Marc Gunn's "Celtic MP3 Music Magazine"

Changing the way you hear Celtic Music
A weekly ezine of legal free Celtic MP3 downloads
July 12, 2005 -- 7000+ subscribers

HIGHLIGHTS....
- Celtic Music News
- Feature: Niamh Parsons
- CD Feature: Sarah Dinan
- Feature: NeidFyre
- New Celtic Links
- Manage your subscription

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1. Celtic Music News
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Greetings Celtic Music Lovers,

Well, I finally did it. I am happy to say I am now a full-time
musician. Hopefully, that means a lot more MP3s on time for you!
:)

For me, it means tonight we will do the official release of the
eighth CD by the Brobdingnagian Bards--Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales.
The CD is done and sent to CDBaby. Very soon, I will ask you to
purchase your copy and give you several exclusive MP3s just for
you. A number of awesome Celtic musicians donated MP3s for this
special promotion. I am certain you will love the result. Until
then, patience. The CD is not yet on sale online.

Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales
http://www.celticmusic.org/Brobdingnag_Fairy_Tales.shtml

However, tonight we are performing at the Cactus Cafe. The
Cactus is the premiere Celtic venue in Austin, and we are excited
to share our CD Release Party with this awesome venue.

Now on to the music...

This week, we have two traditional artists. The first up is
Niamh Parsons (pronounced Neeve). Niamh is an Irish singer with
an amazing voice. The warmth and low sulty sound of it reminded
me instantly of June Tabor, but with her own distinct quality.
She is followed up by a short, delightful reel from NeidFyre.

Slainte!
Marc Gunn, Bard

---

SPECIAL PROMO OPPORTUNITY FOR BANDS
I am looking for bands who would like to be a part of an exciting,
first-of-its-kind music promotion I'm doing for the Brobdingnagian
Fairy Tales CD. If you're interested, email me.
mailto:marc@...?subject=BFT_CD_Promo

---

CELTIC MUSIC NEWS PODCAST
Aaron Drake hosts the weekly Celtic Music News Podcast. If you
want to hear some great new Celtic music, interviews, and get
some Celtic music news, drop by the website.

This week: Podcast #27 featuring M.E.Z., Fiddlers3, Craicmore,
Empty Hats, and Eric Benson

Podcast #26 featuring Seven Nations, Spirit of the West, Black 47,
Flogging Molly, The Young Dubliners, and Great Big Sea

Remember, you don't have to download these files by hand. Get
a copy of iPodder (http://www.ipodder.org/) and let it download
your Podcast every week.

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

Latest News & CD Reviews
http://www.celticmp3s.com/magazine/

Celtic MP3 Archive
http://www.freeirishmusic.com/



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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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"The Rigs of Rye" by Niamh Parsons

Niamh (pron. Neeve) Parsons has come to be known as one of the
most distinctive voices in Irish music. Her voice has drawn
comparisons to such venerated singers as Dolores Keane, June
Tabor and Sandy Denny. The great Scottish balladeer Archie Fisher
said of Niamh, "a songstress like her comes along once or twice
in a generation."

Never has this been more clear than on her new album, Heart's
Desire (Green Linnet, 2002) featuring Graham Dunne. True to the
direction of the two solo albums that preceded it, In My Prime
and Blackbirds and Thrushes, Niamh's latest album furthers the
tradition of Irish song with unadorned settings and heartfelt
delivery. She has gathered together a collection of songs drawn
from both traditional sources and modern writers including Mark
Knopfler and Andy Irvine. The talented musicians who play on
the album include in addition to her main accompanist, guitarist
Graham Dunne, accordionist Josephine Marsh and Dennis Cahill,
who produced the CD, and calls it "her best work yet."

Hometown: Ireland
Similar Artists: Dolores Keane, June Tabor, Sandy Denny

Website: http://www.niamhparsons.com/
Download MP3: "The Rigs of Rye"
http://greenlinnet.com/shopping/search_detail.cfm?productid=1028
Buy CD: "Heart's Desire"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000065T2V/thebards



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CELTIC CD FEATURE
=========================

"From the Ashes" by Sarah Dinan

by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Sarah Dinan
http://www.sarahdinan.com/
Album: From the Ashes
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dinan/from/celtic/
Year produced: 2004

There is nothing like a deep woman's voice--especially when they
are singing Celtic music. Sarah Dinan's purrs through many of the
selections on From the Ashes, sometimes soothing, sometimes
haunting, but always beautiful.

The first track on the album, however, has Dinan singing in a
chirpy, birdlike way. She can do this too, but you would never
believe that she is an alto. She reveals this in the second
track, which is accompanied by her band members.

Track three, May Morning Dew finds Dinan going solo, sans music,
which I always love and this time is no exception. She holds her
own, and held my attention as well. I relished it, not knowing
that there was more of this to come.

Track four is playful, and she uses her voice almost as if it
were an instrument itself. It is followed by Black is the Colour,
which is a soft, dreamy tune which highlights Dinan's range and
vocal skill. She shows that she can demonstrate her talent
without beating you over the head with it. It whispers to you.

The next track, When You and I Were True, perks up a bit and has
a nice, smooth feel to it, just as track eight, An Paistin Fionn.
But the real star of the album is sandwiched in-between these
two songs.

The Hero's Return (The Belfast Song) has only voice, although
this time it is in harmony, and its tone is serious, not dreamy.
It takes a lot to bring a tear to my eye musically, but this
song did just that.

