Beautiful song by Nancy Griffith done here by Frances Black.
Fundraising Concert
Guys, please don’t forger to check out Show for Sergio this Saturday. I read a little bio about his life and it tugged a chord in my heart. Kids like him need your tender loving care your support. We all live in burrowed time. Time to share the love. Here’s that the event says:
A fundraising Concert for little Sergio O’Connor who needs a life changing operation.
Featuring: Frances Black, Finbar Furey, John Sheehan and Barney McKenna from the Dubliners and friends, Na Casaidigh….
Doors open 7:30pm
Tickets available through www.ticketmaster.ie.
Today we are going to talk about passion. According to the English dictionary of synonyms, the very word also means: warmth, heart, ardour, fervor, rapture, ecstasy, intoxication, rapture, enthusiasm, gusto, eagerness etc. There are countless words that could mean the same thing. And of course we know that the antonyms of passion are apathy, indifference, coldness etc.
A friend used to say that the reason she finds musicians or people who are into music interesting is that these people have something that sets them apart from other. It could be because of how passionate they can get…
Now for the news…
I love listening to Connie Dover. I have listened to all of her recordings available and I have been passionate about her works since the 90s. She started her career fronting the Kansas based Blue Grass band Scartaglen in the 80s. From there she honed her skills into what would become her solo debut Somebody(Taylor Park) which resulted to positive reviews and a rave in the Scottish radio. I think her name stuck with me for the first time, while I was browsing through the pages of CD review back in 1991. And years later that music became a source of comfort for me when I was undergoing some troubling and lonely periods of my life.
Her pure and magical voice is undoubtedly unmatched by anyone in the business. Her materials are well-researched that span a thousand years. I also give her a high five for being the only American who is able to wield the songs of Early America with the traditional hymns of Ireland and the British Isles. Her recordings never fail and there featured a distinction between instruments used by guest musicians. From hammered dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, fiddle, concertina and other definitive instrument used in this type of music, each of the songs promises to entice and to wrap you up like fine silk.
Right now Connie continues to be active in the music and poetry scene. Two poems called Radio Crane Collage and Cavort (from her book of poetry Winter Count) are featured in her official myspace site) If you go to the National Public Radio website, there is an interview of Connie about her song I Am Going to the West (from Border of Heaven) and here’s the link: http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=102168188&m=102218501
She was also part of the 25th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, where she sang with her friend, Skip Gorman, and read a few poems. To view the event: http://cybercast.westernfolklife.org/2009/.
Here is an interesting blurb from her official myspace site:
Connie finds her inspiration in the landscapes, history and culture of the American West. When she is not performing, she works as a ranch cook in the beautiful country between Wyoming’s Wind River and Absaroka Mountains. She received the Grand Prize in the Western Folklife Center’s 2007 Yellowstone-Teton Song Contest and a 2007 Emmy Award for her soundtrack production of the PBS documentary “Bad Blood – The Border War that Triggered the Civil War”.
Her CDs (three were recorded in Scotland) show the close ties between the American folk and cowboy songs she sings around Wyoming campfires and their Celtic ancestors, and she has twice been a finalist for a Native American Music Award.
Listening to readings from the “Pit Poets” at Prospero’s Bookstore in Kansas City lit Connie’s literary fire, and her first book of poetry, Winter Count, was published in 2007. She is a recipient of the Speakeasy Prize in Poetry. Look for samples of her writing on her myspace blog.
Born in Arkansas and raised in Missouri, Connie is of English, Cherokee, Mexican and Scots/Irish descent. Her studies at Oxford University further enriched her unique perspective of the context of traditional songs. She has been a guest on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday and Sunday, A Prairie Home Companion, and Thistle and Shamrock. Acclaimed by the Boston Globe as “the finest folk ballad singer America has produced since Joan Baez”, Connie offers listeners a musical experience that transcends cultural boundaries and affirms our connection with the past.
