It’s one of the best-known and most unique Scottish festivals in the world. It has all the elements, Celtic music, athletics, Highland dancing, fiddling, piping, vendors, herding, camping, children’s games, clan tents, etc. What makes it different is where it is held and the people that gather there.
One of the oldest and most beautiful mountains on the east coast of the U.S., Grandfather Mountain is one of the best preserved nature locations of its kind anywhere. And a festival of this scale in this location separates it from all the others. It’s not the cheapest event of it type but there is no other experience like it on the planet. The vibe that the location produces can cause a person to go speechless for several moments.
The people that have gathered here are unique as well. They love their heritage and they love to immerse themselves in the festivities and joys that this place delivers. It’s the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, second weekend of July for 56 years.
Source: thedailytimes.com
By Steve Wildsmith stevew@thedailytimes.com
It’s not easy convincing those who think of vinyl albums as a thing of yesteryear just how big a deal Cutthroat Shamrock’s most recent accomplishment is.
Group vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ben Whitehead even had to convince some of his bandmates that signing on with I Hate Punk Rock Records and allowing the label to release a limited-edition, 300-print vinyl album was something to brag about.
“I got a record player four or five years back, and I’ve got a good-sized couple of boxes of vinyl, but the rest of the guys were like, ‘Why do we want to be on vinyl? It’s no big deal,’” Whitehead told The Daily Times recently. “I tried to explain that it really is a big deal. They wanted their label on the back of one of our records, and to do that, they were willing to pay for it.”
Source: Relevant Magazine
Picture a young man sitting in a large cathedral in Ireland with his wife and small children. He lives around the time of our founding fathers and is a rising entrepreneur in Dublin. His name is Arthur Guinness, and he is a brewer, and it is hard to exaggerate just how important beer was to the people of Guinness’ day.
Guinness lived at a time when no one understood micro-organisms and how disease is spread. They routinely drank from the same waters in which they dumped their garbage and their sewage. Unknowingly, they polluted the rivers and lakes around their cities. People died as a result, and this made nearly everyone in Guinness’ day avoid water entirely. Instead, they drank alcoholic beverages.
Usually, this was done in moderation and all was well. Occasionally, though, excess set in and drunkenness plagued the land. This is what happened in the years just before Guinness was born, in the period historians call “The Gin Craze.” Parliament had forbidden the importation of liquor in 1689, so the people of Ireland and Britain began making their own. It was too much temptation. Drunkenness became the rage. Every sixth house in England was a “gin house,” many of which advertised, “Drunk for one penny, dead drunk for two pence, clean straw for nothing.” It was a terrible, poverty-ridden, crime-infested time.
Ireland’s contemporary rock icon, Mickey Harte, will return to the US in March for several shows in Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia & DC.
This is a follow up to his first successful tour in the fall of last year with Celtic Force and is in support of his new recording project, Man’s Aloud to Dream, due to be released this spring.
Be sure to check out the schedule on his web site and listen to the sneak preview song, Bordertown. from his new CD.
We are also pleased to announce that Mickey will be a special guest with the world famous Irish band, The Chieftains, on Sunday night March 13 in Raleigh, NC. Don’t miss a chance to experience this 4 time platinum Sony recording artist if you are near one of these shows.
For more information, visit: http://www.mickeyhartemusic.com
Posted in irish music, mickey harte | 
Celtic Music, celtic rock, irish music, mickey harte, The Celtic Force
I think it is important on this occasion to give a little insight in to the inspiration behind “Home on Christmas day”. A story a friend shared with me on how as a young child her Dad returned home after getting sober, and thankfully stayed sober, and how this changed and improved the lives of her and her family forever.
This recording is dedicated to anyone who may find themselves in a similar place this Christmas. Be strong, there is hope and help!!
Originally recorded for a previous Christmas project, I’m delighted I got the chance to revisit this song. Please enjoy the new arrangement, live drums, some extra guitars, some old bits out and new ones in, and a better vocal comp over all…I think!!.
Happy Christmas Mj
Website: www.mickeyhartemusic.com
Contact Europe: theagency@ireland.com
USA: thecelticforce@cox.net
Click on the graphic below…
Posted in irish music, mickey harte | Celtic Music, celtic rock, irish music, mickey harte, The Celtic Force | 
Leave a commentHere it is! A brand spanking new song from Mickey Harte!
This was recorded late in the evening of October 11th, outside at Old Salem Tavern in Winston-Salem, NC. Written just two days prior…you can hear the crickets, which we think adds to the atmosphere. Enjoy!
For more information, visit http://www.mickeyhartemusic.com!
Posted in Ireland, irish music, mickey harte | Celtic Music, celtic rock, celtic tours, irish music, mickey harte, The Celtic Force | Leave a comment
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.
We stumbled across this inspiring video of images of Ireland set to “The Rights of Man.” We hope you enjoy it!
The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com
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Jil Chambless’ new CD, “The Ladies Go Dancing” is now available.
It was produced by the legendary Brian McNeill of Battlefield Band fame and features 13 tracks of (if I do say so myself) incredible music!
Jil Chambless - vocals and flute; Brian McNeill - mandocello, bouzouki, guitar, concertina and fiddle; Scooter Muse - guitar, high strung guitar and 5 string banjo; Lorne MacDougall - highland pipes, Scottish small pipes.
Check out her page on the Notion’s Website at: http://www.henrisnotions.com/jc.html
The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com
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