Last week, I sat down with Michael Londra to chat and gather some information about his upcoming tour. The very first thing you’re aware of when meeting Michael is how instantly comfortable you feel being in his company. No pretense, no airs, no demands and no phony star attitude. He had just returned to Chicago five days earlier from West Coast shows and appearances spanning two months. Michael says he’s happy to be home and sleeping in his own bed for a while. He’s enjoying the simple things like shopping Trader Joe’s, whipping up special meals for friends and other such enjoyable diversions during his down time, after the hustle and bustle of staging a show and performing in it as well.

Fanrealm:  What is the difference between Beyond Celtic and Celtic Fire?

“…when it comes to PBS, it turns into this monster of a machine and the show Beyond Celtic was designed specifically for PBS and did really well. It aired like 300 times which for a new artist is very unusual and strange.” He said, “I just sang it live and it worked.”

“But, in the meantime, I had already kind of set up the Celtic Fire show which is a more traditional show. You know, it hasn’t got the violins or the orchestra. I don’t sing the more orchestral songs, I sing more traditional songs. Also, there’s more of a dance focus because I’m obsessed with Irish dancing and with being an Irish dancer because I was the worst Irish dancer in the world. If you’re coming to Aurora, you’ll hear me talk about it. And, you’ll see a few people you haven’t seen before, a few of my band with me from Riverdance and dancers scattered from all over the place.”

“I hire musicians that I have a good time with off-stage ’cause you’re on the road with them all the time and you can hire the best musicians in the world and they can be completely miserable when you walk off stage. And, frankly, I’m too long in the tooth to be putting up with that nonsense. So I only work with nice people and I have lovely dancers and a lovely band and I wouldn’t swap them for the world. So, when I get good ones, I keep them.”

Fanrealm:  That young man, the dancer (Owen Barrington), how old is he?

“Owen? He’s 27, nearly. He’s a baby face. He’s world champion though, and also the nicest chap in the world, and from Alaska.”

Owen Barrington is the 2008 Senior Men’s Irish World Dance champion and a Riverdance alumnae.

Fanrealm: Is he Irish?

“Well, he has Irish descent, but no, it’s a very loose connection. That’s very often the case with Irish dancers now. A lot of the best dancers will be from the U.S. or Australia or now, Japan. Because Riverdance is so successful, you’ve all these dancers. Like in Riverdance now, you’ve Japanese dancers, you have African-American, Australian and that’s fantastic.”

Fanrealm:  Does Celtic Fire tour by bus?

“No. It depends. For example in March. See, again it’s not like a rock and roll tour which is what Celtic Thunder does. A show my size, which actually is a fairly big show, our tour is what’s called a performing arts tour. Which is, we arrive en masse and the theater builds around us. Different. It’s a different way of doing it.”

Kathleen Keane, one of the most popular Celtic performers (fiddle and whistle) in the U.S. today, will be performing with Michael throughout his spring tour, along with the renowned bodhran player, Jackie Moran. Unfortunately, Jackie will not be appearing in the February 10th launch of the spring leg Beyond Celtic/Celtic Fire shows.

Fanrealm:  Is there anything you want to tell your fans?

“All I say is it’s very difficult to be a singer. It’s a difficult job to maintain that and keep it moving forward and I think that fans don’t really get that. They don’t understand how badly we need them and it’s very difficult to… (pause) I don’t think the fans realize how important they are to artists. I don’t think that they realize that. You know fans put us up on a pedestal and really while that’s great and it’s lovely to have that, it’s really very nice and it feels like your work is worth something. But, I don’t think the fans realize how important they are to the whole mix. See, I kind of understand it because it’s a very emotional experience to like somebody’s music so if you come to something bigger, at a certain point you realize how important you are to people. With that there’s a big responsibility and I get a little bit worried about that sometimes. You know I’ll be upset for people. Like certain fans will kind of travel for hundreds of miles to see you and you can only see them for half an hour after the gig and you feel bad. So I get upset with things like that.”

