Ireland

Deep is the Well by Kevin O’Donnell.

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Deep is the Well

Artist: Kevin O’Donnell

Album: Deep is the Well

Players: Jim DeWan, Finbar Furey, Larry Gray, Kathleen Keane, Bill Lanphier, Maurice Lennon, Haley O’Donnell, John Rice, John William, and Jessica Willis

Style: Irish Country, Americana

Tracks:

  • A Letter Home
  • When I Was Young
  • Factory Girl
  • Downtowner Motel
  • Girl from Durango
  • Illinois & Michigan Canal
  • Camp-Farm Road
  • Rusted Dreams
  • She
  • The Ballad of Jackie Ryan Fagan
  • Saint Malachy’s Waltz

There are recordings that accomplish the purpose of entertaining. There are those that serve to tell. Deep is the Well by Kevin O’Donell accomplishes both of these aspects. The album reads like a biographical book as it explores the lives of Irish immigrants to the United States. Those who are fascinated by Irish history and the American Antebellum period will take this album close to heart as any jewels uncovered from the treasure chest.

The album starts with A Letter Home . The spoken letter takes us back to the sentiments of someone sending a message to those close to the heart more than a century ago. There is something poignant and also I sometimes feel the hair on my skin stand as I realize that that the owner has been dead  a long time ago. To uncover these intimate details about another person’s life long after he or she is dead is such a fascinating thing.

Factory Girl is the promotional single which is available online. It’s a story of Mary Helen Dougherty (1879-1918)

Born a blue-collar daughter in an old river town,

where the slow-rolling water from the prairie run down

the bend of the river is the edge of her world,

there’s no place it seems for the modest of dreams of a Factory Girl…

Makes you want to find out more right? There are more vibrant lives through the liner notes of Deep is the Well.

The rest of the album play like old pages with the breath of freshness. Something like old pages smelling of tobacco, dust and the lives exposed to it. The music is lush, vibrant but unhurried. It is a story teller’s album. The intention is to tell you something with the accompaniment of music. The spotlight is on the lyrics, although the musical depth and richness are always present. Cellos, viola, acoustic guitar, dobro and other beautiful sounds embellish this album.

Kevin O’Donnell has a resonant and expressive voice that can appeal to any genre. The production is crisp, clear and bright. Appreciation also goes to the album packaging. That cover artwork is a piece of eye candy.

Inspiration (at least the great ones) always comes from something deep. Something that’s steeped in history and the passionate lives led by people who handed out their legacy to us through books and songs. This is what I found in Deep is the Well. It’s an album that’s focused on something that is lasting. It speaks of feelings across time, and the wisdom comes with age and experiences.

Do you recall how  older relatives tell us how life was harder and how they struggled to make ends meet. I realize how everything comes easy now, in this age of instant gratification. How we get spoiled and would like everything to happen when we want it. They struggled and fought just to get us where we are now. It isn’t hard to acknowledge all the sweat and blood that paved way for something like a generation of the free. It’s the very sentiment that’s found in Deep is the Well. Just acknowledging and not forgetting , I think is enough for those who came before us.

I recommend this album to people who are fond of history and ballads. You will get so much out of Deep is the Well, not just musically but something to feel your soul.

About Kevin

Singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and published author: these are the distinctive hallmarks of Kevin O’Donnell’s public career. He is affectionately called “uncle tunes” among his family and close circle of musician friends, and is more broadly recognized in Chicago music circles as the founder and front man for the Irish-American folk group Arranmore.

Kevin’s commercial success as a songwriter dates back to the 1986 release of Island Home. He has frequently been compared to such writers as Gordon Lightfoot, Cheryl Wheeler, and Bill Staines. Americana and folk artists have recorded his early works and his historically based compositions have been featured in television documentaries both in the USA and Ireland.  Under Kevin’s leadership and direction Arranmore attained musical success in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Kevin traded concert stages for theatrical stages in 2000, performing with the prestigious Racine Theatre Guild, playing leading roles in several plays including Twelve Angry Men, The Sensuous Senator, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Flowers for Algernon, and Neil Simon’s, I Ought To Be In Pictures.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/deepisthewell

https://twitter.com/DeepIsTheWell

***

Huzzah!

