Show 21 - Bumper Edition

This week we feature the music of:

Christiane Cargill (Green Fields of France)
Pete Hawkes (Celtic Hornblower)
Mitch (Home)
Shadowdancer (She Moved Through The Fair)
Along with the next in the Artist Interview Series with musician and Scottish Smallpipes maker Ian Kinnear

For more information on the artists featured on the Celtic Folk Podcast, including links and pics, click on www.celticfolkpod.com.

CFP21 Show Notes:

Bumper Edition. This week we have the usual, great line-up of music from around the world, along with a conversation I had back in Scotland with Ian Kinnear, maker of some of the best Scottish Smallpipes, after which we recorded a little of Ian playing at the session in Kirriemuir.

Over the next 40 minutes or so of this bumper edition of the Celtic Folk Podcast, we feature a mix of styles either completely rooted in Celtic music or that have gone back to use the Celtic or Traditional genre to bring another facet to their art.

Christiane Cargill - Green Fields of France.

“…the show belongs to Cargill. With her sensual approach, her vocals reach far without faltering. Add to this a soulful adeptness on the keyboard, and her stock is sky high.” ~ Music Connection Magazine.

Instrumentation
Christiane Cargill - vocals and piano

Additional Instrumentation:
Carter Dewberry - cello
Rebecca Kleinmann - flute
Bob Malone - accordian
Paul McIntire - violin
Christo Pellani - drums and percussion

Biography
Christiane Cargill was born and raised in Orange County, California. An accomplished and agile pianist with a gift for melodies and a fluid, soulful voice, she begged to take piano and organ lessons at the tender age of 3, while her legs were still too short to reach the pedals.

Christiane studied classical works with great enthusiasm, but found herself drawn to musical composition and songwriting. She wrote her first song at age 8, and had several albums worth of material written by the time she graduated high school. Christiane received a music scholarship to attend the University of California in Irvine, where she graduated with honors, receiving degrees in piano performance and psychology. After college, Christiane fronted the Los Angeles-based bands ELYN and Riddle the Sphinx, and enjoyed composing for several film projects.

Christiane also co-founded the non-profit organization HeARTS Giving Hope, and was featured in Glamour Magazine’s 2005 Woman of the Year issue, and honored with the Toyota Moving Forward Award for bringing music and art therapy to at-risk children. A fiery redhead, Christiane loves to try new things, including scuba diving, indoor skydiving, hang-gliding, and firewalking, to name a few. So its no surprise that this passion for life comes out in her music.

In 2006, she decided to launch her first solo project, exploring her Scottish and Irish heritage. She says, “On this project, I’ve stepped back from the full band sound, as I wanted to make an intimate recording, capturing the mood and feel of Ireland and Scotland, and what those places have meant to me.”

Christiane collaborated with engineer and co-producer David Peters on the project, and arranged the songs with an intimate chamber music feel, including piano & vocals, electric violin, cello, flute, and accordian, as well as percussion from Riddle the Sphinx bandmate Christo Pellani.

The decision to make a Celtic album came from the overwhelming response she received on her version of “Danny Boy,” which was offered as a bonus track to people who pre-ordered the full-length Riddle the Sphinx CD, “Fun House.” “I’ve been performing a few of the Irish songs at a gig here and there, and I’m really excited about the responses we’ve heard; people really seem to connect with these traditional songs, and as an artist, it’s a wonderful challenge to take these songs and try to make them my own.” In addition to traditional songs, the upcoming album, “Metamorphosis,” will feature four original songs.

After recently opening for the Young Dubliners, Christiane says “I’ve got the bug for it now. I’ve always been in love with Celtic music, and I’m really looking forward to jumping into this project with both feet!”

Website
http://www.christianecargill.com

Discography
Metamorphosis, coming March 17, 2007.

Pete Hawkes - Celtic Hornblower.

‘The Best most diverse and original songwriter in the business today. Hawkes can do it all, write Jazz, classical, ragtime, folk, blues and more. (Roger Holesworth The global villabe PBS 106.7FM).

How often does one come across a composer with the ability to transcend several musical genres and yet stay firmly focussed within his own perceived sound? Almost never! Pete manages to turn many genres into his own, making the listener feel they are witnessing something innovative and fresh, but still familiar to the feels and traditions of the genre.

