $25 so I can increase my usage. Not bad as long as they don’t block some of the songs I post there-which they do unfortunately. The same thing goes for Youtube. So these days I am only uploading my interviews with musicians that way I won’t receive comments about the songs I am including in the show. I have no issues with Mixcloud so I am using this as my primary medium of uploading my radio show.
The DJ mix is interesting as you will get to hear new bands and new music. An hour of great music! The show lasts an hour. It is divided into two sets. The first is about Celtic music and the next is indie variety. I know musicians from different genres so I need to have two sets to make sure I represent other genres other than Celtic music(which is the primary reason why I got into blogging and doing DJ work).
Also in this edition: Celtic Vampire novel Dark Dealings and Cherish the Ladies.
Celtic Music Fan asks Damien McCarron what it’s like to front a band called The Indulgers and to host a show called Mile High Celtic Hour.
They offer more than the rousing beats and electrical vibes. They are melodic and sophisticated musicians. The Indulgers play original Celtic Rock Music and they are synonymous with the word energy! So what type of sound(s) defines them?
They play Celtic/Western/Americana/Irish Rock music. They are based in Colorado USA, owing much of their music to the strong Irish/Scottish roots. Formed in 1998, the band are fronted by Damien McCarron who is originally from Dublin. He does the lead vocals and guitars. Now to go into specifics about their sound, think about it in terms of bands/solo artists like Waterboys, Horslips, Thin Lizzy, Christy Moore, Paul Brady, Spirit, Fleetwood Mac, Irish Trad and The Beatles.
The rest of the band are:
Mike Nile – Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Harmonica and Electronic Bagpipe Renee Fine – Fiddle/Violin Aaron Haywood – Bass Frannie (Cheech) Mannone – Drums
Guesting on occasion: Neale Heywood – Guitar Ryan Bunnell – Guitar
Damien McCarron also runs a show called The Mile High Celtic Hour (TradioV.com) which offers an hour of great Celtic tunes rockin’ or otherwise but never a dull moment! He always brings something new to every show and we will talk more of that here.
Damien joins me today for a quick chat. He is also our artist of the week!
I think the Indulgers are making music that lovers of melodic Celtic rock are looking for. What do you have in store for your listeners this 2013?
Hi Baxter,
I suppose I kind of have my hands full at the minute but I’m not alone as the Indulgers set out to release a new CD. There’s fourteen new songs and it’s more a collection than a concept CD although the theme of immigration does tend to seep into what I write with Mike. The track list includes both a softer side and some rockers.
Fast tunes or slow tunes: which one works best for you live?
The band feeds on energy but likes to change tempos and instrumentation throughout a show. There’s always time for a nice romantic styled song, but only just enough before we’d up the pace again. Each Indulger CD by tradition includes a instrumental piece featuring Renee on the fiddle and includes “fine” in the title, the lovely “Doin Fine” continues that aspect for this seventh album. The CD was mastered in LA by Howie Wineberg just this past week and will be ready to release in the next month or so.
We’re playing all these new songs live and in recent days rehearsing older material with a new arrangement or two, adding an little more electric guitar to the mix. Should be an interesting year with the new shiny CD at last. It’s been a little while since the last release, six years even, so hopefully folks remember our CD’s are a lifetime treasure and a must for every home.
You now have a weekly show called Mile High Celtic Hour and I always tune in because it is informative, fun and spontaneous. The video streaming is a great way to show music videos of the Celtic artists you are playing. How did MHCH came to be?
With Glen Hansard
The Mile High Celtic Hour was something I asked TardioV about hosting not too long after their launch. The concept of TV on the Net, streaming live from a real studio was something that I thought was brilliant. It’s also archived, which does no harm at all. The morning show host Matt Need endorsed the idea of Celtic Hour with the producer Trevor O’Connor. Matt comes form FM radio background and I had been a guest a few times on his previous FM show. Initially the producer had ,been looking for a country music host, so I pitched my idea.
What can we expect happening to MHCH in months to come?
We’re ten weeks into the show, well ten episodes, it’s a hour long and allows me to cover the Celtic music genre all the way to the edges and back, having guests is a fun aspect, and one guest the Celtic Caterer will continue to join us now and then as a running segment. Last show he lit a hogmanay cake on fire. Not the normal is likely what we’ll look for, but staying within the confines of the Celtic culture in general.
Can you tell us about your upcoming playlist on the show?
I’ve no idea what the next playlist for the show will be, it’s an ongoing dig of all thing’s I come across and think, that’s pretty show like, there is no overall plan, except to be aware of the theme that might expose itself as I try to capture good content. I’d imagine I might get a better plan as I settle into the idea that every Thursday morning it’s a blank sheet.
You came from Ireland. How has Irish American music changed so far since you first arrived?
I’m twenty years in America, so the music has changed. In Celtic circles the genre is multi-layered in a way that’s so far from the purity of the past it’s not even talked about anymore. Celtic rock has established itself as a genre gaining slots in major festivals where as back in 1998 that was “never going to happen”. At the same time there’s also a huge amount of “punk” ballad/cover bands now too which seem to have replaced the actual solo ballad singer in the pubs. Session music in Colorado is at the strongest it’s ever been and I think it’s fair to say every band is touring so there’s more to see than ever too.
It’s all good.
From the state of Colorado, The Indulgers with a new song “The Cure”. “Won’t you try a taste of medicine” The legalization of MMJ has led to many a new store front. So here’s a few to the sounds of a new song.
For a limited time—DARK DEALINGS is on sale for $0.99 for Kindle! This is until end of year. Yes I read the book and I really love the story! I asked author Karen Victoria Smith about the sequel and she hopes to have next book ready for May release next year. For those who don’t know yet, this is a great read. The first of its kind. I have been searching for years for a story that will bridge my love for vampires and Celtic culture and Dark Dealings and its upcoming follow up revolve around these themes.
