Marc Gunn's "Celtic MP3 Music Magazine"

Changing the way you hear Celtic Music
A weekly ezine of legal free Celtic MP3 downloads
April 6, 2005 7000+ subscribers


HIGHLIGHTS....
- Celtic Music News
- Feature: Cady Finlayson
- CD Feature: The Pogues
- Feature: Minstrosity
- New Celtic Links
- Manage your subscription

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1. Celtic Music News
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Greetings Celtic Music Lovers,

Happy Spring! The air is fresh, beautiful, and cool this weekend
in Central Texas. It was a perfect weekend for ending Excalibur
Fantasy Faire, here in the heart of Texas.

Life has been swamped since St. Patrick's Day. The Brobdingnagian
Bards won Best Performing Novelty Band in the 2004 Austin Music
Awards, and my CD "Soul of a Harper" won the Best CD Art. That's
pretty exciting, but that's just a fraction of it all.

I finished my cat single, "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling (and other
Celtic Cat Songs)". It's being printed right now. In fact, you
can now listen, download and order the single at
http://www.catdrinkingsongs.com/cat_nip.shtml . This is not the
at-home recording I did on the fly three months ago. This features
the brilliant studio producing of Ari Koinuma. The single sounds
fantastic. Go listen to "Wild Kitty" and see if you don't smile.

Plus, the Brobdingnagian Bards have nearly finished our next CD
"Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales". There's just lots going on. So let's
get started.

This week, I have a long-time supporter to feature Cady Finlayson.
She sent me her new CD a couple months ago and it's fantastic.
You can catch a wee sample in this weeks feature MP3.

And back on the Ren Faire front Minstrosity has combined a
brilliant combination of Celtic, folk, and Renaissance music with
hammer dulcimer, guitar, and three-part harmonies. They had some
fantastic production done on their new album, which I'm sure
you'll love.

To top it all off, "The Secret World of Celtic Rock" can now be
purchased at CDBaby. The CD looks and sounds brilliant. If you
were one of the people who agreed to review the album, please
post your review at CDBaby. Everyone else, go listen and pick
up your copy today!

The Secret World of Celtic Rock
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/celticmp3mag2/from/celtic/

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BLOOD WILL HAVE BLOOD

MACBETH: The Scottish Play
In 11th Century Scotland, warriors and kings ruled by one
rule... kill or be killed. With a focus on Scottish history,
the Renaissance Austin Theatre Company brings MacBeth to the
stage of the Doughtery Arts Center. This specially adapted
version stirs the murder, revenge, and madness of Shakespeare's
tragedy into the dark cauldron of Scottish history.

To view the Video Trailer for MacBeth - Click Here:
http://celticcenter.org/renaissanceaustin_current.php

Advanced Tickets Now on Sale at Things Celtic - 1806 W. 35th St.
For Reservations call the Celtic Cultural Center at 512-431-6290
or 512-771-6174

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES
MARCH 25 - APRIL 17, 2005
At the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs

March 31-April 17: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Thurs, Fri, Sat at 8pm;
Sundays at 6:00pm.
$12 Fridays and Saturdays;
$6 Thursdays and Sundays

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If ye like what you read and hear,
please forward this newsletter to your friends.

Latest News
http://www.celticmp3s.com/magazine/



_____________________________________SPONSOR__________

THE SECRET WORLD OF CELTIC ROCK
The hottest independent Celtic Rock music
in the world packed on one CD at one low price.

Read the Reviews at CDBaby.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/celticmp3mag2/from/celtic/

_____________________________________________________



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CELTIC BAND FEATURE #1
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"Moving Cloud Fair-Haired Mary" by Cady Finlayson

Cady Finlayson plays spirited celtic fiddle with American folk
and world percussion influences. The sizzling fiddle, powerful
vocals and a driving rhythm section give the Cady Finlayson Band
its' unique approach to Irish music. They're based in New York
City, and their music includes lively jigs and reels, traditional
ballads, and world music influences.

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Similiar: Brian Conway, Andy McGann, Youssou N'Dour, Eileen
Ivers, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac

Homepage: http://www.violincady.com/
Download MP3: http://www.soundclick.com/cadyfinlayson
Buy CD: Harp and Shamrock
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cadyfinlayson2/from/celtic/



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CELTIC CD FEATURE
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"If I Should Fall From Grace With God" by The Pogues

Artist: The Pogues
http://www.pogues.com/
Album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Year produced: 1988

I knew nothing of the world of Celtic rock until I was sent
a preview copy of Marc Gunn's newly-released compilation,
"The Secret World of Celtic Rock." Instantly, I was intrigued
and was told to go listen to The Pogues who are highly
influential in the Celtic rock world.

The Pogues, who's original name Pogue Mahone means "kiss my
arse" in Gaelic, were founded by Shane MacGowan in 1981. Since
then, they have shortened their name to the now well-known
"The Pogues" (after a DJ discovered what pogue mahone meant)
and put out 13 albums and several videos of their performances.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God, released in 1988, was
their 3rd album and contains over 50 minutes of some truly great
music. One of the highlights of this album is the Christmas
anthem, "Fairlytale of New York." After a beginning with a solo
voice and piano, it launches into a song that starts idealistic
and turns fairly harsh as the couple involved speak of what has
happened to their dreams. One can easily hear the youthful
idealism that turns to cold pessimism as the song spins around
them. Another particular favourite is the "Turkish Song of the
Damned." Be ready to crank the volume up on this one! Beginning
with a driving beat and a Mediterranean-influenced melody, it
continually floats between this sound and a more Celtic-inspired
dance tune. Screams and howls punctuate the singing, while the
latter portion is a driving revved-up jig. A couple other
highlights include the instrumental "Metropolis," which was
inspired by Leonard Bernstein's music (no doubt this would be
West Side Story), and "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six," a
song which shows their Republican leanings and was actually
banned by the BBC.

