Mickey Harte is a singer songwriter from Donegal in Ireland. He has been a mainstay of the Irish acoustic circuit over the past 10 years. From his formative years as a musician, playing in local bands he was always well regarded as an exceptional songwriter.
Noted several times by national press and media for his capability, in RTE Television’s song writing contests in the early 1990’s and by Ireland’s largest music magazine ‘Hotpress’ in the later 90’s.
USA Tour… October 2010.
Friday, 8th Oct: Appalachian State University Entrepreneurs Summit, Raley Hall. http://www.business.appstate.edu/summit/
Saturday, 9th Oct: Canyons , Blowing Rock, NC. 9 pm. http://www.canyonsbr.com/
(co-presented by Split Rail Records)
Sunday, 10th Oct: River House Inn, Grassy Creek, NC. http://www.riverhousenc.com/
Monday, 11th Oct: Old Salem Tavern, Winston-Salem, NC. http://www.oldsalemtavern.com/
Thursday, 14th Oct: Tir na Nog, Raleigh, NC. http://www.tirnanogirishpub.com/
Friday, 15th Oct: Kildare’s Irish Pub, Chapel Hill, NC http://www.kildaresirishpub.com/
Saturday, 16th Oct: Kildare’s Irish Pub, Chapel Hill, NC
Thursday, 21st Oct: Chicago Street Pub, Joliet, IL. 9pm. http://www.chicagost.com/
For more info, visit: http://www.mickeyhartemusic.com
Source: http://www.beith.org
The Tin Whistle (sometimes called a pennywhistle) is a simple and cheap instrument. It’s simply a metal tube with six fingerholes and a mouthpiece (much like a recorder); it has a range of about two octaves. Costs range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars — although some of the best players play only the cheaper brands.
The tin whistle is a simple instrument — and it’s simple to play, and simple to play easy tunes. But — it’s not simple to master! The instrument may be cheap, but you’ll have to pay for mastery … by practicing! The haunting whistle tunes from the movie “Titanic” illustrate the deep soul found in this instrument.
This instrument is commonly made from metal (usually brass) with a molded whistle mouthpiece. By playing it open (not covering any of the six fingerholes), then by covering each fingerhole in turn, you can play the 7 notes in a diatonic (a simple Do-Re-Mi scale — essentially the white keys on a piano) scale. Blow a little bit harder and you’ll play the same note, but an octave higher. While it is a diatonic instrument, you can achieve sharps and flats by half-covering fingerholes.
Since there are essentially only two open notes — a note, then the note an octave higher when you blow harder — each tin whistle is said to represent a certain Key signature. For instance, if the open note sounds a “D”, then the whistle is considered to be in the key of D. Many players carry a small set of whistles in the most commonly used keys.
Some people don’t realize you can actually tune a tin whistle! You do so by sliding the metal barrel of the whistle in and out of the mouthpiece head. Some whistles have the head glues securely to the barrel. You can usually loosen the glue by holding the joined portion under hot running water. Don’t use boiling water — this may melt the plastic whistle head!
Beginning this weekend folks in NC and VA have the chance to hear a storyteller from Scotland who has lived his heritage. Author and historian, Hugh Allison, will be sharing his experiences and stories from his country and his days serving as the Director for the Culloden Battlefield, one of the most famous sites in Scottish history.
Hugh Allison was born in Lochaber, Scotland and has felt a strong connection to his past from an early age. Over the years he has put his experiences and learning of history into three books that show a culture that originated in the highlands and lowlands of Scotland, over many centuries, but ended up spreading across the world. His first book, Roots of Stone, tells the story of those who came before, a direct connection to the author’s personal heritage.
His next book, Rivers Running Far, tells the story of those who went away, the thousands of Scottish immigrants that spread their heritage halfway around the globe. His latest book, Culloden Tales, are stories about the place that ended the Highland way of life and would eventually help populate our country with many ideas that became the basis for our formation as a nation.
These stories that have been passed down, or experienced by the author, and show the impact of a single location and moment in time on the future of a country. Hugh weaves all of the tales with passion and humor, leaving the reader, or listener, yearning to know more about this magical, ancient place known as Alba (Gaelic for Scotland). www.scottishtalespinner.com
You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to meet an entertaining speaker, and possibly a distant relative, if you have Scottish roots or an interest in all things Scottish.
Hugh will be at the following locations; Sept. 26, River House Inn in Grassy Creek, NC (www.riverhousenc.com), Sept. 27 Old Salem Tavern, Winston Salem, NC (www.oldsalemtavern.com), Sept. 29 Tirnanog Irish Pub, Raleigh, NC for whiskey tasting and dinner (www.tirnanogirishpub.com) and at the Williamsburg Scottish Festival on Oct 1 & 2 (www.wsfonline.org)
Source: http://celticmusic.co/
The fourth album from the rockin’ modern pipes and drums band features ‘Bagrock’ cover versions of classic tracks including Radio Ga Ga (Queen), Baba O’Reilly (The Who), Let Me Entertain You (Robbie Williams) and Long Way To The Top (AC/DC).
The Chillis’ version of Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars has been going down a storm in America, where the band is currently touring.