Hi friends. Sunday edition comes too soon. That’s because this week is really hectic for me. And this is a good kind of busy because it’s all about music and writing projects. I hope your Sunday is being spent wisely: more naps and music. Yes those are good things. Anyway what you will meet below are links to what’s hot today. At least these are the things that people are talking about. So let me start:

An event for  Battlefield Band:

“A warm welcome back to Scotland’s BATTLEFIELD BAND Thursday April 11th. This a a fundraiser for NC Chapter of Leukemia and Lymphoma. We hope you will come out and support the event . Local Celtic Musician James Olin starts of the evening at 7pm with a 45 minute set of Celtic Music, Award Winning Wake & District Pipes & Drums open for ” The Battlefield band. Tickets are $8 in advance on ticketleap.com. or $10 at Door. Great Raffle Prizes plus brilliant Scottish Dinner special will make this salute to Tartan Day a great Celtic event. Please call 919 833-7795 to reserve seats stage side for dinner.”-Tir Na NOg Annie

Here’s the amazing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDiVyra7jd0&feature=share

Whoa! The Edinburgh International Harp Festival

Wow if you are in the area better check this out. It’s filled with amazing artists. According to Corrina Hewat:

“A good day! And tomorrow will be even better as the CH Band are playing. Me and Fraser Fifield Alyn Cosker Tom Lyne Dave Milligan Woop. I suppose the sensible thing to do would be to create an event and invite you all, but on the other hand, I could just catch up with friends, hear harpy goings on and not be in front of the computer. I choose the latter!”

Wild Irish Poet

Photo from Wild Irish Poet

Spring has Sprung in Ireland: Our featured artist Alan Cooke, The Wild Irish Poet this week has posted this photo of the sunny Ireland today. It looks like the sun is finally here to stay!

Truth and Dare:The Wild Irish Poet (a.k.a. Alan Cooke) Interview .

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Alan Cooke

Alan Cooke. a.k.a.  is an Emmy-winning actor/poet/novelist who just released his literary piece called Naked in New York. The book is the  result of his experiences, when he embarked on a journey to New York city just after the 9/11. He has acted and written since the 90s and then one day he just decided to leave it all behind and take a plunge into the unknown.

Naked in New York is a coming of age for the soul. He mentioned to me in one of our conversations that if he put all of his experiences in New York on text, then it would have taken him more than a thousand pages. This is a book of poetic beauty that flows in abundance through the pages. There are moments of pure illumination amidst the harsh realities in which he describes without sugar-coating. The poetry of his ideas are implied rather than expressed. And it is through one’s poetic soul that the beauty of his experiences is revealed.

This interview is kind of amusing. I have told him to hurry with the interview and not be distracted by other topics. We were doing a sort of dare. If you’ve followed one of his radio interviews, you will realize that he has an ample sense of humor.

“Ok last time give me those questions. I’ll do them right NOW.” The zeal of an Irishman! So we started with the interview.

“Hold on.” I was sifting through my original questions.

“Hurry up.” I was imagining him with that cocky smile at the other side of the monitor. And we started.

Alan with the release of Naked in New York, what do you plan to accomplish personally?

Well this is the first of three books. Naked in New York is a debut. I would like to go to New York this summer and read and promote the book if possible.

You have done stage and acting and I know your are very musically inclined. Any plans to dipping your vocal chords into an EP devoted to Irish music in the future?

Click to enlarge

I doubt it. I adore music. I adore the sounds of Ireland and the breath and depth of musicians. I do have a strong singing voice but I might make my own single one day . I like to try out new mediums who knows..

How do you feel about the reception towards Naked in New York?

Well whomever has read it has been very moved in many ways. But the promotional aspect I find exhausting. It is way more difficult than writing the book I have to admit. But then it only takes one piece of media coverage or the right person to read the book to bring it to a much larger audience.

Are you planning to do a sort of book tour in a form of public readings in the US?

I would love to yes. I am a performer. I am an orator. I am not a writer hiding out. I love to be in the world. In front of people speaking my words. I like to try and transform a room with the connection between teller and listener. That is the crux of all art.

You have upcoming projects. Can you give us an update on them?

Well as I said, I have two other books. The Spirit of Ireland and Jack Tully and the Midnight Killer. I hope to release both of them this spring. One must keep creating. Keep the candle burning in the midst of dark times. Someone out there could be moved or changed by your work. So I try never to give up.

You often discuss this light and dark contrast in the Irish psyche which is also the focus of your thriller Jack Tully and the Midnight killer. What do you think in brief paragraph, might have caused this phenomena?

Our history. Our colonization. Our religious repression. We are a mythic native culture at our root base. We are powerful poetic and magical in a sense. Our previous overlords knew this and crushed and starved and enslaved us for hundreds of years. So although we have a gift still in our Celtic souls, it is split I believe. At one side is a beauty for poetry and laughter and lightness. On the other is self loathing, self-destruction and hatred of our identity. You see it in the drink culture and the low expectations and learned helplessness that is very dominant here. So I like to explore that in my writing. But I think soon the Irish will rise into the full version of themselves again. Into the colour light and beauty of their own soul. They need to see and explore the myths. They need to cast out shame and sadness and realize we are powerful. Self love is the key. This landscape is filled with such amazing magic and depth. We only have to walk into it and say I AM.

