Low Whistle

Awesome New Album by The Celtic Reggae Revolution!

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The Celtic Reggae Revolution

Anyone who picked up a copy of Paddyrasta’s album knows the great voice of Brian Gilligan. I am glad he continues his foray into the world of groove, sunshine and beaches in this amazing album ‘Everything comes to those who wait’ from Celtic Reggae Revolution. This album also features the talent of Northern Irishman Jarlath Henderson, dubbed as one of the finest exponents of the uilleann pipes in the world, he  also plays, low whistle, tin whistle, flute and cittern in addition to having a fine voice.

I love the consistency of this album. This is Irish music meets Jamaican beats. And yes, according to history: There have long been connections between Ireland and Jamaica: 350 years ago, after the defeat of Irish rebels by Oliver Cromwell’s army, thousands of young Irish boys and girls were forcibly transported to Jamaica to work as indentured servants. Many of the Irish ended up working   alongside black African slaves, in similar conditions, on the plantations. Read more here: http://www.celticreggae.org/blog.html

This an album for all party people and corporate ones trying to unwind after a long day’s work. You can dance, sway or just relax and let the beautiful vocals and instruments wash over you. An album of fine beauty and excellent production. Speaking of production, Celtic Reggae Revolution was mastered by U2’s engineer Pete Maher of Top Floor Music.

I love the instrumental Ghandi’s Triumph. You will love everything here. The opening track My Sweet Child is winning. There are reggae renditions of traditional tracks like the well loved ‘Raggle Taggle Gypsy’ and ‘Spancil Hill.’  And yes the original tunes are also going to be classic on their own because they are really really fantastic! Take note of the sweet female voice in the duets.

Musicians who have featured with the Celtic Reggae Revolution include Jarlath Henderson (Uileann pipes, Low whistle), Martin MacDonald (Acoustic Guitar), Aly Salam (Drums and Percussion), Moya Sands (Vocals), Spider Mackenzie (Harmonica), Brian Gilligan (Vocals, Banjo, Mandola, Guitar and programming), Tom Roche (Button Box) and backing vocalists Becka Gauld, Laura Asensio Plaza and Jayne Carmichael.

http://www.celticreggae.org

Press contact info@celticreggae.org
Booking agent celticreggae@gmail.com

Elva MacGowan: Cry Me A River (a single from forthcoming EP ‘Secret Love’)

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Elva MacGowan Secret Love

Elva MacGowan

Yes folks Elva MacGowan is returning, this time with an EP called Secret Love. As the title suggests, expect standards, silky vocal delivery and exquisite musicianship. According to her:

“I have just recorded a single (Cry Me A River) taken from my forthcoming EP Secret Love.”

What can we expect from Secret Love?

“I am  blending my knowledge of vocal performance with my love of old time jazz standards and traditional Irish accompaniments.

Who are the talents involved? You will be pleased: traditional musicians Donncha Moynihan on Guitar and Karl Nesbitt on Low Whistle and Bodhran.

Arthur Hamilton’s ‘Cry Me A River’ is a unique cover because it features traditional Irish instruments by traditional musicians. Elva MacGowan’s Celtic music projects are widely acclaimed and supported by peers in the industry. And this single is a testament to that fine artistry and control. I love other types of music and Jazz influenced my growing up. To have it in the same room as Traditional Irish music is such a wild thing!

“And now you say you love me…

and just to prove you do,

you can cry me a river..

The way she sings it: total catharsis!

More here: http://www.elvamacgowan.com/

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Huzzah!

