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…
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Celtic Music, celtic rock, irish music, mickey harte, The Celtic Force | 
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We’re excited to announce that Celtic Force has reached an agreement with Catalyst Events Agency to represent Scotland’s hottest new Celtic band in North America.
SKERRYVORE is a six member ensemble making some major noise in Scotland and are being referred to as “The Young Guns of Celtic Rock”.
Be looking for the announcement next month of their upcoming 2011 US tour dates.
Check out their sound, their look and the vibe at Celtic Force Radio, we’re pretty sure you are going to like it.
We are proud to announce the newest member of the Celtic Force Team.
When we decided to launch Celtic Force Radio we knew we needed the right kind of personality to head up that project, someone that would really sink their teeth into it.
We’ve found just the right fit. He is known a bit around the festival circuit and has been a friend of Donovan’s for some time.
It is our pleasure to officially introduce to you the new Station Manager for Celtic Force Radio, Buster D. Badger. Buster will oversee the day-to-day operations and work with us on building a solid station. Buster will also head up the Celtic Force Complaint Department (he’s doing that for free!)
Buster has stated the the only place you will be able to find him on the web will be through the Celtic Force Radio site. So drop by, sign up and say hello.
Membership is growing fast…join us!
Visit: www.celticforceradio.com!
We want to introduce you to a great group from Scotland we think you will enjoy.
Spend a few minutes with Skerryvore through this interview and check out more details on their website: http://www.skerryvore.com/
Posted in celtic rock, Scotland | Celtic Music, celtic rock, scotland tours, scottish music | Leave a comment
Source: http://celticmp3s.com
Eclectic. That’s how you might describe this album by Beth Patterson. She drums up the courage to sing in French on only the second track – which is not entirely inappropriate for a Louisiana native – and manages to pull it off. With that test out of the way, it’s easy to continue down the path of eclecticism she’s walked into.
The album includes tracks that, while retaining the typical Celtic sound, venture boldly into jazz and Cajun territory, and sound all the better for it. Traditional Celtic tunes, such as ‘Heather on the Moor’ and ‘Ye Jacobites By Name’, are also present.
Far from being safe choices however, Beth Patterson manages to give them a twist that really makes them swing, just like the rest of the music on Hybrid Vigor.
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On Friday night, Nov. 12th, you have the opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s National Day a little early. St. Andrews is the patron saint of Scotland and the 30th of November is set aside to recognize Scotland’s nationality.
In the High Country you can celebrate this day by attending a dinner and concert featuring one of Scotland’s treasures, singer/songwriter, Jim Malcolm.
Malcolm is the winner of the Scots Trad Music Awards Songwriter of the Year and has been runner up for singer of the year. (www.jimmalcolm.com)
He is known for his smooth vocals, his charismatic delivery and his wit. Jim has performed in the past at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, as well as other regional venues, and will deliver his tribute to St Andrew’s Day at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center in Boone, NC.
The dinner will be at 7pm followed by the concert in the Grand Ballroom at Broyhill Inn. This celebration is being presented jointly by the Broyhill Inn and Celtic Force Enterprises.
Tickets for the dinner and the concert are $45 per person and can be purchased on line at www.thecelticforce.com/tickets. For more information you can call 336-499-9733
Here 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
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)
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