Click to enlarge

Tell me more about your spoken words via youtube. You have released 3 so far right? What inspires you to make those?
Well I am an actor who hasn’t acted in quite a while. So my narrations are really my way of exploring my performance and my writing together. Both are intrinsically linked. The power of voice and the word is such a potent force when used for good. That is why I try and make these videos to combat so much destructive messages in the media.

I am curious what you have in your music player right now. Can you give me at least five Irish albums you are listening to?

Oh.. ! Well not many. I like the old U2 Albums when they were less concerned about massive profit and more about art. I like Thin Lizzy and also a lot of Uileann Pipe players. I love the Dubliners and Luke Kelly. I need to listen to more music again. !

You mentioned once that the book is a distilled version of what really happened in New York. If you’ve decided to write the story as is, it would have taken you a thousand pages. But as you mentioned, it’s more like an ‘art writing’ but also autobiographical. How did you decide which scenes in your life made it to the book and what didn’t and why?

It flowed in a certain rhythm. It was more an exploration of my feelings related to the experience than the actual experience if that makes sense. All reality is subjective. All magic or true experience is blended at times. I needed a certain level of discernment and trust of my gift to allow the flow to happen. What seemed important at the time of my journey became oddly trivial and then what seemed like an innocent road or a tiny moment became this momentous occasion in the book. I guess it is all perspective. There is no real truths only that which is your feeling of what you believed at the time. New york was such an overwhelming environment that I can only conclude my writing ultimately helped me undo the knots in my soul from the experience.

Let’s do another plug here. Where can they buy your book and the various formats that they can buy of naked in New York?

Well if they go to www.wildirishpoet.com they can buy the audio version of the book. If they go to www.amazon.com/author/wildirishpoet they can guy the kindle version .

Cat:”She is a godless. She is my familiar. Very very special. deeply intelligent and been through it all with me from New York to here.”
Click to enlarge.

Three more questions.

I’ll kill you.

Work it.

What is your idea of a good Irish holiday Alan?

Roaming the west in a car. Going to Kerry, Cork, Connemara. The wild ragged west of Ireland with the people, the food and hopefully in the summer. The long evenings and the sunsets and the magic of animals and mountains. It is all there in the very substance of every tree and river and in the eyes of the old people here. Magic in Ireland will never die.

So …what do you think? Should we stop here? Do you want 10 more questions?

No that’s enough let it roll. Off to do yoga in my house and weights, then porridge.

Copyright 2012 – Alan Cooke and Wild Poet Films. All footage is copyrighted. His Blog: www.wildirishpoet.blogspot.com
Buy the book on http://www.wildirishpoet.com on Audio release soon. Email to order your copy : wildpoetfilms@gmail.com

***

Huzzah!

It is another interesting week for our featured artist edition. We have Alan Cooke above and also links in this column that you should check out because they are interesting! There are things that are yet to happen which will be revealed through my conversation with an artist. Yes, you will get an idea how I talk regularly.

Here’s the fifth teaser for the Kevin O’ Donnell album:

Kevin O'Donnell

Kevin O’Donnell

The Album Release

DEEP IS THE WELL will be released and available online Friday, May 3rd for purchase from iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. A music video for the first single “Factory Girl” will be launched April 16th. Stay tuned for Album Release Events scheduled for May in the Chicagoland area, which will feature many of the guest artists on the album. More at www.deepisthewell.com.

Here’s the latest post from the Saw Doctors fan page: Later this year we are hoping to publish a book featuring 100 songs of The Saw Doctors. We will post a song each day as we reveal the 100.

We are looking for any photographs, stories or memories related to each of the songs for inclusion in the book. So let us know if you have a suggested contribution in the comments section.

Song #1 has to be the first song on our first album and also our first number 1 single 🙂

All 100 songs are available for download on iTunes and on CD from http://shop.sawdoctors/. And here’s the video: ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRJ5CG_jIs

Eve Williams

Eve Williams

Check this track by Eve Williams. According to Eve: “It’s a song called Miranda based on the Tempest by myself, Andrew Price and Stuart Revnell. Stuart produced the song and he put a lot of work into the vocals.”

More at http://www.evewilliamsmusic.com/

Jenne Lennon

Jenne Lennon
Click to enlarge.

A Brief conversation with Singer/Songwriter, Writer, Composer, and Native American Rights Activist Jenne Lennon.

How are you Baxter? Its been ages……

I know Jenne but it is timeless in Celticland so it only seems like yesterday the vibes are still the same if you have anything you want me to post let me know id be happy to post it.

oh thank you! yes, a lot going on here. We signed with San Juan records and such. But, I was thinking of you. Last we talked you were feeling down. Are your spirits any better? New year….new energies…

Yes it is Jenne. Just like trees everything has its season. This is spring lol  

That’s good news! It is, although in chicago, today was our first day of sunshine and relatively warm weather. By warm I mean 45 F compared to -2 F!

