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

We all seem to make changes at the changing of the calendar and Celtic Force is no different. People come and go as time passes and we are pleased to announce those that are now coming on board with our team.

First, the musicians being added to our list of artists we currently represent or recommend. You’ve heard about the signing of Skerryvore from Scotland, great group of young Celtic rockers that we’ll be introducing to the US market this year. We are also very proud to announce the addition of Appalachian Celtic Punk group Cutthroat Shamrock out of Tennessee. High energy, in your face, get up and move kind of music. Also we are very happy to have our long time friend, Davey Morrison (formally of Albannach) along with us. You will be seeing Davey at some of the events we manage as well as some other venues as the year progresses with his own unique brand of entertainment. So get ready you Eejits. We are also expecting another addition but are not able to annouce them at this time.

Secondly, we are growing and taking on additional task, such as our social radio network at celticforceradio.com, our international tours and even producing a new album for Mickey Harte, the award winning contemporary folk rocker from Ireland. This requires good people out in the market promoting our services and we are proud to have the following folks joining our effort. These folks will be helping us at events, hitting the phones to promote our musicians, working with our radio programming and filling in some of the gaps caused by rapid growth. These brave souls are David Glenn, Lynn McKinney, Peggy Jo Braswell, Danny Skinner, Daphne Swilling and Mike Dunlap.

We will be featuring profiles of our new additions over the next couple of weeks but wanted to officially welcome them to the team. Going to be one heck of a year! Get READY!

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…

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!

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

For those of you who don’t already know him, Mickey is among the most talented of modern-day Irish musical artists. His style could be described as contemporary with elements of rock, folk, and even some blues. Mickey writes and performs both electrically and acoustically. For this special invitation, Mickey is flying in for a solo acoustic performance.

The Homecoming Tour consists of 40+ American friends and fans of the Scottish performance group Albannach over for a week-long trek from Stirling to Glasgow to Inverness to Edinburgh. Other musical evenings of the trip include ones by Albannach, Ted Christopher, and Jim Malcolm.

Please know that all friends and family of both Albannach and Celtic Force are welcome @ Uisge Beatha. Show starts after 830pm. Event is “free” (as long as you drink!) for members of our group.

It’s a “don’t miss” night for aficionados of live performance of passionately upbeat vocals, lilting laments, acoustic bluesy riffs and other deft guitar work.

For more information, contact: 

Celtic Force Enterprises:  thecelticforce@gmail.com or thecelticforce@cox.net

Uisge Beatha: 236-242 Woodlands Road.  Tel:  0141 332 1622 – Nearest Subway stop: Kelvinbridge

The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

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Source: Donegal News

BY SEÁN P. FEENY – For years we have had to endure the same songs every Christmas season. That was until one of Donegal’s very own pop stars decided to release his first Christmas song.

Today (Friday) Mickey Harte’s Home On Christmas Day is available to download and will hit radio stations nationwide.

Mickey said that while it’s hard to compete with the ‘X Factor’ for a Christmas Number One these days, he had always wanted to release a Christmas song and with the help of Terry McGinty on the music, this season was the right time to do it.

“The song is based on a story someone told me about their father coming home for Christmas after dealing with alcoholism and it being the best gift they could ask for.”

Besides working on his own music, Mickey continues to be an ‘in demand’ songwriter with songs co-written by the Lifford native appearing on Dublin singer Rob Burke’s new album and on the latest release by Jack Tempchin, writer of The Eagles hit ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

For further info: www.myspace.com/mickeyharte
Email: handonharte@gmail.com

The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

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To say thanks for your support we wanted to send you some NEW music for the holidays.

We’ve included some details about the artist, Mickey Harte, and are excited about working with him in the new year.

Enjoy this awesome new song from Mickey:

Christmas Day by Mickey Harte

At the age of 15 Mickey Harte began his musical career entertaining audiences, singing and playing guitar in venues around the N.W. of Ireland. This quickly developed into a full time job when he and some musician friends formed the band “Kryptix” writing and recording his first original album at 17 with the band, while at the same time finishing 2nd level education at St. Columba’s College, in  his native Co.Donegal. he completed 5 years and successfully passed  the leaving cert exams.