A musician that can compose and play fine airs, reels and Celtic influenced pieces; Delta Blues and cleverly written neo classical pieces is rare. Rarer still he can compose very finely arranged and well-executed Jazz. If that doesn’t take your fancy then you can always listen to Pete’s beautiful arrangements of some great classical compositions. Dig ragtime? then you have come to the right place.

The word ‘genius’ I have always reserved for the greats like Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Richard Thompson and Louie Armstrong, but given the diversity, variation, number of musical genres, and the prolific number of high quality, original compositions of all styles of music Pete has put out every year, not to mention a back catalogue of finely crafted original songs (that always have something unique to say about the human condition), it’s hard not to use the word for him here as well. If he is not a genius then he is certainly one of Australia’s most creative and interesting composers for acoustic music to emerge in the last decade. Tony Bates `Musicologist/Reviewer’ Station Librarian /Presenter
3WBC 94.1FM, BOX HILL Victoria

Website
http://home.iprimus.com.au/petejh

Discography
‘Secrets Vows and Lies’ ( folk blues) with guests Phil Emmanuel and Dave Swarbrick
‘Unspoken Riddles’ - instrumental collection
‘Melancholy Cello ‘- original cello
‘Double Divesity ‘- Double CD of complete
instrumental works
‘The DADGAD files’ - orginal celtic compositions, airs reels, jigs

Mitch - Home.

Mitch are a three piece rock band from Dublin Ireland in the style of Springsteen and Clash and also have a softer side of acoustic rock with Dylan and John Cougar Mellencamp as their heroes.

Instrumentation
vocals , guitar and harmonica Eamon Mitchell
Bass and backing vocals Cathal Molloy
Drums and Percussion Dominick Mitchell

Biography
Mitch hail from Dublin Ireland and are the brainchild of singer songwriter and Guitarist Eamon Mitchell, a former member of 90’s Dublin bands The Conspiracy, Babyon the Bride and Drowning Kristiania. Mitch have catchy Radio friendly singles and are a mighty live band in the same vein as the clash, oasis and Springsteen. Just pure raw energy pumping from the stage.

Website
http://www.mitchband.com

Discography
Mitch
Debut single Breathe
Debut album One Good Reason
released october 25th Dublin Ireland
available from cdbaby.com
newartistsonline.com

Shadowdancer - She Moved Through The Fair.

Jack Montgomery’s Shadowdancer has been described as “Mythic Folk” and “Celtic Fusion.” We try not to rely on the standard format of subjective interpretations of various romantic relationships but explore the worlds of myth, fantasy and spirituality.

Instrumentation
Jack Montgomery is the founder of Shadowdancer which includes Jack on guitar, harmonica, appalachian dulcimer and Graham Hudspeth on lead guitar, bouzouki and vocals.

Lesley Montgomery sometimes guests on backing vocals along with other guest musicians.

Biography
Jack Montgomery: Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Jack began studying guitar at age thirteen. After playing music as a solo performer and in bands in and around Columbia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the late 1960s and 70s, Jack retired from music in the ’80s until he joined the Kentucky folk band “Lost River” in 2000 till 2005.
He now plays guitar, bass, harmonica, mandolin and Appalachian dulcimer as a solo artist and with Graham Hudspeth in the duet known as Shadowdancer.

Graham Hudspeth, a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky is active in the local Bowling Green and regional music scene as he has been since his teens. The bands Avian, the Jambodians, Kyle Daniel Band, and Cootie Brown are only a few of the musical organizations to which Graham has contributed. Graham excels as a vocalist and versatile musician, playing guitar, bass, mandolin and bouzouki.

Musical History:
Jack’s music has been featured on several festivals, college and Internet radio stations as well as a recent PBS/KET show entitled “Mixed Media”. He regularly performs locally in the Bowling Green, Louisville, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky and also in Clarksville, and Nashville, TN.

Jack released his first musical CD entitled “Onward to Avalon” in 2002. Over 800 copies of “Onward to Avalon” have been sold worldwide. His second CD “Everywhere I Look” was released in December 2004 and is selling well.

Musically, Jack and Graham are interested in Celtic, contemporary folk, and classic rock. Jack and Graham write their own songs and have a passion for discovering older traditional material and giving it a new musical life.