Featured Video: Cherish the Ladies, Celtic Christmas medley with Irish Dancing
They are part of the amazing album Together for Christmas(Various artists).
Members of the Celtic band “Cherish the Ladies” perform a medley of Celtic Christmas tunes live in the witf Performance Studio, with Irish dancing by Michael Holland, 2-time All-Ireland National Champion Irish Dancer.
Clockwise from the top: WB Yeats, Gavin Moore, Cherish the Ladies, Flook and Minton Sparks
I am currently reading Irish Fairy and Folk Tales edited and selected by William Butler Yeats. It is a nice old book and a great literary source of all things Irish. There are so many talents out there. We have only tapped a small scale. But we will continue to do so. I will make sure to get them for you-only the best that our musical culture can provide!
The memory of WB Yeats continues to resurface these days in the music scene. One band, The Waterboys is responsible for it (Please refer to yesterday’s post). According to his bio: Born into the Anglo-Irish landowning class, Yeats became involved with the Celtic Revival, a movement against the cultural influences of English rule in Ireland during the Victorian period, which sought to promote the spirit of Ireland’s native heritage. Though Yeats never learned Gaelic himself, his writing at the turn of the century drew extensively from sources in Irish mythology and folklore. There is a page in MySpace dedicated to this unforgettable Irish poet www.myspace.com/wyeats . ……………..Gavin Moore created an album of breezy atmosphere, moving melodies and delightful lyrics in his latest independent release Tonnta. According to his website: His new record ‘Tonnta’, forged in the magical countryside of West Cork, is a beautiful atmospheric combination of folk rock & traditional Irish influence, which makes assured steps into musical territory as yet uncharted, surfing the crest of a secret wave somewhere between Jack Johnson and Iarla Ó Lionáird… Dates for the album launching of Tonnta will start in September this year. More info at www.myspace.com/mooregavin and www.gavinmoore.com.………………..After 25 years in the recording industry, Cherish the Ladies still continue to be in the forefront of Irish traditional music. With Albums receiving rave reviews (including “A Star In The East (Christmas Album)”, The all women band are composed of JOANIE MADDEN: Whistles, Flutes, harmony vocals MARY COOGAN: Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo MIRELLA MURRAY: Accordion ROISIN DILLON: Fiddle KATHLEEN BOYLE: Piano, harmony vocals MICHELLE BURKE: Lead Vocals. Quotes Billy Altman of The New York Daily News “Cherish the Ladies is one of the foremost Irish traditional music groups in the world.” You will catch them while they’re on tour for the rest of July in the following venues: 07/10/10
Springfield, OH – Springfield Arts Summer Concert Series www.springfieldartscouncil.org/summer-arts-festival.htm
www.cherishtheladies.com and www.myspace.com/cherishtheladies …………………English band Flook are now in facebook. After 13 years of making music together, the band decided to take a rest but will keep fans updated for future projects. You can listen to Flook via www.myspace.com/2flutes and buy their three albums Haven, Rubai and Flatfish by visiting http://www.flook.co.uk/ and yes add them in facebook…………Now for some country music with an Irish tint, singer/songwriter Minton Sparks fromNashville, Tennessee continues to dazzle audiences with her musical storytelling in the tradition of James Joyce and Jack Kerouac. In her latest effort Open Casket(Rural Records), she is backed by guitarist John Jackson, blues pianist Steve Conn, guitar and mandolin virtuoso Pat Flynn and special guest, Irish singing sensation, Maura O’Connell. Youcan also get the latest Minton Sparks news via facebook. Read her blog and listen to her songs at www.myspace.com/mintonsparks and http://www.mintonsparks.com . For latest appearances here are the dates :
June 13
Nashville, Tennessee Live Album Recording at the Station Inn!
3:00 pm
For more information, click here.
June 24
Peebles, Ohio Hope Springs Institute’s International Peace Gathering
Time TBA
For more information, click here.
July 15 – 18
Peebles, Ohio Hope Springs Institute’s International Women’s Poetry & Performance Retreat
Time TBA
For more information, click here.
September 13 – 19
Jonesborough, Tennessee Teller in Residence at the National Storytelling Festival
For more information, click here.
October 1
Jonesborough, Tennessee Midnight Cabaret at the International Storytelling Center
10:30 p.m.
For more information, click here.
October 29
Crossville, Tennessee The Crossville Arts Council
Time TBA
For more information, click here.
November 4
Madison, KY
Time & Venue TBA…………..Don’t forget the exciting duo The Gypsy Nomads. Please check out the article and interview I did for them on June 3rd. Hear them as they make beautiful music in the following venues this month:
……………Canadian singer composer Loreena McKennitt recently made a public statement about Bill C-32 (An Act to amend the Copyright Act).
“I am happy that Canada has joined the many other nations who have recognized that copyright protection in the 21st century is essential to cultivating and protecting the various creative industries of music, film, games, publishing and architecture, to name a few.”
“The digital age is one with many opportunities, but it is a trans-border global phenomenon that requires co-operation and harmony to achieve benefits for humanity. Respect for intellectual property, individual privacy and cultural sensitivity must be paramount alongside clear harmonized regulation. In this way, predictable economic business models can work.”
…………… Tomorrow I will be highlighting music venues that you might want to check out after a long day. If you have news feel free to email them to me. I will credit it accordingly or link it to your site.
In the spirit of WB Yeats, here’s Loreena McKennitt singing The Two Trees (Poetry of Yeats set into Loreena’s music) from the album The Mask and the Mirror (Quinlan Road 1994).
Celtic Music Fan 