Fanrealm:  At some point, they’re going to be all around you and you might not be able to acknowledge every one of them.

“It’s usually very organized so you can do that. Some people do get a little bit “handzy.” Oh, yes! Oh, yah! YAH! I mean I laugh over that so much but it was so uncomfortable. Like… you came for a photo! OK!! It’s funny! It’s like some fans are so extreme.”

“The fans are just the most important thing to me and that’s why after every concert, after every single show, I’ll be in the lobby. Every single one, to say thank you. It’s so important to me.”

Michael Londra is a brilliant, award winning Irish tenor and a really nice guy. With every song he sings, he speaks to the hearts of those listening. He treasures the people filling the seats at his performances, his fans.

Beyond Celtic/Celtic Fire begins a three month tour around the U.S. starting on February 10, 2012 at the Paramount Arts Center in Aurora, IL. If one of his shows is scheduled for your city or close by, DON’T miss it! Michael Londra is one of those rare singers you will never forget.

Check Beyond Celtic/Celtic Fire’s Tour Schedule here.

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Not only a timely and relevant piece of music, Pat O’Donnell Shell to Sea is well written and skillfully performed with Mickey’s usual passion and pointed honesty. More polished than the first raw cut sung by Mickey outside Castlerea Prison where Pat O’Donnell was imprisoned for protesting, the song tells the story of a Co. Mayo fisherman’s struggle to protect the land and sea where he and generations of his family have made their living and called home. The release coincides with the Shell to Sea Day of Action on September 23, 2011.

I’ve had the good fortune to hear this one and without hesitation can say it’s a winner for sure! If this song is an example of Mickey’s future direction both lyrically and musically, the best is yet to come.

Pat O’Donnell Shell to Sea is now available for download at cdbaby. Click here to go download the song.

http://www.mickeycoleman.com/

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The Larkin & Moran Brothers were in top form last Friday night for their appearance at the inaugural Will County Celtic Fest at Bicentennial Park in Joliet.

Good music and great craic being the order of the evening, The Larkin & Moran Brothers delivered on both. The entire evenings entertainment presented to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience; the setting, a cool clear summer evening.  More than two hours and over thirty songs, originals and covers plus three encores without a break, they rocked! Only Mike Larkins funny stories provided the few needed minutes to catch their breath. 

Singing cuts from their new album Eistigi, including the Dan Larkin, Jr. original, Drake Street Rainbow sung by Dan, Sr., traditional tunes and a couple Saw Doctors hits; The N17 and The Red and Green of Mayo moved the show along quickly. And, the more relaxed the show became, the more the audience was involved in the banter. Pure entertainment! 

Larkin & Moran perform all around the Chicago area and always provide an incredible fun evenings entertainment. They are without a doubt, Chicago style Celt Rock at its absolute best! If you’re looking for a great night of Celt Rock in the Chicago area, get to one of their shows. Good times. 

The Larkin & Moran Brothers new cd, Eistigi, is available to purchase at: http://www.rampantlion.com/ . Or, better yet, get to one of their performances and pick one up. Win, win…

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 Currently appearing on the hit TV show, The Glee Project, Damian has matured into a charming, talented gentleman over the last four years. Fanrealm wishes him much success with Glee and his bright future. 

 “There’s something in me that comes out and pushes me to do this, my own personal journey dedicated to those we have loved and lost to suicide.” ~ Bebe Johnston

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Fanrealm is again pleased to spotlight a most worthy charity concert – From The Heart 3. It is being staged for the third year in a row at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Northern Ireland. The inspiration for the concert was a grieving mother looking for a way to honor the memory of her much loved son.

From The Heart 3 also strives to raise awareness of the increasing number of youth senselessly lost to suicide. Eamonn Johnston was lost around this time four years ago. These concerts and those to come are certainly a fitting legacy to his memory. Don’t miss this fantastic night’s entertainment and the opportunity to support this worthy cause.