Shadowdancer is a new venture into the realms of traditional Celtic and original music. Their sound is focused around original compositions as well as the traditional music of England, Scotland and Ireland. Formed in February of 2005, performs at a variety of venues including clubs, and folk festivals in Nashville, and Clarksville, Tennessee, Charleston, South Carolina as well as Louisville, Hopkinsville and Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Website
http://shadowdancermusic.com

Discography
“Onward to Avalon was released in November 2002. So far, it has sold over 1200 copies sold worldwide.

“Everywhere I Look” was relased in December 2004 and has sold over 800 copies worldwide through CDBABY and other distributors.

First Annual Celtic Folk Scotland Tour - September 2007

Ever wanted to visit Scotland and see the real sights, visit a real, traditional pub session with great artists playing wonderful Celtic and traditional music, visit the hidden sights of a country steeped in over 6000 years of history?

Come join me on our first ever Celtic Folk Scotland Tour in late September 2007. I’ll be serving as your tour guide, driver, pub advisor and personal shopper for the trip. We have put together the Itinerary and have posted a pdf file right here in the Celtic Folk Podcast show notes - just check a few posts back.

The Celtic Folk Scotland Tour will be a limited opportunity for Celtic Folk Podcast listeners on a first-come, first-served basis, so email me quickly if you’re interested.

Artist Interview Series - Ian Kinnear

One of the folks we’ll meet on the Tour is Scottish Smallpipe maker Ian Kinnear. I caught up with Ian just prior to the weekly Session at the Three Bellies Brae Bar in Kirriemuir, Scotland (yet another stop on our Tour!) and we talked about all things Smallpipes, as well as recorded a little of the sounds of the Session. For more information on Ian and his beautiful, hand-made instruments, click on http://www.scottishsmallpipes.com.

For even more Session recordings, we highly recommend checking out:
The Angus Sessions

The ShowStopper Track:

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite track from this week’s podcast by emailing us, telling us who you want to hear again and we’ll tally the votes and crown the winner the ShowStopper Track. So drop us a line and tell us who you liked the best of the four great tracks this week.

Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords - Easy and Slow.

Ken’s website.

Please help us support these fine artists by taking a look at their websites, buying their music or at least let them know how much you enjoyed listening to their music on the Celtic Folk Podcast.

Check out our parent website at www.upbeatcafe.com where you’ll find a schedule of great live music, as well as our Online Music Shop were you can buy those old-fashioned CD’s, as well as digital downloads.

STOP PRESS We are currently uploading all the digital tracks and “Sip-A-Clips” to the server. We will be opening this new shop just as soon as we can. You’ll be able to find it here when it goes live. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress.

 

Like to listen to great new, independent music of all genres from all around the world? Subscribe to our other weekly podcast Upbeat Radio. We feature excellent music for all tastes.

A note for Artists:

Would you like to have your music included on a future Celtic Folk Podcast? Just email us or submit a song to us through Sonicbids.

Please, please, please give us some feedback and let us know how we’re doing. All podcasters live for feedback, both good and bad - it let’s us know what you, our listener and subscriber, want to hear. Email us at info@celticfolkpod.com

A couple of posts further down you’ll find a link to a pdf file with all the information you need. So scroll down and download the file now.

Secure your place prior to February 16th and we’ll take off $250!

Here are the details for our first annual Celtic Folk Scotland Tour. Click on the pdf logo to download the complete information packet, including how instructions on how to secure your place on theTour.

Click for Information packet in pdf format (if you need a pdf file reader, click on the Adobe link at the end of this post).

Starting and ending in Glasgow, September 5^th through September 13^th, 2007.
Price: $1995 per person.

The first annual Celtic Folk Scotland Tour will take place between September 5^th and September 13^th and will be based in the county of Angus in the northeast of Scotland. This personal, guided tour of the “Birthplace of Scotland” will be a trip that encompasses the essence of a country steeped in 6000 years of history and culture.

Angus is said to be the birthplace of Scotland. Its claim to this title comes from both the battle of Dunnichen (formerly known as Nechtansmere), where, in 685AD, the Picts defeated the Northumbrian army - the first time a united army from the land we now know as Scotland came together against a common enemy - and the Declaration of Arbroath, signed by Scottish nobles at Arbroath Abbey in April of 1320 and sent to the Pope, declaring Scotland a free and independent nation.

Angus is steeped history, ranging from pre-historic fortresses and standing stones to medieval castles and manor houses. The everyday working people are represented too with museums describing the life and toils of local farmers and fishermen.