Oh ok. Yeah brrrrrrr haha. Here it is the start of summer in the Philippines so it is getting hot. Kind of silent around due to the lent.

Absolutely. But this amazing city is making up for it. Incredible Celtic music here. A bit of a world music resurgence going on now.
Yes, I imagine it is silent due to lent. I am jealous of the weather though, my best friend who is Filipino told me not to be so jealous as its very humid there, hehe!

You will get one too. In a couple of weeks. Yeah! humid indeed haha. I am doing my blogging outside where there’s moving air and birds…flowers etc

Hehe….I hope so. Although our summers are very hard and humid as well. My ancestors were not cut out for it. I am Irish after all…..I can’t take strong heat or cold.That sounds lovely! what time is it there?

Yeah I can imagine it must be hard for northern skins. Here it is 10 am.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aww1/2013/03/27/alan-cooke-irish-emmy-winning-writer-actor-filmmaker  Listening to the wild Irish poet.

Nice! It’s 9:00 p.m. here. Are we 11 hours apart? Thanks for the link!

Yeah 11 hours.

But, this summer I will be in South Africa, which it will be winter then hehe.

In which I asked her about Shishonnah and a possible online interview.

Oh, great! I would love to talk to you about Shishonnah and the work I am doing in South Africa. I’ve started working with the Chicago Childrens choir and it has completely changed my life. My dream is coming true to go to South Africa this summer if I can manage to raise the funds….

Ok. So info is just in your site right? I can just go there and read. I just want to make sure I am asking relevant questions.

Sure. Or, you can ask me anything you like. I can update you about anything. But, yes, the south African stuff is all on the site. Except for my work with The Chicago children’s choir (who you HAVE to check out) very famous. You would love their stuff

Ok. I would like an update on the Chicago children’s choir. I can just study the south African thing on your site.

Yes, anything you’d like that organization really changed my life. Its been incredible. I will be touring with one of the choirs next month and they will be singing my arrangement of “siuil a ruin” and I’ll be a guest soloist. Too cool! And how are things with you? How is the blog?

I told her about the subscribers have increased and I am introducing changes to the blog. We chatted for a few more minutes before we said goodbye and will be talking again soon.

About Jenne

Site maintained by Glencoe Records and Healing Sun Productions. This is a promotional page for Singer/Songwriter, Writer, Composer, and Native American Rights Activist Jenne Lennon. One half of the World Fusion duo Shishonnah, Creator and owner Glencoe Records, an indie world music label.
www.glencoerecords.com
www.jennelennon.com
www.shishonnah.com
Congratulations Dónal McCague!
Dónal McCague

Matt Molloy ag bronnadh gradam Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana -Young Musician of the Year ar Dónal McCague Click for details.

 

Réalta:The Brevity and Grace of the Irish Spirit.

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Realta:Aaron O'Hagan (Uilleann pipes, Flute, Whistles, Bodhran)Conor Lamb (Uilleann pipes, Whistles)Deirdre Galway ( Guitar, Bouzouki, Concertina)

Realta:

Style: Irish traditional

Members: Aaron O’Hagan (Uilleann pipes, Flute, Whistles, Bodhran)
Conor Lamb (Uilleann pipes, Whistles)
Deirdre Galway ( Guitar, Bouzouki, Concertina)

Golden melodies and shimmering sounds: these are the things that make Réalta a joy to listen to. No frills or effects. Just straight ahead traditional tunes but with undeniable freshness. Picture the sight of  flowers blooming in spring. They play tunes that’s moving yet also capable of being unobtrusive. This is exactly the main ingredient in recordings that stand the test of time. Which calls to mind the term: less is more.

This trio from Belfast are made up of Aaron O’Hagan (Uilleann pipes, Flute, Whistles, Bodhran), Conor Lamb (Uilleann pipes, Whistles) and Deirdre Galway( Guitar, Bouzouki, Concertina). Dierdre sings in that Janis Ian meets Judy Collins style. That’s the closest comparison I can give you because it is hard to categorize her voice. It sounds soft to fit folk but there’s also something kind of hippie to it. You be the judge but that’s my observation.

Fact: Celtic music is mood enhancer.  Something in  Patsy Tohey’s-The Exile’s Jig, reminds me of riding long distance, and that is the soundtrack. I love the bouzouki. It sounds like honey dipped with sunlight. The guitar strums are wispy. It is balanced by the round sound of the wooden flute. The uilleann pipes have this silver metallic crispness. If you are into instrumental music then Réalta should be in your priority list.

I like the way Sliabh Gael gCua (air) creates that floating sensation. We live  in a generation dominated by fast tracks. It gets too much sometimes. Slow tunes are awesome. I like an album that not only shows off acrobatic sounds but also lifts one’s soul with its slow airs.

Réalta creates impeccable arrangements. The Galtee has the kind of  tightness that’s comparable to a thread going through the needle. Réalta celebrates the ecstatic spirit of Irish music in its brevity and grace.