“It will certainly be an entertaining night which will send a powerful message of hope to many people who may be feeling that they have nowhere to turn.” …..Junior Minister, Martina Anderson MLA (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

The artist line-up includes talented musicians and performers:

Frances Black
Damian McGinty
Plunkett McGartland
Niamh McGlinchey
Keelan McDermott
Ben Kelly
Stephen Barr
Colleen Gormley

Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening’s entertainment is Michael Doherty, who will also perform with his band, Upbeat. 

Date:                     July 8, 2011
Time:                     8:00p.m.
Location:              Millennium Forum, Derry, NI 

To purchase tickets:

http://www.millenniumforum.co.uk/index.php?view=details&id=113%3Afrom-the-heart-3&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=8 

Tickets: £12.50, £15.00, £16.50
Family Ticket (4 seats): £55.00 
Proceeds to:      Youthlife

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Persuaded to sing songs she has written herself combined with that clear flawless voice made for a powerful and winning combination.  Mary’s prize, the honor of opening for Sunday night’s concert which included artists such as Lori Watson and brother Ennis, Carly Blain, Andrew Waite, Duncan Lyle and a number of other outstanding performers. She also won a studio recording session down in Peeble. 

On winning Mary was quoted as saying; “I didn’t expect to win but am very chuffed that I did.”

Way to go, Mary! The recognition is well deserved. We’re “very chuffed” as well.

You can listen to Mary’s radio show every Sunday on Celtic Music Radio 1530am and online between 1:00pm and 3:00pm GMT. 

To stream live:  http://www.celticmusicradio.net/

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The entire song list for “A Song in her Heart” is extraordinary, making it difficult to choose favorites. I really liked every one of them but for me three stand out. The albums’ title song, A Song in her Heart, written for Mary by Tim O’Connor; Catch the Wind, the first release of the legendary singer songwriter Donovan Leitch; and also Give Me Time just because Mary sings it so beautifully. All three touch the heart.

Mary Kathleen Burke is a jewel; a one in a million. I recommend this album to everyone but especially to people who enjoy first-rate folk lyrics interpreted by an exceptional songstress.    

A Song in Her Heart:

Black is the Colour – Trad.
My True Love – Trad
Compared to Your – F. Hepburn/A. Ince
A Woman’s Heart – E. McEvoy
Power & Honesty – F. Hepburn/A. Ince
The Home I Left Behind – Trad
James – F. Hepburn/A. Ince
A Song in Her Heart – Tim O’Connor
Trust – F. Hepburn
Catch the Wind – Donovan Leitch
Ae Fond Kiss – Trad
My Scotsman & Thee – Mary K. Burke
When My Morning Comes Around – Iris Dement
Give Me Time – F. Hepburn/A. Ince/G. McCulloch/C. Hepburn

“A Song in her Heart” is available online at: 

Amazon.com

Greentrax Recordings  – Music Scotland: http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/mary-kathleen-burke-song-in-her-heart.html

Listen to the Mary Kathleen Burke’s radio show at:

Celtic Music Radio on 1530AM in the Glasgow area and also streaming online at: http://www.celticmusicradio.net/.  Airing Sunday nights between 7:00pm and 9:00pm (Scottish time).

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One of the world’s finest Irish fiddlers and composers and a guardian of Irish musical tradition, Maurice Lennon and his other half, Sandra, are both fighting cancer. 

Please join the Friends of Maurice Lennon on Thursday, May 5^th 6:00pm at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., Chicago, IL. Proceeds to benefit Maurice, donations at the door. It promises to be a rollicking time with many local musicians and singers participating on this special night!

Featuring musical friends of Maurice: 

The Irish Music School of Chicago

Chicago Reel

Joe McShane

Kevin O’Donnell

Sean Cleland

Jimmy Keane

Brian & Irene Cunningham

Kathleen Keane’s Tantrum

Paddy Homan

Jimmy Conway 

…..and more to be announced.