The countryside includes the beautiful coastal towns and villages such as Broughty Ferry, Arbroath, Auchmithie and Montrose to the picturesque farming and market towns of Brechin, Edzell, Kirriemuir and Forfar, to the city of Dundee – home of Jute, Jam and Journalism.

Our time in Angus will have us tasting the delights of all facets of this part of Scotland. We’ll see the historic sites, taste the local fare and enjoy live traditional music along the way; all guided by someone who knows the area and can give particular insight to its people and places. We will, of course, visit the nation’s capital on our final full day.

Don’t forget, this is a small group tour that has a limited number of places available. You need to secure your spot on the Tour as quickly as possible.

Complete instructions on payment details are included in the pdf file, along with the Itinerary, additional notes, pictures, tips and a whole lot more.

Show 20 - Numbers

This week we feature the music of:

The Dorians (The Rocky Road to Dublin)
SullivanBurton (The Town of Ballybay)
Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords (Easy and Slow)
John McGill (Away)

For more information on the artists featured on the Celtic Folk Podcast, including links and pics, click on www.celticfolkpod.com.

CFP20 Show Notes:

Numbers. For lack of a better, more cutesy name. Plus details in the next couple of days about the first annual Celtic Folk Scotland Tour.

 

The Dorians - The Rocky Road to Dublin.
The Dorians are a Celtic band from Illinois offering songs and dance music from the Irish and Scottish traditions. They have performed throughout the midwest at festivals, colleges, conferences, and schools & are the house band for the nationally syndicated public radio program, Celtic Connections.

Instrumentation
Bryan Kelso Crow - flute, tin whistle, keyboards and lead vocals;
Mickey Soltys on fiddle and guitar;
Mike Shanahan on guitar, cittern and vocals.
Other instrumentation may also include mandolin, banjo, bodhran and bones.

Biography
The Dorians are a three-member band based in Carbondale, Illinois, specializing in dance music from the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland, and songs from Ireland, Scotland, England, and North America. The current members have been performing together since 1990.

The band’s vocal repertoire includes humorous ballads, traditional love songs, songs of Irish and Scottish history and politics, and some old and new American folk songs. Their instrumental repertoire ranges from Scottish and Irish reels and jigs to lovely slower tunes. They have played throughout the midwest as well as Alaska for concert audiences, Highland games, weddings, dances, music and arts festivals, community fundraisers, elementary schools, colleges, historic re-enactments, academic conferences, and on public radio and television.

The band’s versatile and talented musicians include:

Bryan Kelso Crow as lead singer and playing flute, whistle and keyboard. He is a native of Tennessee, with Scots-Irish roots, but he never heard traditional Celtic music until he was in college.
He learned to play the tin whistle while hiking the roads of Ireland in 1978, and has been playing the traditional wood flute since the mid-1980s. He taught as an exchange professor at the University of Ulster, outside of Belfast, for the 1985-86 school year, and got to know many Irish musicians during that time. He is a guest lecturer in the Irish Studies program at Southern Illinois University, and a member of the Coordinating Committee for the Southern Illinois Festival of Irish Music.
In 1991 He launched “Celtic Connections” as a local radio program featuring Celtic music. The program moved to national syndication in July 1996 and can now be heard on over 100 public radio stations across the U.S.

Mickey Soltys is an accomplished fiddler and guitarist. He is originally from Wycliffe, Kentucky and has performed extensively in other bands and genres in the region before joining The Dorians. He has studied many of the Irish fiddling styles from both his extensive collection of recordings as well as traveling to Ireland. In addition to his interest in Celtic music he is an expert on old-time Missouri fiddling. He also plays regularly for the local contra dance society, “Friends of Traditional Music and Dance”.

Mike Shanahan plays guitar and cittern, and specializes in the singing of immigration and other historical ballads. Mike has been performing folk music since his teens. Originally from Ohio, he has performed with several old-time bands in Ann Arbor, MI and Madison, WI. It was in Madison in the early 1980’s that he became involved in promoting and playing Irish music and played in a local band, Bogside (aka Boxty) before moving to Carbondale, Illinois. There he met Bryan Crow and they formed the Dorians. He has studied guitar with Daithe Sproule, Zan McLeod and Jed Foley and performs mainly using the DADGAD guitar tuning. Mike is also the Entertainment Coordinator for the Southern Illinois Irish Festival.

