John Breen

John Breen, Nick Burbridge, Jim Wearne and Alan Cooke a.k.a The Wild Irish Poet

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Presenting, the important voices of our time….

This week’s featured artist edition is special. It is the first time I submitted an interview article for another Celtic music site. So hold on to your seats Celtic music listeners. There are people I’d like you to meet. And as always I want to thank each one of you for your continued support in making this site worth blogging for. Much love to all of you.

John Breen picture

John Breen

Our featured artist for this week is John Breen

Yes you probably noticed the picture on the upper right of this site. That’ Irish singer/songwriter John Breen. He is this week’s featured artist after agreeing for an interview with yours truly. The great thing about this interview is that it is posted in 67 Music. Yeah the owner of 67 Music are friends and it is a great opportunity to be invited as a guest blogger. If you read through the whole thing you can tell that he has  a great sense of humor. His experiences are funny and interesting. I enjoyed doing this interview with him which was very comfortable. Great stuff here and yes good craic. Also loads of insights into the album making and promoting music in general. I find that this piece will benefit not only readers but also musicians on the ‘ how to and what if’ of music. So go ahead and have a peek. You will definitely enjoy this amazing piece that John Breen and I prepared for all of you. Here it is: http://67music.net/features/john-breen/

This video is a fine example of the raw appeal of John Breen’s live performance with the band Fenian Folk.

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Memoirs of musician/writer Nick Burbridge .

CARETAKERS: This was written some years ago and published in Songbook (ed. Dave White)

Check this amazing writing by Nick Burbridge. He is one of this year’s nominee for The Spiral Earth Awards. This writing will move you or even shock you. It is amazing how one can accomplish so much by being honest and not sugar coat things out of fear. I think aspiring writers will learn something from the prose of Mr Burbridge. So have tea and enjoy: https://www.facebook.com/notes/nick-burbridge-burbridge-arts/caretakers-this-was-written-some-years-ago-and-published-in-songbook-ed-dave-whi/132877240107871

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The Wild Irish Poet

NAKED IN NEW YORK – A MEMOIR OF THE CITY – EBOOK KINDLE GLOBAL LAUNCH ONLINE

If you have been eavesdropping upon the literary circle via facebook then you might have cached the buzz. Emmy-winning writer/poet Alan Cooke a.k.a The Wild Irish Poet is releasing an e-book called Naked in New York-A Memoire of the City. Alan Cooke spent seven years in New York and came to know it’s bright  and dark side. If you are curious about his prose, here it goes:

Excerpt : 2013 Copyright Alan Cooke New York is a thousand villages I have walked them all felt and touched upon a sense of each unique cultural quarter blending into each block I walked as they passed into the shadows of history and impermanency. For those who have never lived here they assume the city is one giant cosmopolitan fantasy but the living from day to day and moment to moment requires a realignment of the senses , you might never move far from your self sufficient hood which contains all you need to keep breathing. Sushi bars with quiet chopping sounds of perfectly sculpted fish dishes, delis with 30 meats and cheeses beers and atms to keep the wolf firmly in the dark, clothing and hardwares and cab companies and button emporiums, bars and libraries and …continue reading

Here is also an interview with the poet via Expats Post Magazine by my friend Dean Walker

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

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Jim Wearne our amazing Cornish folk balladeer.

Jim Wearne is another best representative of Cornwall. I think you should listen to his ballads. They are interesting. Now before you all jump and get excited, this is just a taster. I am definitely interested in getting Jim’s story. You will get that story soon.

Here’s his web site:
www.jimwearne.com

And a few of his songs on Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/jim-wearne

Plus – He wrote a book, and it’s here
http://www.jimwearne.com/old_campaigners.htm

Gallery:

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Huzzah!

I am finishing this blog at the patio watching the rain fall. The smell of earth rising is intoxicating. The cool breeze is inviting. I feel refreshed and drunk after reading and listening to the music of today’s artists. It is great to be part of it all.

Things are getting really excited as we move closer to St Paddy’ day. For example, take a listen to this sampler.

Larry Kirwan has been carrying the flag for Celtic rock music since the founding of Black 47 in 1989. The expatriate Irishman lives in New York City where he has been hosting Celtic Crush on SiriusXM since 2005. Kirwan, also a respected writer, has published three books and writes a column for The Irish Echo – the USA’s most widely read Irish-American newspaper.

Larry Kirwan’s Celtic Invasion features a dozen of his favorite bands and most requested rock tracks from his SiriusXM show Celtic Crush. The album includes legends like The Waterboys, Runrig and Black 47 (just to name a few) with popular U.S. touring groups Blaggards, Barleyjuice, Garrahan’s Ghost and Shilelagh Law.

Check out this preview featuring Barelyjuice, Runrig, Black 47, Pat McGuire, and The Waterboys!

Got an email from Tom Quick of  Celtic Music FM 98.5

I just want to inform you that my radio broadcast “Irish Horizons” will be changing it’s name to “Celtic Connections” as of March 3rd. I’m doing this so I can include Celtic music from other area’s such as Scotland. Wales, Cornwall etc:  If you would like your music aired on the radio show please contact me.