For those of you who can’t make it that night but would like to help, a checking account has been set up at State Bank of Countryside and checks can be made out to the non-profit that is assisting with collecting funds:

Chicago Irish Immigrant Support

c/o Maurice Lennon

4626 N. Knox, #308B

Chicago, IL 60630

The Abbey Pub: 1-773-478-4408

http://www.abbeypub.com/

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Singing from a young age, by the time she was 15 years old Mary had learned guitar and keyboards and had played with a country band. Seeking to expand her horizons, Mary moved to Scotland at the tender age of sixteen to pursue a career in music. She has played different venues around the country as a solo artist, performing mostly Irish and Scottish traditional or roots music. Her song “My Scotsman and Thee,” included in her album, epitomizes a common theme in folk music; longing for home and love separated by great distance. Written when she was only 19 years old, it is still fresh and relevant today. 

Two months after her album release, Celtic Music Radio, based in Glasgow, Scotland asked Mary to join their team and present her own radio show which can be heard at Celtic Music Radio on 1530AM in the Glasgow area and also online at http://www.celticmusicradio.net/.  Mary plays artists from Myspace and Reverbnation along with established performers during her show airing Sunday nights between 7:00pm and 9:00pm (Scottish time). Mary also features a wide range of in studio guests performing live on her show and maintains a dedicated Myspace show page at: www.myspace.com/mkburkeshow where artists are invited to join and submit their music for consideration. Skilled in many areas of the music business, Mary was, for a time, Director of Country Music Scotland, a small media vehicle which helped many touring artists. 

Along with her debut album, “A Song in Her Heart,” Mary also has an EP, “The Long Way Home” and a new single, Ireland I Miss You, available to download. She’s been doing some writing recently and hopes to have another album out in the future. 

“Music is my passion in life. I couldn’t live without it!”  …..Mary K. Burke 

Visit Mary at her website: www.marykburke.net

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Good Celt Rock is best played loud. The measure of great Celt Rock is that it is also enjoyable at normal decibel levels. This album passes the test on both counts. A robust, full-bodied mix of traditional and contemporary Irish songs combined with six Larkin & Moran Brothers originals, these lads have created another first-rate album.  So many of the songs are worthy of special note here that it’s difficult to just select two or three favorites. I truly like them all.

Having said that, if you like Saw Doctors, you will love Drake Street Rainbow, reminiscent of many of Saw Doctors best songs, this one is also one of The Larkin & Moran Brothers finest cuts. Another favorite of mine, The Larkin & Moran Brothers version of Back in the County Hell certainly holds its own when compared to Shane MacGowan’s original. To be honest, this is the one I played over again and again. It’s just that good. Also, their cover of Steve Earle’s Galway Girl is another favorite and contributes so much fun to the playlist. I mean, how can you not have Galway Girl in a collection of Celt Rock tunes? Whiskey You’re The Devil is another must in that collection. 

Another great addition, total change up and the perfect ending to this album, Long Lonesome Tide is a haunting ballad that takes the tone down a notch. The perfect ending for an inspired collection of raucous Celt Rock songs, this is a first rate album enhanced by The Larkin & Moran Brothers original works.  

éistigí - Gaelic for “you all listen.”  Yes, by all means, over and over again, listen!!!

Song List

The Rabble Rouser – Larkin & Moran Brothers
Drake Street Rainbow – Larkin & Moran Brothers
Greenland Whale Fisheries (Trad)
I Fall Hard – Larkin & Moran Brothers
The Jolly Beggarman (Trad)
Another Night At Christy’s – Larkin & Moran Brothers
Whisky You’re The Devil (Trad)
Back In The County Hell – Shane MacGowan
Muirsheen Durkin (Trad)
Parnell Renegades – Larkin & Moran Brothers
MacAlpine’s Fusiliers (Trad)
The Galway Girl – Steve Earle
Tropical Drink Song – S.R. Dahl
Long Lonesome Tide – Larkin & Moran Brothers

This album is available at cdBaby:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/larkinandmoranbrothers and on Itunes.

website: http://www.celticratpack.com/

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