In addition to playing guitar he also plays a Stefan Sobell 10-string cittern and 5-string banjo.

Discography
The Dorians - self titled album (1998)
new release due in Spring 2007
 

SullivanBurton - Town of Ballybay.
SullivanBurton is a full-on powerhouse of sound blending new world and old world, traditional with contemporary sounds for an audience experience that is more than enjoyable. It’s a party!

Instrumentation
Bruce Burton-vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, bodhran, fiddle
Bob Moore-bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Tom Jones-bodhran, dumbek, djembe, other percussion
Shannan Sullivan-fiddle/violin, vocals

Biography
SullivanBurton’s latest CD, “Monkey Bars [self-released 2005] is an energetic acoustic/electric mix of largely Irish material that goes well beyond the usual pub standards, with crisp playing and strong singing and a good mix of the sensitive and the silly. “Winnie’s Morning Tune Set” begins as a quiet acoustic guitar piece that morphs into a hot fiddle reel with resonating bass lines as Winnie presumably wakes up. Among the songs, there are fun versions of the Oysterband’s cheerfully cynical “Blood Wedding” and Tommy Makem’s bawdy “Town of Ballybay”.”-Tom Nelligan, Dirty Linen Magazine.

SullivanBurton (yes, all one word, both ampersand and hyphen-less) is a duo consisting of two good friends backed by two wonderfully talented musicians and friends who all share a passion for Celtic music and a penchant for adventure. Founding members Shannan (Sullivan) and Bruce (Burton) previously played together in the popular Illinois band, the Bogside Zukes—Bruce (1993-2003) and Shannan (1997-2000). Shannan and Bruce finally decided to collaborate in August of 2003 as SullivanBurton. The remainder of that year and the following one turned out nicely successful for the brand new group even including a concert date with the group Danu. The later additions of former Zukes members Bob Moore on bass and Tom Jones on percussion rounded out their sound and have turned the name SullivanBurton from a descriptor to a title.

The music created includes both traditional and contemporary Irish/Celtic colored and tempered with the unavoidable influences of growing up in American pop culture resulting in a fusion of Celtic/American/Urban/Folk. Audiences love this group for their disarming charm, sharp wit and good-natured ribbing with each other—not least to mention their fantastic musicianship. SullivanBurton brings you into the mix and leaves you soaring…

For more information on SullivanBurton:
• www.SullivanBurton.com or
• www.myspace.com/SullivanBurton
• www.youtube.com/profile?user=hark2003
• www.sonicbids.com/SullivanBurton2 (SullivanBurton Electronic Press Kit (EPK))

Discography
SullivanBurton (2004 self-release)
Monkey Bars (2005 self-release)
 

SullivanBurton’s website

 

Ken O’Malley and the Twilight Lords - Easy and Slow.
The heart and soul of Ireland: From Ken O’Malley’s one-man show with acoustic guitar and mandolin, weaving ballads, jigs and reels into a fascinating historical journey . . . to the full Twilight Lords band adding a kick-ass, get up and dance electric rock edge to Irish traditional music.

Instrumentation
Ken O’Malley (Solo performance): Rich vocal interpretation of Irish traditional music and storytelling with a historical perspective accompanied by acoustic guitar and mandolin.

Ken O’Malley and The Twilight Lords:
Ken O’Malley - Lead vocals, guitar, mandolin
Billy Watts - Electric guitar, vocals
Will MacGregor - Bass guitar, vocals
Dillon O’Brien - Keyboards, vocals
James Cruce - Drums

Biography
Ken O’Malley arrived in Los Angeles from Dublin over 30 years ago with little more than red and blue platform shoes, his guitar and the notion that he should find a pub and play. Within two weeks, he was performing at Molly Malone’s, the legendary Irish venue in the city’s Fairfax district, and he hasn’t stopped playing since. Through the years, O’Malley has performed solo and as part of The Mulligans, Blended Spirits and, currently, The Twilight Lords. He’s shared bills with such artists as Mary Black, The Chieftains, The Saw Doctors, Michael Flately and Pierce Brosnan and continues to be an ever-popular and near legendary constant on Southern California’s Celtic music circuit. “I love music and I love to play,” says O’Malley who, by his own estimate, plays well over 200 dates a year.