From there Mickey moved straight into 3rd level education studying the “Rock school-Performance” course at Senior college, Ballyfermot, Dublin, and was awarded a Merit grade  from city of Dublin V.E.C. continuing to perform with his band for some years and gaining valuable experience on the road. Eventually, Mickey felt the need to go his own way and embarked on a solo career as a full time singer/songwriter, playing acoustic clubs and theatres and supporting many well known irish and international artist during that period.

Mickey returned to collage to further study his music and completed a 2 year btec natoinal diploma course in popular Music at N.W.I.F.H.E. Derry City. recieving a distintion. In 2002 Mickey reluctantly auditioned for a brand new T.V. talent show called “you’re a star ” on R.T.E. the programme took Ireland by storm and Mickey became a house-hold name after winning the competition out right. as part of the winning prize he represented Ireland in the 2003 Eurovision song competition in Riga, Latvia. Signing a record deal with sony records U.K. and recording the #1 album “sometimes right, sometimes wrong” with U.K. producer John Kelly (paul mc cartney, chris rea, kate bush), and We’ve got the world” became the biggest and fastest selling single in Irleland that year.

In 2004 mickey moved on from sony to set up his own label “swerve music” and to date has released 1 full length “Live and Learn”,  2 ep’s and 6 singles on swerve and is currently working on 2nd full length for release spring 2010.

Recently Mickey signed a publishing deal with elevate music for the album “live and learn” and some of his past catalogue, www.elevatemusic.net and is currently working as a contributor and mentor on RTE’s “star search” for young peoples programing. www.rte.ie/ice  click on(star search). This has in turn led to a project called “Musicool Europe” established with friend and TV presenter Brian Ormond. and veteran songwriter and performer Francie conway(song writing coach-the rock school,Dublin). The project is an educational and Music based programme for young performers, musicians and bands. www.bebo.com/musicooleurope

The last 12 months have been busy for mickey with gigs both in Ireland and Europe(Germany, Switzerland,Spain, france) and other side projects including writing the theme music for TV’s celeb boxing programme “lords of the ring” summer 09 and various contributions and performances on the ryan show (2fm), RTE’s late late show, and TV3′s Ireland AM, Expose, Irelands top 10′s.

For further info: www.myspace.com/mickeyharte
Email: handonharte@gmail.com

The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

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For those not already knowing, Mickey Harte is a bit of a star in the Irish music world.  Quadruple platinum record sales tend to engender avid attention and he’s garnered both. Mickey is indeed a very talented musical artist.  He also just happens to be a really genuine and affable guy. So much so that we want to share with you a bit about Mickey Harte. 

The meteoric arc of Mickey Harte’s professional career began with a win of the Eurovision 2003 song contest.  For us Americans, that would be the European equivalent of being an “American Idol.” Today, Mickey is often on Irish television, hobnobs with celebrities, is asked to headline charity gigs, and even provides musical scoring for popular programming.  

Mickey Harte hails from Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland and, from an early age, pursued his dream of becoming a professional singer/songwriter. He grew up listening to a wide range of music from Glen Miller Orchestra to AC/DC, Christy Moore, Rolling Stones, The Police etc. Family and friends always encouraged him to express his passion for music. From his teens onward, Mickey played in various “garage” bands as well as solo work. Ever evolving, his style today could be described as contemporary with elements of rock, folk, and even some blues. Mickey writes and performs both electrically and acoustically. 

In addition to his own composition work, one of Mickey’s particular passions is in mentoring young people to foster and cultivate their own musical proficiencies. He is one of the driving forces behind Musicool Europe, an educational and fun program for aspiring young performers and musicians between the ages of 13 and 19. Musicool works to encourage the participants to express their talent, develop their playing techniques, song-writing and creative abilities, and help instill confidence in their personal performance. 

Along with everything else, Mickey is working on a new album and has been touring Ireland and Europe promoting previous works. His ambition is to bring his songs and music to as many countries as possible and touch the lives of people with his words and sound.  

Mickey has long-considered prospects for gaining wider audience in North America.  Hint… stay tuned. Chances are, you just might have more opportunities to get to know Mickey. 

For sounds, sights, and more, go to:  www.myspace.com/mickeyharte and  http://www.musicooleurope.com/

The Celtic Force – Visit our website: www.thecelticforce.com

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