Connie’s newest CD, The Holly and the Ivy (traditional Christmas songs and carols recorded with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra,) was released December 10, 2008. Her new digital-only release of “Amazing Grace” and “The Language of Flowers” is now available through CD Baby, itunes, emusic and other music download sites.
Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother, “The best way to know life is to love many things.”
Connie Dover and Skip Gorman — Full Moon Concert in the Dunes; an evening outdoor concert by the light of a full moon in White Sands’ beautiful natural amphitheatre; an intimate setting in the New Mexican desert – bring blankets or lawn chairs; http://www.nps.gov/whsa; contact: 575.679.2599
..Searching for a radio station which plays “Connie Dover” and
similar music ?
Check out radio “smorgasbord” – your internet
radio playing folk, Celtic, rock, metal & more.http://www.smorgasbord.at
Let the all girl band conquer the global arena of Irish traditional music, Liadan is here! Not only that they’re all pretty, they got original talent for clever arrangements, singing in harmony, and play traditional instruments at such a breakneck speed that destroys the myth that beauty and brains don’t go together. Liadan has proven to the world that traditional music is very much alive and kicking. We are assured, that there are still talents out there who will carry the torch lead by bands such as The Chieftains, Clannad, Cherish the Ladies, Altan and De Dannan in decades to come. From Galway and Limerick this inspiring all-female band comprises of six members: Síle Denvir, harpist; Deirdre Chawke, piano accordion; Elaine Cormican, whistles. Valerie Casey and Claire Dolan, fiddles; Catherine Clohessy, flute. Catch them perform in the following venues:
Don’t miss the big event at Leo’s Tavern this June 29th . SOS (Save our Scenery) is a benefit concert featuring Brian Kennedy and Frances Black. These are the two amazing voices of Ireland. The event is hosted by Leo Brennan’s daughter Moya Brennan whom we all know as the voice of Clannad and sister of Enya.
In music , improvement does not necessarily mean changing of sound. When you improve, you are simply polishing your style or progressing in the style you have already cultivated. What applies to restless disposable Pop music does not mostly apply to our musical culture. We adhere to tradition for its own sake. Tradition is all we have or else we will loose our credibility.
That is why it is funny when critics start to say something bad about artists who don’t change their sound. It also goes to show that whoever these critics are, they have a serious case of ADHD-always looking for a different sound or the shock value which has nothing to do with the technical aspect of music. Now I do have that kind of affliction, only that it is mild and CERTAINLY not with music which I write about!
These critics have no respect for the craft. And we know based on their reviews that they haven’t listened to the complete albums themselves (track by track and liner notes) to understand the intention of the artist behind. These critics are not here to preserve civilization or improve it. They want to ruin it-hastily, as an errant child would. And they get paid to do it.
But for us serious bloggers (who aren’t paid to write but write because we love to do it), we keep our jobs so we can do the things we love to do including blogging about music that really matters.
Now not to divert from the nature of this discussion, we might take into other forms or styles through time (as what Alan Stivell or Donal Lunny does), but it is through the instruments used, the guest players, and the definitive sound that this brand of music really shines with.
Oftentimes new artists bring something fresh to what is already there but we know that straying away from the bonds of what the music is defined(even teetering on top 40 radio fame) can sometimes compromise its integrity. And I don’t know about you but for me , that standard to which a music is defined as Celtic should not narrowly be based on its acoustic form-therefore ignoring the richness that electronic artists bring to the fold. After all, it not just music and style. It’s about sound and perception too. So everything has to be considered as long as it brings forth the spirit.
And now for the news….
If you want to hear the future of traditional music, then you better not miss Flaithrí Neff’s musical projects. From country Cork, Flaithrí was joined by Eoghan that form the Neff Bros, bringing together passionate and innovative playing of traditional tunes. In the early days, they were in a family band called ‘Teaghlach’, composed of researcher, composer and musician Flaithrí Neff (flaithrineff.com) and Eoghan . The duo is joined by parents Muireann (Marion) and Éibhear.