Bio:

This Belfast based musical trio bring with them the intricate melodies and driving rhythms that make Irish music so loved throughout the world. While Conor and Aaron pursue the melody on dual uilleann pipes, whistles and flute, Deirdre explores the harmony and rhythms within the tunes through a dynamic accompaniment on guitar.

These three young musicians take a lively yet respectful approach to traditional music and have already established themselves on the Irish music scene. Between them, they have performed with a variety of established bands including Craobh Rua and Killultagh. Their experience includes venues and festivals such as The Smithsonian Folklife Festival (Washington), Festival Interceltico Accidente (Asturias), Alkmaar Irish Music Festival and Mulligan’s (The Netherlands), Randers Ugen (Denmark), Le Bono Folk Festival (Brittany), Tok Trad Festival (France), Girvan Folk Festival and Moniaive Folk Festival (Scotland), The Open House Festival (Belfast) and The William Kennedy Piping Festival (Armagh).

http://www.realtamusic.com

https://www.facebook.com/realtamusic

***

Huzzah!

How are you? I am just enjoying the peaceful Easter Saturday tuning in to CRC FM  based in Castlebar, Ireland. My big thank you to Denis Charlton for playing my request. The song is called In a Lifetime by Bono and Clannad. Life is beautiful when there are sweet tunes around. Music makes the world go round. And where there is music, magic happens. My big thanks to my friend Damien McCarron for recommending the station to me. You know he has recommended a LOT to me and they contribute to my ideas.

Lúnasa

Lúnasa

I wrote an essay about Lunasa in Expats Post earlier today. It’s one of the online magazine where I act as a music contributor. Here’s a little excerpt: My first introduction to the fabulous music of Lúnasa was through their second album Otherworld. The marriage of deep, tempestuous colors to the  serene patterns of water in the album artwork conveys the deep connection of Irish music to the spiritual world. In the tradition that spans thousands of years, the passion and love for immortality is embodied in the melodies that explains the visual symmetry of the Celtic artwork. READ MORE.

Kevin O'Donnell

Kevin O’Donnell

Here’s the fourth teaser for the Kevin O’ Donnell album:

Making of

Kevin returned to the studio in 2012 when Maurice Lennon, of Stockton’s Wing, agreed to produce an album of Kevin’s material. Kevin and Maurice eventually settled on ten original songs for the project. Some were pulled from the drawer; while others – previously recorded by Kevin in the ‘80s and ‘90s – were retooled, rearranged, and in some cases, completely rewritten. The project inspired Maurice to write an original tune (A Letter Home) that serves as a prelude to the album.

More at: www.deepisthewell.com.

John Breen

John Breen

Easter Lily -by John Breen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjwR88_So7I is a perfect track today. The song has that warmness and down to Earth appeal that becomes a great tune to sing along with. Here’s the background:

Easter Lily recorded by John Breen and written by Brendan Phelan whose credits also include the hit Ballad’ Dublin in my Tears. This song is written about James Connolly’s wife Lillie Connolly who was originally from County Wicklow Ireland the same county as John Breen himself. James Connolly was a leader during the 1916 rising, having joined his workers army (the Citizen army) with the IRA to strike a blow for Irish independence and Socialism. James was murdered by the Brittish army for his part in the Easter Rising. He is an Iconic figure in Irish republicanism and indeed socialism globally. Lillie was from the Beautiful village in the east of County called Rathnew. James Connolly and Lillie nee Reynolds had seven children together, one of whom died tragically in a House fire. John Breen performs this with Steven Collins backing him on mandolin, banjo, vocals and bass guitar in what is their first recording together. The beginning of many more recordings to come…watch this space.
https://www.facebook.com/JohnBreen2u
https://www.facebook.com/JohnBreen2u?…

Dalla

Dalla

Been a while since I last heard about Cornish band Dalla. A new video has been uploaded. This is part of the Scilly Folk Festival and I thought you might want to get a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvXvpw_MrVg&feature=youtu.be

And some interesting pages….

Enda Seery: the “Síocháin na Tuaithe” Interview

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Recording for Síocháin na Tuaithe

Recording for Síocháin na Tuaithe: Black Rose Studio

Enda Seery(Éanna Ó Saoraí) is releasing his sophomore album Síocháin na Tuaithe which means Peace of the Countryside in English. The album is traditional but with added ingredients that incorporate a bigger “Celtic” sound. We can take this interview as a sort of a closer look into the process of creating an album. And there are many challenges when one is doing it independently. So it is quite interesting to learn something from someone who spent a great deal of time polishing the album and working with the best musicians in the field.

Your new album is going to be released this April. Are you nervous, happy…excited?