Track nine, She Moved Through the Fair was just plain fun and
it was one of those tunes that you keep with you for a while.
Starts out slow and builds up momentum as it goes--leaving you
waiting for what is next.

The album closes with Flower of Magherally 'O (Radio Edit) which
finishes things off nicely. I must say, it is a compilation of
songs that is well worth a listen. If you are a fan of a strong,
deep, Celtic voice, this album is for you.

Buy the Album: From the Ashes
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dinan/from/celtic/

Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer
specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher
Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others,
and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can
reach her at www.freelance-zone.com.




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CELTIC BAND FEATURE #2
=========================

"Baj's Reel" by NeidFyre

A Long Island transplant to Upstate New York, Mel Ginsberg-Stevens
has certainly made a name for herself. Playing violin and
singing for over 24 years, Mel was classically trained but has
since been playing Celtic music for the past 5 years. She recently
re-released her solo project "Duck Feet Waddling" and her joint
project "Tapestry of Dreams" with harper Trudy Moon. She can also
be found at numerous Renaisance festivals in the Northeast and
anywhere that someone wants to hear some great fiddle music and
vocals.

Hometown: Mecklenburg, New York
Similar Artists: Aly Bain, Loreena Mckennitt, Empty Hats, Silly
Wizard, Eileen Ivers, Cherish the Ladies

Website: http://www.neidfyre.com/
Download MP3: "Baj's Reel"
http://www.neidfyre.com/home.htm#CDs
Buy CD: "Duck Feet Waddling" by NeidFyre
http://cdbaby.com/cd/neidfyre/from/celtic/


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NEW TO CELTIC MP3S MUSIC MAGAZINE
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The Irish Rebel Music of Padraig Mor (Saoirse & Shebeen) (added:
23-Jun-2005)
http://www.padraigmor.com/
Site dedicated to promoting the formation of a 32 county
socialist & sovereign Irish Republic via the rebel music of
Glasgow/Irish balladeer Padraig Mor & the bands he has
played in over the years...saoirse & Shebeen.

Fiddler's Retreat (added: 23-Jun-2005)
http://www.fiddlersretreat.com/
The first and only school of its kind in Ireland that runs
an Irish music and cultural residential school for
violinists of all styles of music, for professional and non-
professional players alike.

The Plough and Stars (added: 24-Jun-2005)
http://theploughandstars.com/
Home of Traditional Irish Music in the Bay Area"
116 Clement Street at 2nd Avenue, San Francisco (415) 751-1122
All shows start at 9:00 pm unless otherwise indicated.
Voted "Best Irish Pub" by the SF Weekly
PDF printable calendar May June

Celtic Crossings (added: 24-Jun-2005)
http://www.celticcrossings.com/
Founded as an independent music agency producing and
promoting performances of Irish traditional music in
Northern California. Americans of Irish heritage were now
anxious to understand their cultural inheritance. In
commemoration, our first Irish History program began as a
series of Great Famine and Diaspora lectures for university
and community audiences from coast to coast.

Renaissance Festival Podcast
http://www.renaissancefestivalmusic.com/
Welcome to the Renaissance Festival Music Podcast.
Every week, I will bring you the latest updates and play
music for bands performing at Renaissance Festivals in
you neck of the woods.

John Renbourn (added: 28-Jun-2005)
http://www.john-renbourn.com/
A product of the British folk music scene, John Renbourn
is an outstanding fingerstyle guitarist melding a variety of
musical styles while performing witih such artists as Pentangle
and Soho.

Jacqui McShee (added: 28-Jun-2005)
http://www.jacquimcshee.co.uk/
Formed in 1967, The Pentangle was inspired by 'Bert and
John', a collaborative album by folk musicians Bert Jansch
and John Renbourn. Vocalist Jacqui McShee, an established
figure on the traditional circuit, who had been working with
John for a year and had appeared on his album 'Another Monday'
then joined. The lineup was completed by Danny Thompson
and Terry Cox, both of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated,
in a quintet which would also embrace blues and jazz forms.

Caladh - Traditional Irish Music and Song (added: 6-Jul-2005)
http://www.caladh.com
Formed in March 2004, after a brief trip to Cyprus, Caladh
is a mixture of 4 musical personalities who have come
together to form an original blend of traditional Irish
music not seen before on the Irish gig circuit.

MacTalla Mo'r (added: 7-Jul-2005)
http://www.mactalla.com/
"Celtic Music for the Masses"

Celtic Cultural Studies (added: 11-Jul-2005)
http://www.celtic-cultural-studies.com/
An independently published and peer-reviewed
interdisciplinary academic journal. Publish papers on
diverse subjects relating to all cultures from Celtic
territories and their diasporas, from all historical periods
and geographical locations, within a broadly Cultural
Studies perspective. The journal does not limit itself to
traditions specifically associated with Celtic languages per
se, but embraces consideration of issues in Scottish
Studies, Cornish Studies, Irish Studies, and so forth.



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6. ABOUT THE CELTIC MP3s MUSIC MAGAZINE
http://www.CelticMP3s.com/
=========================

"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!

HELPWARE:
This ezine is not totally free. It is designed to promote
Celtic musicians worldwide. You can help these artists by
doing the following:

1. Visit the links provided
2. Download the music
3. Order a CD or 'tip' the band
4. Forward this ezine to THREE friends
5. Ask them to subscribe and help Celtic music grow


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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