The Chilli Pipers also incorporate gospel and dance into their melting pot of sound, through the likes of Everybody Dance Now and a version of Amazing Grace featuring members of Glasgow’s Gospel Truth Choir.
The Chillis came storming on to the scene after winning Graham Norton’s BBC1 TV series When Will I Be Famous? With their powerful style they have moved the bagpipes into new and adventurous areas, re-interpreting famous tracks by the likes of Queen, Survivor, John Farnham, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Status Quo, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Coldplay in their very own Chilli Piper way.
By Maureen Perdomo and Jack Long, Guest Writers
In early July, on a crisp Sunday morning in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the sounds of the song “The Kiss,” from the movie, “The Last of the Mohicans,” could be heard filtering down through the rocks and the crags into the valleys below.
Above, on a mile-high pedestrian bridge, 28 members of the Chelsea House Orchestra played as they crossed from one peak to another, bringing their version of “Celtic with a kick” to yet another part of the world.
This glorious site was the conclusion of CHO’s first trip to the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, where the largest gathering of the clans in the United States takes place each year to celebrate their Scottish heritage.
This trip would also mark the beginning of one of the busiest and most traveled months in the CHO’s history, putting in over 2,400 miles in a three-week period in a tour that covered shows in North Carolina, Jackson, Edinboro, Pa., Grass Lake and ending in Chelsea.
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Source: http://www.reelrootsfolkmusic.com
You never know what you’re going to get from a new band on the scene, and when “The Big Spree” was released by Breabach back in 2008 it was a shocker in all the best of ways.
The young styles of Patsy Reid, Calum MacCrimmon, Ewan Robertson, and Donal Brown bring a freshness to the traditional tunes they play. The arrangements on this CD are fantastic, and the blend of tunes and songs give the listener a nice mix of everything. Their songs are full of foot stomping pipes, whistles and fiddle, and you’ll definitely want to sing along to “The Rolling Hills”.
If you like some of the other Scottish folk creatives such as Old Blind Dogs or the Tannahill Weavers, don’t miss this Breabach release! You’ll be thrilled that you added it to your collection… In fact, better by two in case you wear the first one out!
Check Out The Track Listing and visit: www.breabach.com
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Posted in Celtic Music, celtic rock | breabach, Celtic Music, folk music, scottish music, The Celtic Force | Leave a comment
Source: http://www.edmontonjournal.com
By Roger Levesque, edmontonjournal.com
EDMONTON — Edmonton’s third annual Celtic Festival will pack 11 acts into one long Saturday extravaganza this August.
Celtic rockers Fraid Knot, St. James Gate, Claymore and McQuaig, and acoustic-oriented folk acts like Keri Lynn Zwicker, Sarah Burnell and Stephen Maguire are all set to perform at Hawrelak Park’s Heritage Amphitheatre Saturday, Aug. 14.
Two Edmonton-area dance groups will be on hand, Mattierin Dance Troop and Celtic Dance Academy, while the Edmonton & District Pipe Band will ensure that the pipes are blowing. Finally, Knights of the Northern Realm, a re-enactment troupe will walk the site in period armour with occasional battle skirmishes.
At a media launch Wednesday, spokesman Michael Purcell admitted that the festival “went a little too big, too fast” in expanding to a two-day Friday-Saturday schedule last year. The decision to go with one longer day this year will help the volunteer-run event channel resources more effectively.
“I think we’ve found that there is a large audience for Celtic music,” says Purcell. “We’re developing a large following especially with families. You can get there first thing in the morning and the kids will have a lot to do. It’s a good show for all ages.”
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Source: Wikipedia
Celtic Fusion is an umbrella term for modern music which incorporates influences considered “Celtic,” or Celtic music which incorporates modern music.
It is a syncretic musical tradition which borrows freely from the perceived “Celtic” musical traditions of all the Celtic nations, as well as from all styles of popular music; it is thus sometimes associated with the Pan-Celtic movement.
Celtic fusion may or may not include authentic traditional music from any one tradition under the Celtic umbrella, but its common characteristic is the inspiration by Celtic identity.
The oldest musical tradition which fits under the label of Celtic fusion originated in the rural American south in the early colonial period and incorporated Scottish, Scots-Irish, Irish, and African American influences. Variously referred to as roots music, American folk music, or old-time music, this tradition has exerted a strong influence on all forms of American music, including country, blues, and rock and roll.
The connections between traditional Scottish and Irish music and Rock music are deep and go back to the origins of American music.
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Had the chance to work with Cutthroat Shamrock again recently at the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and their brand of punk/irish/pirate seems to leave a positive impression.
The energy and musicianship is definitely a show stopper, it’s obvious they have been honing their skills over this past year. Known well in Knoxville, these guys are expanding their travels, so keep an eye out for an appearance near you.
Did I mention that they played the weekend festival without a bass player? Seems Guido lost a wrestling match and came away with a broken foot, so what to do? Go on with what you’ve got, and they did!
You’ve got to have talent to continue without a bass player and make it sound good and it sounded very good. It’s also nice to work with someone that delivers without attitude. Of course the beer tent may have had something to do with that…….
Thought you might want to check them out on myspace or facebook… www.myspace.com/cutthroatshamrock www.facebook.com/cutthroatshamrock
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