I like first hand information on events as huge as The Celtic Connections. I have been watching uploads and news related to it. I also know who in my friend’s list are performing. It is great to see musicians come together in Glasgow every year to perform music together and even sit down and discuss about possible projects. It is a colorful environment as what my friend singer/songwriter Eve Williams noticed. It is teeming with great talents and you have to be your best when you perform there. No wonder it’s an event that continues to grow bigger each year.
There are notable names like Capercaillie, Lunasa and Moya Brennan who took part in the event.Celtic music artist Kyke Carey is there to record her new album. There are also artists who have just released their debut albums and they try to showcase their music. Eve recorded the event and posted a blog entry on her website. In this recording, she’s with guitarist Steven McKnight. Steven is definitely good! I like how Eve explains the history of every song. She doesn’t sound nervous and I sometimes joke to her that she would make a good music teacher. I am glad she carries every tune with minimal effort(considering the amount of people who are there)!
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!
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:
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.
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.
Sounds like: For fans of Anuna, Celtic Woman, Enya, Secret Garden and Loreena McKennitt
Tracks:
The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face/The Calling/Light Flight/Listen, Listen/The Songline To Home/Wayfaring Stranger/Sovay/Shenandoah/Once You Were My Lover/Glimmering Girl/Glasgow’s Burning/Black Is The Colour
Total time: 43.28
To be released on 26th August 2013
Released by:Warner Jazz
I am listening to The Calling by Méav (Full name Méav Ní Mhaolchatha)on a cloudy afternoon. The soothing and spiritual atmosphere of the album is a perfect getaway. The twelve tracks take you on a journey which very few artists can do these days. Her fusion of world, classical and traditional elements really work in this project. She also incorporated a few nods to the direction of folk and jazz which you can encounter as you listen along. This isn’t the same as the full-blown, up front arrangements of Celtic Woman (which she was part of from 2004 to 2007). This is more of an intimate record with lots of intricate details and rich arrangements.
The album resulted in the meeting between Méav and legendary producer Craig Leon in Abbey Road Studios, London while working together on the score of a space film in collaboration with NASA. They discovered the musical chemistry even in their different musical backgrounds ( pop and world music)and they also quickly realized that they shared a love of song-writing and ethnic music. The Calling is described as a contemporary pop treatment of new songs and folk classics from Ireland, England, Scotland, Brittany, Galicia and America.
The album opens with The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face which was originally pinned by Roberta Flack and won her Grammy’s record of the year in 1972. Méav gave a new sentiment to this song. Listen to how her voice sounds like she is imploring the forces of heaven around 2:25. Those high notes can get into your skin. I know because I got chills listening to that part.
In the title track The Calling, the choir voices are used to embellish the track which recalls the signature sound of Anuna. This is also the carrier single of the album. The video features a studio session and the blur-to-detail effects of the camera is impressive.
My personal favorites are Listen, Listen(for the melody), the title track(For the arrangement especially the choral parts), Wayfayring Stranger, Once You Were My Lover (which contains the melody of Breton song Tri Martolod), Glasgow’s Burning( for the percussion and traditional inclusion of Alasdair MacColla and Brian Boru’s March). The album closes with an interesting jazzy take on Black is the Color.
The Calling is perhaps the strongest solo effort of Méav. She is backed with amazing musicians. The generous amounts of spirituality and atmospheric beauty of this album promise to enthrall audience worldwide. Like she did when she was with Anuna, Celtic Woman and her solo albums.
Trivia: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was originally written by the Scottish singer Ewan McColl ( father of Kirsty) for Peggy Seeger- source of this info is Méav.
With five albums released and an amazing collection of tunes, I just feel that the Kilfenora Ceili Band is one of those underrated Ceili bands. Their gig calendar is busy as they have upcoming shows in Clare, Sligo, Limerick and Portmarnock up to May this year. Kilfenora was formed in 2009(the current lineup). It is composed of ten-piece band that features three fiddles (Anne Rynne, Pat Lynch and Annemarie McCormack), two flutes (Anthony Quigney and Garry Shannon), two sqeezeboxes Tim Collins and his wife, Claire Griffin), banjo and leader (John Lynch), drums (Sean Griffin) and piano (Fintan McMahon).
Kilfenora Ceili Band is under the leadership of John Lynch. Their forte is instrumental music with some harmony and a driving rhythm. They also have profitably collaborated with vocalists and invariably include a singer or two in concert.
What makes Kilfenora Ceili Band really interesting is the introduction of set dancers in their every performance. It’s like they have everything in one group because Irish music is really complete when it isn’t just about the playing of music but also the dancing. To be in their presence is an aurally and visually inspiring event!
You can also get the contact info of band leader John Lynch in case you need to have them booked for a show.
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Huzzah!
Welcome to our Friday edition. Yes our second article under this week’s featured artist Blair Dunlop. Don’t forget to check the links I wrote on the last article which was my interview with the singer/songwriter. This week is very inspiring as a lot of music was brought to my attention. And more to come.
Acoustic/Folk/Celtic artist Peter Daldry
First, I want to tell you about the artist Peter Daldry whom I wrote about before.
He is one of the names in the Independent Music Awards. He is nominated in the A Capella category for best performance of the song ” I Wish I Was in Glasgow ” He mentioned that he is overjoyed at this nomination as it is a world wide awards program which covers six continents! and one of the best online awards program for independent artists.
The judging process is twofold, a panel of industry judges decide on who wins, but there is also a Vox Pop award where the fans get to choose their favorite. It would be great to get the word out to the “Celtic” community to try and get some votes. Information on the awards can be viewed at his web site http://www.peterdaldry.com/ or his Facebook page or going to the Independent Music Awards page which explains how to register and vote.
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This video by Skilda was published October 4 2012. The Celtic influence withing their pop and electronic groves is unmistakeable. They are totally amazing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgD2tfbMAM
Check out this site where you can order music. It’s called Veteran Mail Order. It contains Irish traditional music and song in CDs & DVDs. http://www.veteran.ie/
There you have it folks. I was not feeling energetic for the past few days due to the busy situation at home. But I am sure I will be able to catch up.
Celtic Music Fan 