So yes, if you are interesting to get your music heard check out http://www.ckwr.com/

Celtic Twist Game:

The Celtic Music Fan would  like offer a free copy of Twist in the Tale to the winner of a competition which will start now. This is how it goes. All you need to do is find an answer to a question which in the animated picture blow. all you need to do is go to their official website http://www.wix.com/hollandandpalmley/celtictwist to look for the answer. A winner will be announced at the end of this month.  Phil and Dave could send it directly to you with a short note of congratulations. How’s that? For those who are new to this album, here is the link to the review I did back in June 27 of 2012.

Post Valentines in Celtic Land

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Featured artists: John Breen, Brian Cunningham and Corncrow

john breen, irish,folk,singer,songwriter,ireland,music

Welcome to our post valentine edition. I made it a rule not to talk at the beginning of a post. I will just reserve the talk for our Huzzah! Section so see you there .

The attention turns to John Breen this week . He hails from County Wicklow which is check this out: the Garden of Ireland. I am sure the flora and fauna of Wicklow have provided an ample amount of inspiration to Sir John Breen to be able to perform those tunes with the grace of a blooming rose in hyper speed.

Fans of Ronnie Drew, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and even Kenny Rogers will find something that will tickle their heart-strings. If you think his recorded songs are awesome, wait until you hear him live. His performance level will blow your socks off.

I think that ease of getting his feeling across is brought about by the fact that John is naturally a friendly fella. And you can’t fake that warm attitude. It will find its way around people who in turn responds to the same aura that you project. I felt that inner goodness and that’s what I feel the moment I heard his version of The Irish Rover and other songs. There is always that extra special you often find around Irish balladeers.

He signed up with Atlantic music group in 2004 and has two CDs to date. An interview is on the way but I wont tell you the exact date yet. I like suspense and I am sure you do too.

For more info visit: http://www.johnbreenmusic.com/

Video:

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Sean-Nos Dancer Brian Cunningham

Sean Nos dancing is catching fire and it is spear headed by the most prominent name in the scene: Brian Cunningham.  I am in the process of conducting an interview with the famous dancer himself and he is gracious enough to talk in between his schedules. There is really something good to be said about the majority of Celtic artists. They are so passionate about the art that it isn’t really about themselves but more on the exposure of the art. They give so much more and it is really important to keep in mind why their fans who are bloggers like are passionate in pushing their efforts to the front of Goggle search. We are all in the right scene!

He is currently performing in the Horseshoe Casino(Hammond, Indiana) so if you are around, don’t forget to see this one of a kind performer of traditional Irish dance.

Atlantic Steps’ is the inspiring epic story of Ireland’s oldest dance form (sean-nós), portrayed through the music, song, dance and Atlantic-Ocean-inspired energy of the Connemara region. For booking information, contact JRA Fine Arts at info@jrafinearts.com or 888.939.ARTS (2787).

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Corncrow – Meriasek

Tell me if this song doesn’t evoke something within you! If it doesn’t then you have the heart of a crow(pun intended) I think Corncrow makes a kind of music that brings out ancient mysteries . The music is haunting and transporting bringing you back to ancient lands, where gallantry was abundant and people wore long dresses. A little digging on the background of the song tells me about a 4th century Breton saint who was also a great healer. His feast day is the first Friday in June.No wonder the song has a very spiritual feel. Corncrow are a duo of Kim Guy -acoustic guitar, recorders, vocals and Steve Hunt – acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, vocals. Meriasek is taken from their new album Sweet Nightingale.

You can find them in facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corncrow/90795758139

and Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/corncrow

About the video: Official video for Corncrow’s version of Meriasek (S. Lockley, N. Kennedy), which I shot in Polkerris and Charlestown, January 2013.

Canon 650D, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Fader ND.

Celtic Twist Game:

The Celtic Music Fan would  like offer a free copy of Twist in the Tale to the winner of a competition which will start now. This is how it goes. All you need to do is find an answer to a question which in the animated picture blow. all you need to do is go to their official website http://www.wix.com/hollandandpalmley/celtictwist to look for the answer. A winner will be announced at the end of this month.  Phil and Dave could send it directly to you with a short note of congratulations. How’s that? For those who are new to this album, here is the link to the review I did back in June 27 of 2012.

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Huzza!

Now that we are in the month of love, the focus this week is about the best love songs in traditional Celtic music.  My first introduction was by Windham Hill compilation called Heart of the Celts. From there the list of ballads about love simply increased. If you look at our musical culture in a macroscopic level, you will realize that each Celtic nation has its own love ballads and it will take so much if we do some research and post the songs here. However, I would just like to emphasize that the Celts know how to write the best heart break songs, I think much better than love songs. But we also need to give tribute to Robert Burns for giving us one of the best love ballads called ” Ae Fond Kiss ” which is close to my heart.

Clannad is known to produced the best ballads both traditional and modern. There’s also Connie Dover, Loreena McKennitt and Altan. Then there’s so much more that like I said would take so much to fit this edition.

Sorry if this section is short. I  have to be honest with you: I have nothing to write for now. All my thoughts were focused on the meteor explosion in Russia and for hour I kept on posting updates upon updates about the incident via facebook and google plus. So when morning came I felt so exhausted and I kept on thinking about aliens. So there you have it. I promise to write more content on our Huzzah next time. Take care and see you this Tuesday for our featured interview and it is with no other than Scottish singer/songwriter Ewan McLennan!

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