The Spirit of Ireland

How’s your Sunday folks? I want to give a big shout out to my friend The Wild Irish Poet Alan Cooke. It’s his birthday today. I also read in advance the copy of his new book The Spirit of Ireland(An Odyssey Home) . The cover above is just a possible cover as nothing is decided yet. I will be publishing my review soon and I got important quotes from this book. Anyway here’s the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mD12wAxWQo

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The Scottish New Music Awards

The Scottish New Music Awards: If you have any UK artist whom you think deserves and award, then go ahead and submit your nomination to http://www.scotmusicawards.co.uk/index.html

It is great to open up emails over coffee and so I had this conversation with artist Eve Williams who lives in Northern Ireland. She’s the one who actually talked about the link. According to her:

I really like the idea… coz nowadays music is not just about what’s in the charts. There are some great independent artists and they contribute to their local communities by playing and getting people out to hear them! The music industry in Northern Ireland is woeful. Hardly any venues, no publishers… the republic is better.

Weekend Edition with Music and Album Release!

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In this edition: Fraser Fifield, Carmel Gunning and Calum Stewart

Fraser Fifield, EDINBURGH, Britain (UK)

The Music of Fraser Fifield

My last edition covered music from Ireland, Wales and Brittany. Our new edition unleashes another talent from Scotland by the name of Fraser Fifield. I became familiar with his work after seeing videos of Salsa Celtica. This is the same band where Kenny Fraser of Music Scotland(who was our featured artist/interview) plays the fiddle in.

The fascinating thing about his work is his love for improvisation and fusion. His bio states this interesting info: “A Piper and Low Whistle player who improvises like a jazz musician. A Soprano Sax player playing the traditional music of his native Scotland like it had always been played on that instrument.” I think one of the most haunting track in his compositions is Softly Spoken, with its hypnotic arrangements and syncopated beats. He has other gems in his soundcloud page and I am sure you will definitely buy his albums when you hear his tracks. He has other equally wonderful tracks and your way of relating or liking them will depend on how you respond to the music upon hearing each track.

I am doing a correspondence with him which will be a structure for an upcoming featured artist/interview. I embedded few tracks of my choice but I recommend for you to click Fraser Fifield’s soundcloud channel http://soundcloud.com/fraserfifield to listen to the music continuously.

For more of his music, visit the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tanarrecords

http://www.fraserfifield.com/

https://twitter.com/fraserfifield

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Carmel Gunning

She moves between two worlds. The fast paced playing and the delicate execution of some tracks. A native of Sligo, she came from a musical family. I think she is one of those amazing artists who contribute their efforts in making sure Irish music gets national and international

Carmel Gunning

recognition. I wonderful info I uncovered about her:  She runs The Carmel Gunning School of Music all year round in Sligo town and runs a festival annually in August. She has written 2 books on music and song and currently working on another. She has produced 5 CDs to date and is working on a singing album currently. Many of her past pupils, Liam Kelly of Dervish being the most well known, are top class in their field today.

With this kind of music and also a unique way of playing the whistle, I am sure she will conquer more ears. Let there be more albums from her then!

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Calum Stewart has a new album out!

Wooden Flute & Fiddle

Calum Stewart & Lauren MacColl
with Éamon Doorley and Andy May

  1. Eoghainn Iain Alasdair
  2. The Gordons
  3. Alzen
  4. Rise Ye Lazy Fellow
  5. Stoidhle Nèill Ghobha
  6. Crow Road Croft
  7. Aileen’s
  8. Tomnahurich
  9. Boys of the ‘25
  10. A Highland Lamentation

Now available for Pre-Order worldwide. (Please be careful to select worldwide delivery if you live outside the UK) All orders will be dispatched on 15th October, one week ahead of the official release date of 22nd October.

Scottish wooden flutist Calum Stewart just released an album with Lauren McColl. It is called Wooden Flute and Fiddle. This is an album that every traditional music listeners will want in his or her collection. This is due to the huge effort that the two and the rest of the session musicians placed on this album. There are slow and fast tunes. Expect variety in instruments and grand artistry that only musicians of their caliber can provide. And even if you are not really into Scottish or Irish trad music, you will still warm up to this one for its melodic and relaxing merit. Love it love it! A track from this album was featured here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mwz99

Buy Wooden Flute and Fiddle here: http://www.laurenmaccoll.co.uk/shop/

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