I suppose I’m nervous, happy, excited all of those. In all honesty, I’m very satisfied with how the album turned out. It’s a much more varied and detailed album than the first album “The Winding Clock”. I’m a little bit nervous of how people will react to my vocals and flute playing but I think if one wasn’t nervous there would be something wrong! I’m really excited about the launches that will take place around Ireland with three planned and maybe one more.

You laboured with the tracks for months. You even sang vocals. What are other new things that listeners can expect on Peace of the Countryside?

Yes I did labor with the tracks for months. I like to get things right and the way I want it. As I stated “Síocháin na Tuaithe” is a little different than “The Winding Clock” whistle album. As well as the vocal tracks, listeners can expect flute tracks too. Also there are some duet tracks on the album. One track is a flute/fiddle duet with myself and James Hughes from Co. Offaly and another is a whistle duet with myself and Eoghan MacAogáin from Limerick accompanied by Tom Delany on guitar with a French/Irish family background.

What were the challenges in conceiving the second album that was not present in the first?

Well the challenges were taking the feedback on board from the first album and trying to put them in place for the second. I took the constructive criticism on board with the duet tracks, flute tracks and vocal tracks. Not to sound big-headed, but my repertoire of tunes has greatly increased in the last few years, so it was a major challenge trying to pick out suitable tunes for certain tracks. I got some brilliant tunes on the Masters course in Traditional Irish Music Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

 Any expectation upon the release?

My expectations would be higher this time round. I’m now a full-time traditional Irish musician, composer and teacher so as I said in the sleeve notes introduction, “music is now my life”. That’s why I’m a having a mini-tour of launches this summer. I want to promote the album to as wide an audience as possible. I also have the expectation and hope that my compositions will gain further recognition. I love composing and I especially love mixing my own tunes with older tunes and other recent compositions of others.

What are the memorable moments in the studio working with other artists in this one?

Yeh a few funny and happy memories alright. As well as recording most of the album again with Rob Laird at Black Rose Studios, Kilcock, Co. Kildare, I also recorded two tracks at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. I had great fun recording with James Hughes, Eoghan MacAogáin and Tom Delany. James and I were surprised how well the flute/fiddle track came out considering we had been out late the night before! We also had a quite unusual set-up for the microphones in the studio which I won’t go into too much detail about!I enjoyed working with John Byrne on guitar again. He was calling me “one take Seery” after getting a recording take in one go! Some really accomplished and intricate guitar playing from John on the album.

What instruments and brands did you use in recording Peace of the Countryside?

Well I rarely record and perform without my trusted John Sindt whistles these days. I absolutely love them. I have four: D, Eb, C, Bb. They are really hard to get with the long waiting list so I consider myself lucky to have them. I play a Martin Doyle D flute on the album along with a Yamaha keyboard.

Why the title?

The title “Síocháin na Tuaithe” (Peace of the Countryside) is a reference and celebration of the beautiful countryside of Ireland, particularly that of Co. Westmeath where I live. It is also the title of a slow waltz I composed last year which is on the album. I was delighted to play the tune at my brother Ciarán’s wedding to Margaret last July. I am a fluent Irish speaker so Ireland’s language, culture and heritage, is very important to me. I like to name some of compositions in the Irish (Gaeilge) language.

What’s the list of things you will be doing this year in promoting the album?

As I already stated I will be having three launches, one in my home county of Westmeath on April 26th in Áras an Mhuilinn, Mullingar. Another launch will take place at the Fleadh Nua festival in Ennis, Co. Clare on May 25th or May 26th. In August, I will be having a launch at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Derry, Northern Ireland. The venues and times of the launches in Ennis and Derry will be confirmed soon. In July, the new album will feature as part of the Joe Mooney Summer School in Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim where I will be teaching an advanced whistle class for the week. Irish Music Magazine will have a feature article and interview with me during the summer too. Finally, tracks from the album will hopefully get some air play on radio stations in Ireland and abroad too.

After the completion of “Síocháin na Tuaithe” , what have you learned so far in the whole experience. What thought would you impart to readers who are trying to gather materials for their own solo albums?

I have learned that variety is important. You have to try broaden the horizon a bit. My experience in Limerick has certainly broadened my mind and outlook on music a bit. I am still very much into pure trad music but I now am open to variety. There is a wide range of material on this new album, ranging from the regular jigs, reels, hornpipes to polkas, slip jigs, slow pieces and of course the songs! My advice is those trying to gather material for new albums is to take time and do it right. No point rushing it just for the sake of releasing an album.

Where can we buy “Síocháin na Tuaithe” ?

At the moment “Síocháin na Tuaithe” is only available directly from my website at www.endaseery.com. Go to the buy albums link. After the release on April 1st, the album will be available from the regular distribution outlets for traditional Irish music which I’m working on at the moment. Of course people in Ireland can buy the album also by going to the launches too!

Video:

Síocháin na Tuaithe

Síocháin na Tuaithe ..fresh ready for delivery.