If you're looking for an album of solid Celtic rock, which is
both unique and fun to listen to, you cannot possibly go wrong
with this album by The Pogues.

Buy the album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006957SA/thebards?ref=nosim

---
Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native
to the central New York region. She plays both high and low
whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides
being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also
a classical clarinetist and composer.
http://www.irishmusicreviews.com/




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CELTIC BAND FEATURE #2
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"Jig Set (Haste to the Wedding/Kesh Jig/Morrison's Jig)" by
Minstrosity

Minstrosity is a trio of talented troubadours that can be found
performing at Renaissance Festivals, weddings, house concerts,
and other events across the Midwest. The close-knit harmonies
and multi-instrumental prowess of Josephine Thane, Wendy
Zdrodowski, and John Wiseman combine to create a full sound that
would be expected of a larger group. They perform a variety of
traditional Celtic and folk music, along with original works,
including "The Future Isn't What It Used To Be", which was
awarded Honorable Mention in the 2003 John Lennon Songwriting
Contest.

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Similiar: Battlefield Band, the Chieftains, Tempest

Influences: Chad Mitchell Trio, Kingston Trio, Battlefield Band,
the Moody Blues, Molly & the Tinker

Homepage: http://minstrosity.com
Download: http://www.minstrosity.com/record.html
Buy CD: "Why Am I Not Surprised?"
http://www.minstrosity.com/record.html




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NEW TO CELTIC MP3S MUSIC MAGAZINE
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The Dubliners' Tabby Cats (added: 19-Feb-2005)
http://dublinerstabby.catdrinkingsongs.com/
The Dubliners' Tabby Cats forage their way out of the
gutters of Ireland to create a musical menagerie that
combines Irish drinking songs and the folk music stylings of
groups like The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, the Irish
Rovers, and "Weird" Al Yankovic to create a sound unlike any
Celtic music group you've heard today. The songs will make
you laugh and cry with delight or distension as this feline
group reinvents traditional Irish folk music.

Fans of Irish Celtic Music (added: 16-Mar-2005)
http://www.4celts.com/
I love Celtic music. So I started this website as a quick
guide to Irish Celtic music online.

Cantiga - America's Quintessential Renaissance Festival Band (added:
17-Mar-2005)
http://www.cantigamusic.com/
Celtic, Renaissance Medieval music played on flute, fiddle,
harp, charango and cello

Reeltrad (added: 20-Mar-2005)
http://www.reeltrad.com
Homepage of Trad Duet Martin Quinn & Angelina Carberry,lots
of free mp3 samples, bio's tour dates and info about our
music

Scottish Clan Council of Houston (added: 23-Mar-2005)
http://www.scottishcouncil.com/
Since 1985 The Scottish Clan Council of Houston has
provided callers to 713-871-0061 with the most current
information available about Scottish and other Celtic
activities, primarily in the Greater Houston Area, but also
Texas at-large and its adjoining states.
With its email/web site at Yahoo! Groups, The Scottish Clan
Council of Houston provides a handy calendar of events with
links to related cultural organizations, clan/family
affiliations, and vendor sources, all continually updated.

Gan Fidil (added: 24-Mar-2005)
http://www.ganfidil.com
Gan Fiddle was formed in 2005 by Kenny Tweedy and Chip
Ueltschey. Together they created something unusual-an
Instrumental Irish band without a fiddle. Just a couple of
pickers cranking out the tunes. Kenny brings his driving
banjo groove to a multitude of traditional Irish tunes,
giving his own finesse to the music. Chip lays down
unconventional syncopations to infuse the tunes with new
funkiness and soul. Together, they redefine traditional
Irish music to imply something modern and energetic.

Old lrish Images (added: 30-Mar-2005)
http://www.oldirishimages.com/
Historical Irish pictures and photographes, Ireland
pictures, Irish gifts, Michael Collins. Have you seen where
your Irish ancestors came from... over a hundred years ago?
Come and explore historical scenes from all over Ireland.

U.K. Festival Podcast (added: 4-Apr-2005)
http://festival-podcast.blogspot.com/
Podcasts from festivals around the UK

Irish Traditional Music Session Reviews (added: 4-Apr-2005)
http://www.livejournal.com/community/sessionreviews/
A community for submitting reviews of Irish traditional
music sessions around the world.



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6. ABOUT THE CELTIC MP3s MUSIC MAGAZINE
http://www.CelticMP3s.com/
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"Celtic MP3s Music Magazine" is a weekly publication by
Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards, The Original
Celtic Renaissance. Help spread the word about great
Celtic Music Online!

Members-Only Celtic MP3 Archive (you are a member)
http://www.celticmp3s.com/bands/

Learn more about
http://www.marcgunn.com <-- Bard Marc Gunn
http://www.thebards.net <-- Brobdingnagian Bards

Promote your music with Celtic MP3s
http://www.celticmp3s.com/promote/

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