Widely-regarded for their stylish arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes, the duo have performed at various Celtic and Scottish festivals, and community concerts, as well as Mt. Vernon and the Smithsonian. They frequently are hired for weddings and private parties and also play at restaurants and wineries. They continue to delight listeners  with their new CD release, Silver Lining, an engaging mix of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes.

Bill is a self-taught player and was inspired to play after his first experience of hearing a hammered dulcimer. He is particularly noted for his strong accompaniment skills that incorporate the full range of his hammered dulcimer from the shimmering sparkle of the highest treble notes to the depth and power of the lowest bass notes. He is also a composer of tunes in the Celtic style. Several of his pieces are included on each of Peat & Barley’s CD recordings.

Becky was classically trained on violin as a child and began playing again after discovering Celtic fiddle music. She is known for the rich tone of her playing and her sensitive emotional connection to the music, whether that is a sorrowful Scottish lament, a majestic march or a driving reel. She is a long-time Board Member and Treasurer of Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club, a nonprofit group promoting Scottish fiddle music. Becky also plays regularly for Scottish and English country dancing and teaches Scottish fiddle lessons.

For more information on Peat & Barley, visit their website here :  http://www.peatandbarley.com/

For a sample of their music, their CD’s are available at CDBaby.

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Steve served as Senior Instructor for the
Audio Recording Technology Institute in Orlando, FL; as Chief Engineer for Rave Productions Recording Studios, Orlando FL and as Director of Audio for VNN Television. As a live audio engineer, Steve has mixed “front of house” sound for hundreds of live shows in Florida including acts such as Lee Greenwood and Lou Rawls.

Recordings
Wheel of the Year – Steve Reel (1997) Gaia’s Light Records
Seeing Your True Inner Being – Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Contacting Your Spirit Guide – Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Grounding and Clearing- Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Self Guided Tour Of The Mind- Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Nurtured By Mother Earth- Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Energy Awakening- Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
NeuroHarmonic Music- Healing Harmonics (1993) Gaia’s Light Records
Harcourt  Educational Media Series – Various authors – 1995 -Harcourt Brace

Video & Film Scores
The Big “E”: The U.S.S. Eisenhower (1987) Image Productions
Designing the Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando  (1991)Mitchell Media
Power Meditation – GrandMaster Y.K. Kim (1995) – Y.K. Kim Prod.
Power Breathing – GrandMaster Y.K. Kim (1995) – Y.K. Kim Prod.

You can visit Steve’s website at http://www.reelsmusic.com/

You can buy his music here:

Buy Here

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Song list

Isn’t It Grand, Boys?
Won’t You Come with Me?
Twa Corbies
Clementine Blues
Johnny Jump Up
Jug of Punch
Red, Red and Black
Whiskey, You’re the Devil
High Jeannie High
Rosin the Bow
Foggy Dew
Waxies Dargle
I’ll Drink from Dusk ‘Til Dawn

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Made up of Pat Buckley (Rhythm & Lead Guitar & Vocals), Chris Miskow (Bass Guitar & Vocals) and Bob Soper (Fiddle, Guitar & Vocals), a combination that knows how to rock the house! I have to admit, while I was trying to take pictures and take in the whole experience of the group, I found it difficult to not abandon my “duties” and just enjoy the show. Songs like Ramblin’ Rover, Black Velvet Band keep you wanting to hear more. The crowd was also fun to watch during the performance. It was great to see people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds sharing a common interest. Barriers seemed to no longer exsist during the show.. everyone was bound together by the love of the music being laid out before them. It was a wonder to behold.

The teasing and joking was also a big hit with the crowd (and yes, it was a huge crowd). The one that stood out for me was when they tried to get the “birthday boy” a dance. It sounded a lot like a singles ad and had me laughing. The great part was that it worked. What a way to get a date! It was great craic and everyone, including myself, were having the time of their lives. The band’s philosophy of “whip the audience into a frenzy” is a winner.

During the break, I did get a chance to talk to them a bit. And got a copy of their CD, titled Slainte, which is available at their gigs.  It is a definite must have in my book. I’ll go into more detail on the CD in another post….

You can see Grafton Street live at Kells, both in Portland and Seattle.