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Huzzah!

Yes we are up to date with our artist of the week. Yes that’s Enda Seery above. A review of  Síocháin na Tuaithe will be out soon but I feel that doing an interview is a great intro to his album.  So what do we have on the menu? I will tell you:

Welsh musician Derek Smith recommended Ta Fechu from Chile. According to him: ” I had the privilege of meeting Ta Fechu from Chile at Lorient in 2011. They’re great people and they deserve to be heard.” Here is the video of the song called Añoranza. You got to admire the sound of pipes in this track. I also love the use of Latin flavour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz9c5aSvQ3s&feature=share

Deep Is The Well

Deep Is The Well

Here is the second part of our teaser for the Kevin O’Donnell upcoming release

More Than an Album

As the acclaimed author of Fadó: A Memoir of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,Kevin is known as more than a singer-songwriter but also an author and historian. DEEP IS THE WELL is a work of historical fiction drawing extensively from real-life events. Kevin has penned a novel-worthy history of the Fagan family, from 1837 through today, steeped in a real American past.

Upon purchase of the album, we invite you unlock interactive multimedia content at www.deepisthewell.com. From there, as you listen to the album you can become acquainted with each of the songs’ characters as you read their complex backstories , view their family photographs, and explore their family tree. Watch videos, listen to the author read a chapter from his book, Fadó, download a bootleg bonus track, and gain access to the lyrics, chords, and the author’s personal notes from the album. Those curious about the evolution of writing and recording a song, from the first lilt of the melody to the last day in the studio, will be especially interested in a short documentary on the making of one of Kevin’s most intriguing songs.

Calum Stewart

Calum Stewart

Here is something from Calum Stewart:

North by East – Featuring Gareth Davies-Jones . Short video recorded during album launch in Newcastle. Short cameo by the beau gosse Heikki Bourgault. More information here:www.garethdavies-jones.com

Here is the video of Calum and Gareth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2N6HwXmY2c

Dave Rooney

Dave Rooney

Check out this Dave Rooney promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5ncEE2Pxog&feature=share

It is concerning the Dave Rooney and Dave Browne, The Dream tour 2013. More info at : http://www.daverooneymusic.com
http://www.cobblestonesam.com

Siobhán Armstrong

Siobhán Armstrong

If you love harp music check out this upcoming special Galway performance hosted by Galway Early Music, the Historical Harp Society of Ireland and others.

Here’s what it says:

Thursday, 21 March 2013, 5.00pm
NUI, Galway, Galway
March 21 is the first European Day of Early Music, and under the aegis of the European Early Music Network (REMA), events happening all over Europe are being live-streamed via U-Sophia.com. Galway Early Music takes this opportunity to introduce all of Europe to Ireland’s medieval harp and its music in a live-streamed talk and concert by historical harpist Siobhán Armstrong. So, even if you can’t make it to the Moore Institute, NUI Galway, you can watch this event live via U-Sophia.com. Siobhan will start with a short talk on the construction of the instrument and the sources for its music. This will be followed by a concert, with an opportunity for questions and answers at the end. The event is organised by Galway Early Music in co-operation with the M.A. Medieval Studies, NUI Galway, and the Historical Harp Society of Ireland.
​​​​ ​Strathclyde-based Celtic duo Celtic Twist

​​​​ ​Strathclyde-based Celtic duo Celtic Twist

The duo of Phil Holland: Clarsach (Irish Harp,Celtic Harp), Fiddle, Vocals and Dave Palmley: Guitar, Vocals have their website redesigned to give you more access to graphics and music. Have a listen and also check the goodies in their music store. Support your independent Celtic musicians.http://hollandandpalmley.wix.com/html_celtictwist

Gladstone Theatre

Gladstone Theatre

Want to know how’s the Irish music scene doing in Ottawa Canada? Please join Irish Music Ottawa: http://www.facebook.com/groups/172682729446933/

Ok that’s it folks. If I miss anything the next edition is this Friday. Take care 🙂

Siobhán Armstrong

The Gatherin’, Katherine Moller and Pay-Day Motors

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

Hello readers. I want to bring your attention to The Gathering. The place is in Kansas state. So what can one expect in The Gathering?According to Damien McCarron of The Indugers who got a call and who is also playing in this video: ” They play rugby with crosses on fire, there’s all sorts of crazy fire stuff and a 40 ft bonfire. It’s in the of nowhere about 10 hours from a city and people come from Japan and Scotland.There’s a banquet, the highland sports, the warriors are fed first, then the chosen ones, that’s the musicians and then it goes on. So many traditions in play and the rule is there’s no rules, yet everything works like clockwork.”

Amazing isn’t it? That’s bringing the Arthurian culture right in the heartland of America so you gotta expect something unique. By the way according to Damien McCarron that sword is 8.4 lbs.

