Celtic Music from Ireland and the World

You can now get a copy of the fantastic PBS show hosted by Moya Brennan. The Music of Ireland (Welcome Home) is now available exclusively at Barnes and Nobles. You can see
snippets of this video of you co to http://www.moyabrennan.com/ ….Jenne Lennon is in studio working on he new album.
Her moving rendition of “Bonny Portmore” is for sale at I-Tunes, Amazon.com, Rhapsody , and all other online stores! Download the single
that’s making all of the buzz in Scotland and the U.K.! The single is featured
on the “Going Back Home V.11” Compilation Album through Quickstar/Sony
Productions according to her website: Jenne Lennon is hard at work on a new
performance schedule for the spring and her debut solo album! Keep checking the
sites for more updates on all of Jenne’s endeavors! http://www.jennelennon.com/music.html…Luka Bloom is one of the important international
artists to head the 20^th Caribana Festival. Experience diversity and
a kind of music that pushes the limits of what’s mainstream and what’
‘alternative’ http://www.caribana-festival.ch/en/2010/artists/…. Albums, news and interviews of Irish Balladeer Brian
Kennedy can now be seen when you go to http://www.briankennedy.co.uk/ also watch out for new up-coming autobiography!…For the
month of June, Solas has the following tour dates:

For the entire tour dates please visit the official site’s tour schedule: http://www.solasmusic.com/?page_id=9

OMG! If there is another thing why we should hate the volcanic ash that hovered around Europe was the cancellation of major Dougie MacLean concerts. On the other hand, July will be
eventful as our Scottish musical hero prepares for England and Wales. For
complete guide please refer to http://www.dougiemaclean.com under tours. A new DVD Songmaker will be available
soon as well.………………Apart from the cameo appearance and contributing composer in
Ondine (stars Colin Farrell, directed by Neil Jordan) Sharon Shannon
has something going on with the new single Shifting Summer Sands
featuring the vocals of Carol Keogh. This is the forth single from the new
album Saints and Scoundrels which was released in October, and will be
released in the Ireland in May and in the UK in July. Visit www.myspace.com/sharonshannon for updates………………If you haven’t gotten your hands into the
late Mícheál Ó Domhnaill tribute CD Keep er’Lit yet, then better
grab it. His legacy has been evident in bands Skara Brae, The Bothy Band
and later Nightnoise. The Celtic Music Fan will always miss his talent and what
could have been.View the complete details of the CD at http://www.michealodomhnaill.com
………………. Hello people of Dublin. Mary
Black is fully booked for July at the Olympia Theater:

Please visit www.myspace.com/maryblackmusic and www.mary-black.net

Canadian quintet The Paperboys has a new album out this July. Callithump will fulfill the promise to deliver great music! We are expecting a blend of folk rock, irresistible fiddle
playing, zapping instrumentals and the young Tom Waits kind of vocals. If you
enjoy The Great Big Sea then you will love The Paperboys www.myspace.com/thepaperboys and www.paperboys.com…………………
The Brennan Sisters (No this is not Clannad or Enya known as the
Brennan family) from Connemara has been sweeping audience across the Atlantic
with their beautiful renditions of traditional materials. According to a review
“The girls four part natural harmonies add diversity to every show that they
perform and their vocal ability continues to surprise audiences everywhere’
“The girls have developed their very own unique style of performance,
incorporating beautiful and intricate harmonies with a very distinctive but
unmistakable Irish resonance” . The girls performed the well known song
“Hand me down my bible” on Sharon Shannons new dvd/cd live from Dolans! Earlier
this year the girls performed on The voice Within cd/dvd. Filmed at the INEC,
Killarney in front of a live audience, it is the most expensive production ever
filmed in Ireland for broadcast on American television www.myspace.com/thebrennansisters ………………………The former band of Dougie MacLean the Tannahill
Weavers are compose of Roy Gullane – Lead Vocals, Guitar Phil Smillie –
Vocals, Flute, Bodhran Leslie Wilson – Vocals, Bouzouki John Martin – Fiddles,
Vocals Colin Melville – Bagpipes, Vocals. They have been creating distinctive
and amazing music in the heart of Scotland. More updates from www.myspace.com/tannahillweavers
and www.tannahillweavers.com
…………………..Who is Sean Og Graham?
Well, he makes up one of the five people of the amazing Irish act Beoga.
Sean is from Portglenone, Northern Ireland and he plays the Accordion and
Guitar. Check out www.myspace.com/seanoggraham and www.beogamusic.com
……………………..Former amateur boxer turned singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey,
and who has brought us the moving ‘Colony” has his first acting debut in an
Irish film called “Between the Canals: North Inner City”, directed by Mark
O’Connor. The film has been accepted into the Jameson Dublin International Film
Festival . There is also a charity single made with Shane MacGowan and friends.
Since is debut in 1995, Dempsey has been hailed as he Bb Marley of Ireland with
fervent response of audiences and devotion to his music. According to Billboard
Magazine: “To Hell or Barbados is folk and roots rock with substance, with
the sound of Ireland mixed in for good measure. A most intriguing cocktail.”
– Billboard. Check out his upcoming shows