And just as Ken O’Malley loves Celtic music, he is devoted to nurturing Irish traditions and culture. One of seven children, he was born and raised in Dublin City. His grandfather was a band-leader, his father played piano, his mother opted for violin and everyone, of course, sang. When O’Malley was nine years old, his father gave him a ukulele. Attending a Christian Brothers school gave him fluency in the Irish language and a spot in the accordion band. He taught himself guitar and mandolin, and by age 14, he was playing coffeehouses in Dublin’s then-burgeoning traditional music scene.

While a teen, O’Malley polished his Irish language skills spending summers in the west of Ireland. At 15, he opened for legendary balladeer Paddy Reilly at the equally legendary Old Sheiling Pub. By the time he turned 18, O’Malley was gathering professional credits, among them a stint with Trudy’s People, a group he formed that played Gaelic shows on RTE, Ireland’s national radio and television network. After coming to the U.S., he also performed in the film “Patriot Games” and has acted in such theatrical productions as “Shadow of The Glen” and “The Man Who Would be King.”

Today, as a performer, he is equally at ease with the eighteenth century “Mo Ghile Mear,” the Phil Coulter penned contemporary classic “The Town I Loved So Well” or Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” one of his most requested songs. As a spinner of tales tall and true, he never fails to amuse and beguile. And as a musician, O’Malley’s graceful mastery of the mandolin and guitar have earned him high peer praise.

“I enjoy playing now more than ever,” says O’Malley. “In the last ten years, I’ve matured as an artist. My voice has gotten stronger, my playing better. I’m writing more and I’m writing better.” The truth of his statement is clearly evident on “The White Seahorse,” his first CD with The Twilight Lords. With a mix of such traditional material as “Carrickfergus” and “Black Is The Colour,” and original compositions like “The High Wire Waltz” and the title track “The White Seahorse,” this CD is a masterful homage to traditional Irish music enhanced with solid rhythms, acoustic and electric instruments matched by the powerful vocal energy that is the hallmark of a Ken O’Malley performance.

The second release, “Women of Ireland,” continues to showcase O’Malley’s irresistible blend of Celtic traditional, American roots rock and eclectic world beat, this time before an enthusiastic live audience at the Celtic Arts Center. The band takes traditional favorites such as “The Night Visit” and “Skibbereen” showcasing tight, solid interpretations. There was obviously magic in the air that evening and there can be no doubt that Ken O’Malley, the driving force of the Twilight Lords, has heart and soul deeply rooted in Irish tradition and a talent as eclectic and bright as tomorrow.

“If I’ve made people happy with my performances,” says O’Malley, “that’s success to me.”

Discography
The White Seahorse (1999) - This O’Malley studio album is also a mix of such traditional material as “Carrickfergus”, “The Silver Spear/Maid behind the Bar”, and “Black is the Colour” and original compositions like “The High Wire Waltz”, “The Sailor Song”, “Better Days” and the title track “The White Seahorse” - a salute to O’Malley’s forebear, Grace O’Malley aka Granuaile,the pirate Queen of 16th century Ireland.

Women of Ireland (2002) - “With Dublin native Ken O’Malley’s stunningly vibrant Irish tenor at the helm, The Twilight Lords effortlessly span the range from sentimental traditional Irish ballads to aggressive contemporary Irish folk/rock. Included are standards like “Sally Free and Easy”, and “As I Roved Out”, contemporary rockers like “Sullivan’s John”, a few sparkling jigs and reels, and a pounding polka. There are also three songs in O’Malley’s native Gaelic language. This stellar performance was recorded live at LA’s Celtic Arts Center… ” Dave Soyers, writer The Irish Herald, San Francisco.

For a direct link to Ken’s site where you can purchase music, click here.

Ken O’Malley’s website

 

John McGill - Away.
Part folk, part rock and all truth…He hits major emotions with such a skilled touch that his listeners are put at ease and become part of his world,” –Music Connection.

Instrumentation
John McGill - Guitar, Vocals
Ralph Torres - Keyboards

Biography
First place winner in the of the 2005 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition.

Finalist in the 2004 Kerrville Folk Festival Newsong Competition.