His latest project is Partholón. According to his site: recounts the gripping story of a mythological Sicilian prince in the ancient Irish text, LEBOR GABÁLA ÉRENN (The Book of Invasions). The 9-minute piece was performed with The Cork Youth Orchestra under the direction of Tomás McCarthy, Cork City Hall, April 25th, 2009www.myspace.com/neffbros .
Cited by Nanci Giffith as the sweetest voice of Ireland , Frances Black (Twice Winner of the“Best Irish Female” IRMA Award”) continues to charm audiences all over Ireland with her live performances and well-crafted recordings. Recently her own RISE foundation has achieved more accolades. Check out http://frances-black.net/news/news.htm for your source of the latest Frances black news and concerts. Her latest double CD album The Essential Frances Black can be purchased here Contact: Manager Brian Allen, E-mail:brianallen@ireland.com, Publicist Andrea Smith E-mail:francesblackpr@eircom.net.
Breton tradition is alive and well because of Dom Duff. I recently featured a link to his new single here (please use the search engine on the upper right to refer to old articles as well as names of artists you are looking for). Dom (voice, guitars, mandolin, bodhran) along with band members Nicola Hayes : violin, Dom Bott : electric & acoustic bass and David Seite : percussion; continue to bring innovation and grit to Breton tradition with their crafted recordings and live performances For an in depth look at his band and music , please refer to www.myspace.com/domduff and WWW.DOMDUFF.COM and the Interview I did for him.
One String Loose is a band from Caldicot Wales composed of five members: Scott McKeon on fiddle and banjo, Jack Stewart – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bodhran, Joe Brady – whistle, low whistle, flute, Baz Barwick – bass and Owen Emmanuel – drums. The band has been building reputation with their dynamic renditions of traditional and original materials. I myself was swept away upon hearing one of their songs for the first time. According to their site: One String Loose have always recognised that their style of music is deeply rooted in dance, and have sought to contemporise it with grooving rhythmic patterns from the bass and drums, intricate accompaniment from the guitar and foot stomping melodies from the fiddle and whistle. As a consequence, a gig that doesn’t get at least a substantial part of their audience up and shaking has now become a rarity. Sounds really awesome eh? They have cemented themselves as the who’s who in the music scene which according to the site: The past few years have been exceptional for One String Loose. The band reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, followed with a polished performance at the highly prestigious Glastonbury Festival on the Avalon Stage. Breath taking performances in Poland and France further cemented their popularity in Europe and plenty of gigs up and down the UK helped the band to progress to where they are now. More recently the band released their second studio album “KUMQUAT” which has been received superbly both by critics and fans. With that in mind, never go off your radar. You can catch them as they tour UK this July(the last happened this June 19): http://events.myspace.com/Event/3964511/The-Big-Session-Festival . More on www.myspace.com/onestringloose and http://www.onestringloose.com
If you haven’t got your copy of Honey and Holy Water by Oona McOuat yet, then don’t miss this jewel of an album. I have been listening to it back and forth for more than a month and I never get tired of it because it has been beautifully conceived and artfully crafted. Oona has the gift of mesmerizing melodies, a visionaries’ depth and a perchance for eclectic arrangements that truly mark this album’s strength. I have a lot of personal favorites including This is A Prayer and Sleepy Maggie but I am sure you will find your own. Listen to her and I am sure this I the kind of album that will get worn out after a lot of plays. Listen to www.myspace.com/oonamcouat, visit and buy the CD at www.oonamcouat.com. The Oona McOuat band: Oona: Harp and voice, Corbin Keep: cello, electric guitar and back up vocals. Richard Lee: sax, flute, clarinet, pennywhistle, recorder, guitar & back-up vocals and Chris Bertin: didgeridoo & percussion. I tell ya, the instruments speak for themselves!
The new video by Barleyjuice ‘Weekend Irish’ is now available for general viewing on on YouTube. The band’s latest album Bonny Prince Charles is now out. Original link is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUxhIAJYwWo I have been enjoying this video!
Celtic Music Fan 