Gavin Moore created an album of breezy atmosphere, moving melodies and delightful lyrics in his latest independent release Tonnta. According to his website: His new record ‘Tonnta’, forged in the magical
countryside of West Cork, is a beautiful atmospheric combination of folk rock
& traditional Irish influence, which makes assured steps into musical
territory as yet uncharted, surfing the crest of a secret wave somewhere
between Jack Johnson and Iarla Ó Lionáird… Dates for the album launching
of Tonnta will start in September this year. More info at www.myspace.com/mooregavin and www.gavinmoore.com.………………..After
25 years in the recording industry, Cherish the Ladies still
continue to be in the forefront of Irish traditional music. With Albums
receiving rave reviews (including “A Star In The East (Christmas Album)”, The
all women band are composed of JOANIE MADDEN: Whistles, Flutes, harmony vocals
MARY COOGAN: Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo MIRELLA MURRAY: Accordion ROISIN DILLON:
Fiddle KATHLEEN BOYLE: Piano, harmony vocals MICHELLE BURKE: Lead Vocals.
Quotes Billy Altman of The New York Daily News “Cherish the Ladies is one
of the foremost Irish traditional music groups in the world.” You will
catch them while they’re on tour for the rest of July in the following venues:
07/10/10
Springfield, OH – Springfield Arts Summer Concert Series
www.springfieldartscouncil.org/summer-arts-festival.htm

07/11 – 16/10
East Durham, NY – Catskills Irish Week
www.http://www.irishvillageusa.com/irisharts.html

07/23/10
Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Irish Festival
www.clevelandirish.org

07/24/10
Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Irish Festival
www.clevelandirish.org

07/25/10
Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Irish Festival
www.http://www.augustaheritage.com/irish.html

07/26 – 30/10
Elkins, WV – Augusta Irish Week
www.clevelandirish.org

www.cherishtheladies.com and www.myspace.com/cherishtheladies

English band Flook are now in facebook. After 13 years of making music together, the band decided to take a rest but will keep fans updated for future projects. You can listen to Flook
via www.myspace.com/2flutes
and buy their three albums Haven, Rubai and Flatfish
by visiting http://www.flook.co.uk/
and yes add them in facebook

The 15^th Hebridean Celtic Festival has a line up of interesting artists. From 14^th to 17^th of July, expect to be enchanted, possessed and stirred up by some of the most beautiful music
in the world. Here are the artists to play in the event:

Runrig (Mainstage Saturday) Breabach Mainstage Saturday) Treacherous
Orchestra (Mainstage Friday) Imelda May
(Mainstage Friday) Julie Fowlis
(Mainstage Friday) Afro Celt Sound
System (Mainstage Thursday) Blazin’ Fiddles
(Mainstage Thursday) Adrian
Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds (Mainstage Thursday) Iain Morrison’s Ceòl
Mor / Little Music (An Lanntair Saturday) The Poozies
(An Lanntair Friday) The
Fox Hunt (Breasclete Wednesday / An Lanntair Thursday) Anniversary Concert
(An Lanntair Wednesday 7.30pm) Oidhche Chiadain
(An Lanntair Wednesday 3pm) Alasdair White &
Jane Hepburn (An Lanntair Thursday 3pm) Mhairi Hall Trio
(Harris, Thursday 8pm / An Lanntair, Friday 3pm) Mànran (Clan
MacQuarrie, Friday 8pm) Ceilidh Bands Norrie acIver’s Dance
Band (An Lanntair, Wednesday) Anna Fraser Dance Band (Breasclete, Wednesday)
Deoch an Dorus (Stornoway & Borve, Friday)

According to the site news: Thousands Expected as Festival Sales Reach Milestone

People from countries as far away as the USA, Canada and Australia are expected to visit Stornoway this summer as the Hebridean Celtic Festival announced it has already sold more tickets this
year than it did for the entire event last year…

Add HebCelt Fest in facebook follow the feeds and also in twitter and myspace…………………

Julie Fowlis , our Scottish lass is in the midst of a tour to promote her new album Uam. According to Folk Radio Uk, Uam is an extraordinary moving album. Her best and most beautiful work to date. Julie
has also been made ambassador for Hebridean Celtic Festival according to her
myspace blog:

The fabulous folks at the reknowned Hebridean Celtic Festival have been kind enough to make me an ambassador for the festival and one of the first three inductees to their newly formed Hall of
Fame.

I am most chuffed and honoured. See the official info below! (then go and buy tickets – it’s a fab festival!!) love Julie x

Sounds like she is not only winning our hearts, she is winning the whole of UK and the world. Bless you Julie! Check her blog and music at www.myspace.com/juliefowlis
and www.juliefowlis.com
her tour schedules:

Cuirmean-ciùil

Tour Dates

12th Jun

St Albans
St Albans Arena Civic Centre St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3LD

13th Jun

Southwell
Southwell Folk Festival Nottinghamshire

15th Jun

Cardiff
St Davids Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AH

17th Jun

London
Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, Canonbury, London N1 2XD

20th Jun

Salisbury
Salisbury City Hall Malthouse Lane Salisbury Wiltshire SP2 7TU

26th Jun

Sedburgh
Near Sedburgh, Cumbria
View
further details

Add Julie on facebook, twitter and bebo.