Chiming guitars and silvery harmonies sustain themes of longing and triumph on Journey From LaLa., singer/songwriter John McGill’s revelatory new CD, but the title cut is rambunctious roadhouse revelry — downshifting with high octane guitars, whirring Hammond, and sultry chick singers. McGill defines this music as “Existential Blues” as he informs, “I’m a thinker who doesn’t think much.” The literate self-examination and sterling craftsmanship of his songs clearly indicate otherwise.

Born in Dallas, Texas, John at first resisted the call of the rock, preferring jazz and classical music. In time, a dizzying roster of potent American influences — Aaron Copeland to Gram Parsons — infused his musical consciousness. He spent his teen years rocking in bands with his brother, balancing high harmonies and rhythmic Southern rock roots, indelible elements that remain imbedded in his current musical mix as evidenced on his debut artist’s release, the instrumental Facing West, as well as Journey From LaLa.

Between the scrub hills and the strip malls, in that dusty corner of California that larcenous land speculators dubbed “The Inland Empire,” John, working with the inland Empire Songwriter’s Association and the Southern California Songwriter’s Network, has helped nourish a fertile community of songwriters and musicians. A facile guitarist who also plays keyboards and bass in the studio, he is a charter member of an emerging scene that includes Alien Ant Farm, as well as a new cohort, Ralph Torres, with whom he performs in the duo, mostly harmless.

Journey From LaLa. is an accomplished work from a masterful songwriter. In a voice burnished with honesty and experience, John McGill shares incandescent litanies that seem to glow from within; a steady compass pointing to a destination of infinite promise.

John can be heard at venues throughout southern california performing with musical partner Ralph Torres under the banner mostly harmless.

Discography
Journey From LaLa
11:59 - (single)
Facing West – Instrumental
 

John McGill’s website

 

First Annual Celtic Folk Scotland Tour - September 2007

Ever wanted to visit Scotland and see the real sights, visit a real, traditional pub session with great artists playing wonderful Celtic and traditional music, visit the hidden sights of a country steeped in over 6000 years of history?

Come join me on our first ever Celtic Folk Scotland Tour in late September 2007. I’ll be serving as your tour guide, driver, pub advisor and personal shopper for the trip. We have put together the Itinerary and we’ll be posting that in a pdf file in a couple of days, so keep an eye on your Celtic Folk Podcast subscription, as it will show-up in your podcatcher. We will also produce a short audio Podcast just incase you miss the pdf file.

The Celtic Folk Scotland Tour will be a limited opportunity for Celtic Folk Podcast listeners on a first-come, first-served basis, so email me quickly if you’re interested.

The Tour will be based in the county of Angus – the “Birthplace of Scotland” – and the itinerary includes a traditional music session in the hometown of Peter pan author J.M. Barrie; a visit to one of the most spectacular castles on the east coast and one where William Wallace, yes, Braveheart himself, went up against the English; time aboard the ship that took the famous explorers Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic; and to the site of the Declaration of Arbroath, where in 1320 Scotland appealed to the Pope and declared its independence from England.

Of course we’ll have plenty of free time for individual exploration and we’ll see some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. I’m excited and if you’ve ever wanted to see this incredible country, stick close to your computer!
The ShowStopper Track:

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite track from this week’s podcast by emailing us, telling us who you want to hear again and we’ll tally the votes and crown the winner the ShowStopper Track. So drop us a line and tell us who you liked the best of the four great tracks this week.

Nathaniel Maloney - Old Empty Farmhouse.

Nathaniel’s website.

 

Please help us support these fine artists by taking a look at their websites, buying their music or at least let them know how much you enjoyed listening to their music on the Celtic Folk Podcast.

 

Check out our parent website at www.upbeatcafe.com where you’ll find a schedule of great live music, as well as our Online Music Shop were you can buy those old-fashioned CD’s, as well as digital downloads.

 

STOP PRESS We are currently uploading all the digital tracks and “Sip-A-Clips” to the server. We will be opening this new shop just as soon as we can. You’ll be able to find it here when it goes live. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress.

 

 

Like to listen to great new, independent music of all genres from all around the world? Subscribe to our other weekly podcast Upbeat Radio. We feature excellent music for all tastes.

 

A note for Artists:

Would you like to have your music included on a future Celtic Folk Podcast? Just email us or submit a song to us through Sonicbids.

 

Please, please, please give us some feedback and let us know how we’re doing. All podcasters live for feedback, both good and bad - it let’s us know what you, our listener and subscriber, want to hear. Email us at info@celticfolkpod.com

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