Location:
North of Cedar Bluff State Park
Exit 135 I-70, S 13 miles on Hwy 147
Information:
Aos Dana
Village of WaKeeney
202 S. 1st St
WaKeeney, KS 67672

Phone: (785) 743-2200
or (785) 743-6670
FAX: (785) 743-6480

Click the youtube video to get more info.

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Katherine Moller

Katherine Moller

…where the explosive fusion of Celtic fiddle meets the elegant grace of classical violin…

Have you listened to any tracks of Katherine Moller lately? I think you should give this Canadian fiddler a listen because her music is exciting. There is that amazing thing that happens when Classical grace meets the explosive passion of traditional music. I think her music got the balance of two. Listen to more of her samples here because writing alone could not give justice to her amazing talent. http://www.katherinemoller.ca

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Guess what landed in my email this week:

Robin Roberts & Billie Preston

Robin Roberts & Billie Preston

Artists: Robin Roberts & Billie Preston   

Album:Pay-Day Motors

Robin Roberts & Billie Preston
Album: Pay-Day Motors.

From:Wichita, KS, USA

Style: Folk, Bluegrass, Blues

This album promises a feel good kind of vibe. Listen to it after the rain and it will surely sooth your nerves and at the same time make you pay attention to the instruments use in this recording. You get to hear harmonica, acoustic guitars and female vocals harmonizing with the male lead.

Although Country Music might not appeal to all but when you really listen and realize that even if you don’t like the style, you got to admire the craft then all’s well. We hear a banjo on Afraid. The sound production is crisp and clear. It has that kind of brittle clarity but this is ok since it highlights the other instruments like fiddles in the background.

Those who love Irish country music and Bluegrass will embrace the sound of Pay-Day Motors. Expect only the best in musicians who have ripened in their craft. Like I said, even if you don’t like the style you can’t ignore the beauty of the craft. And yes after repeated listens it will grow on you. But as for me, it has already grown on me because I love this type of music.

Links:

Website: http://rr-bp.com
Style of music: Folk, Bluegrass, Blues
MySpace:
CDBaby:
SonicBids:
SoundClick:
PureVolume: n/a
iTunes: http://www.facebook.com/folkgrass.odyssey
Other: http://www.picketfencefurniture.com

There goes my album review.

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Huzzah!

Hi readers. There is a delay as you have noticed. This edition should have been uploaded yesterday but an accident with my right hand took writing away for a while. Well writing and physical work. It is hard to lift heavy objects after a slight injury. Anyway most of my friends in facebook knows about this but I just want to spare you the gory details so we move on. I am posting a part of a press release for the upcoming album by Kevin O’Donnell:

Kevin o donnel

Ceolwind Productions presents:

Long awaited return of singer-songwriter and author Kevin O’Donnell to the folk music scene.

After a 15 year hiatus from playing Irish music, Kevin O’Donnell now presents his first ever solo work. 3 years in the making, DEEP IS THE WELL is an ambitious collection of original songs telling the tale of an Irish-American family through multiple generations. These poignant, emotional songs are framed by extraordinary musicianship. DEEP IS THE WELL is produced by Maurice Lennon (of Stockton’s Wing) and in addition to Kevin featuresJim DeWan, Finbar Furey, Larry Gray, Kathleen Keane, Bill Lanphier, Maurice Lennon, Haley O’Donnell, John Rice, John Williams, and Jessica Willis.

Listen to Deep is the Well, and follow the descendants of Michael Fagan, a 19th century Irish immigrant, through 170 years of struggle for the American Dream. Their experiences still echo in the places they called home – from the forgotten prairie towns of the industrial heartland to the insular steel mill culture rimming the lower Great Lakes; from Times Square in New York City to the San Joaquin Valley in California; and from the frozen copper country of Lake Superior to the rain-soaked suburbs of the Pacific Northwest.

Preview

 

Prior to the release, preview the song “Factory Girl”, keep informed on the album and release events, and, beginning May 3rd, purchase your copy of DEEP IS THE WELL on the web at www.deepisthewell.com.

 

Second part of this coming up on the next post.

Just another piece worth checking out concerning our artist of the week Brian Cunningham : http://vzaar.com/videos/888627

Naked in New York

Naked in New York by Alan Cooke: For those of you of don’t have a copy of this amazing book, now is your chance to grab one or two. I read it and it’s like a symphony…only this time with words, not music. For those who are into poetic writing in the vein of Jack Kerouac, Henry David Thoreau and the like, you will certainly love this literary piece. http://www.wildirishpoet.com/

Moya Brennan

This is good news to aspiring new talents. The first lady of Celtic music Moya Brennan is helping emerging and enthusiastic singers, songwriters, musicians and bands by giving them a new platform to perform on : http://donegalnews.com/2013/03/moya-brennan-launches-her-new-clubeo-this-sunday/