Breton band TornaoD is in the middle of an exciting tour this month. This band from Kaligan France have been leaving audiences breathless with their astounding, dynamic energy such that,
initially bemused, then won over, people are never indifferent. Their site
describes the music: In an authentic meeting of tradition and modernity,
TornaoD draw inspiration from a mixture of sources, from Alan Stivell to
Metallica, Led Zeppelin to Denez Prigent, 70s rock side by side with 80s metal,
New Age, the East, and more…From June to August, you can watch them live in
the following venues:

http://events.myspace.com/Event/4844372/Festival-Celtic

FESTIVAL INTERCELTIQUELORIENT-ANORIANT, Breizh

Upcomming shows: http://events.myspace.com/Event/2301147/Alan-STIVELL

The amazing voice behind Danu, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh continues to soar the heights of musical success as her band promotes their new album “Seanchas”which was released in April 2010. Listening
to her lush contralto voice, it would be hard not to be loved her style of
singing. She has mastered the sean nos style as well as great talents on the
flute and tin-whistle. She is good friends with Scot Julie Fowlis who
collaborated with her in the album “Dual”http://muireann.ie/biog.html . Expect to hear more from Muireann .Please read
www.myspace.com/muireannmusic and muireann.ie
. Beautiful photos courtesy of Bríd Ní Luasaigh.Follow
her on facebook, and
watch her on youtube..............................

There is an amazing Celtic harpist in our midst that mixes music of all genres making the sound totally her own. Lily Neill has created such a stir in the music scene after the release of her
debut album “Without Words “ in 2004. “Lily Neill speaks to us without words
in this gentle and gracious recording. Once again the magic of the plucked
string surrounds us and brings us to a place of special resonance and peace.
There is something universal in this sound: no less than three of the tracks,
for example, bring the Japanese Koto and Irish Harp together as if they were
long lost cousins. A shared universal sonic gene comes through her fingers as
if the music inside her is truly ancestral”. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin,
November 2006. www.myspace.com/lilyneill
and www.LilyNeill.com

If you haven’t got the copy of John Spillane’s latest album (The Best of John Spillane, So Far, So Good, Like), then don’t miss out on this musical gem of an album.

John is a native of Cork, the county he lovingly describes as ‘the centre of the universe’, and it has been a huge influence on this singer/songwriter. Vocally, Spillane is quite unique with an
almost sean nos like element and has been described as having a voice ‘full of
honesty, commitment and sensitivity’.

…some of the most skillfully crafted, vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland over the past dozen years.’ Earle Hitchner, premier writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The
Wall Street Journal. www.johnspillane.com
and www.myspace.com/johnspillane .......................

With the release of the new record Love is the Way, we are greeted by a new Eddi Reader. This one is more breezy, country sounding and free spirited which is a departure from years of
seeing her in those glasses and wild hair. I first became familiar with Eddi
upon watching the Jools Holland show. Her voice is simply awesome and her personality
is vibrant. As she says about the album: I have a passionate love of
instinctive, beautiful songs. Also a slightly insane attachment to romantic
chord structures. Words that speak of some universal humanist truth. That can
be ‘thrown away’ with no regrets. This can be summed up in most of the songs on
this record. Tour dates for this month and July:

…And now something about Irish pubs…

If you are on our way to Cork and wants to know which music bar to go to next, don’t forget to visit de Barras. Situated in Clonkilty the West of Cork, it boasts a one of a kind venue
that already housed artists like Christy Moore, John Spillane and new up and
rising acts. Feel its ne of a kind intimate ambience and diverse acts that make
de Barras stand out as one of the best pubs in Ireland. Quotes ” Mark Mc
Devitt, (Irish Examiner 2000) It is the presence of an unlikely musical
venue that makes Clonakilty truly special however, to cross the well worn
threshold of the shy and rather retiring de Barras Folk Club, is to enter into
a world full of possibilities. The possibility that anyone, literally anyone,
might ramble in of the street and do a few tunes.” Contact: DeBarras,
55 Pearse St.,Clonakilty, West Cork, Ireland Phone : +353 (0)23 8833381 Booking
Enquiries: +353 (0)23 8836549 TUES email: eolas@debarra.ieCheck
out www.myspace.com/debarras
and www.debarra.ie
for this month’s gig guide……………………….

There is one site directory that will tell you the best bars in town. www.irishpubs.com has not only the lists of categories, it also has a user friendly interface
that will guide you while you click for the pubs near you. It says Your
Guide to the best pubs in Ireland and Irish pubs around the world. It
includes categories like Entertainment, live Music, Trad Music, Disco Bars.
Sport, Food. Smoking facility, Accommodation, Parking. Job opportunities
etc.(Job opportunities? Hmmm…) You can even add your pub to the list or sell
it!