Kells (Seattle) Nov. 27 & 28, 9:15pm $5 cover

Kells (Portland) Dec. 4 & 5, 9:30pm $5 cover
Kells (Seattle) Dec. 9 & 10, (Pat Buckley Solo) 9pm
Kells (Seattle) Dec. 11 & 12, 9:15pm $5 cover

2010

Kells (Seattle) Jan. 20 & 21, (Pat Buckley Solo) 9pm
Kells (Seattle) Jan. 22 & 23, 9:15pm $5 cover

For a sample of their music, visit them on Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/graftonstreetmusic

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With Christmas just on the horizon, I felt this would be a great time to do a review of my new favorite Christmas CD.  After years of listening to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, I broke down and bought the I’ll Be Home For Christmas CD by Paul Byrom.  All I can say is WOW!  I love it!  He does a nice blend of the classic favorites along with some new songs like The River.  One of the highlights of the CD is the duet of Silent Night. The guest singer is none other than Paul himself as a boy soprano… it’s amazing!  I highly recommend this CD… I’m sure it will become one of your all time favorites too.

Song List

The Christmas Song
Let It Snow
The River
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Happy Holiday
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot
Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
A Winters Tale
O Holy Night
Saviour’s Day
Silent Night (Duet with Paul Byrom as boy soprano)
Bonus Track – The Christmas Medley

You can purchase this CD at CDBaby

Paul’s first album Velvet is also still on sale.

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By CelticFawn

You could feel the excitement mounting in the theater as we all heard the weather report! Celtic Thunder was on its way! The lovely Palace Theater, complete with ornate trim and a cozy balcony area, was the perfect place to enjoy the show. As you walked in and espied the shipwreck and rocks on the stage, you knew you were in for a treat. When the lights dimmed and the thunder started to roll, it was proof you were right all along! After the monks chant their way across the stage, and you take in the haunting voice of Ryan Kelly singing the opening of the song, you see the wonder of all of Celtic Thunder on the stage. Ryan Kelly, Keith Harkin, Paul Byrom, Damian McGinty, and George Donaldson.

Celtic Thunder is 5 male solo artists, each with a different style and personality, who prove that when you put your differences aside, beautiful music can be made. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the show in Albany. The above picture was taken from my seat, 5th row floor and found I didn’t miss anything from where I was sitting. There was enough of an incline that the person in front of me didn’t block my view. The seats were set more in a semi circle, so even being on the side of the theater didn’t keep me from being able to enjoy the show.

The men of Celtic Thunder were a wonder to behold. Ryan, the bad boy “Dark Destroyer” captures your heart and breaks it all in one evening. Keith, the blonde surfer, dazzles you with his skillful guitar playing and songwriting skills, as well as his playful nature. Paul, the romantic Tenor, sweeps you off your feet and takes your breathe away with his powerful voice. Damian, the boy wonder, the youngest of the group, takes you back to a time of innocence and reminds you of what it was like to be a teen. And last, but surely not least, is George, the stable, settled one, reminds you how important it is to have family, love and security in your life.

This entire journey takes place through the gift of music, ranging from pop classics such as Happy Birthday Sweet 16 and Desperado, traditional Irish songs, including Danny Boy, and original music written by legendary Phil Coulter.

My personal journey was a wonderful one. The guys like to reach out to the audience and interact in small ways, or just have fun with each other on stage. Good examples are best seen during Caledonia where Damian has to hold his kilt down to protect it from the rest of the guys, Paul lifting his to show the women his leg (be prepared to hear screams), Keith bending over to pull up his falling socks, or Ryan waving to various people in the audience. Caledonia is not the only place this type of thing happens, so watch carefully, you never know what you are going to see. After the show, I went out back to the stage door and waited with a good number of people in hopes of seeing the guys. I did get to see them all, but not all of them were able to stop and visit. It is understandable, since they did have either family there, or fighting off a cold. Ryan always seems to find the time to stop and say hello, and treat the fans to his special attention. I must say here that I am a Ryan fan and was thrilled when he stopped to sign for me. (unfortunately, I have no picture of us in Albany, but I do have one from Portland, Oregon when they were there last year). All in all, I would recommend seeing them for a wonderful experience! I will go back again.

Ryan and I in Portland, Oregon December 6, 2008

This is one of him signing autographs at the stage door in Albany.

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