This band needs no introduction to most Celtic music fans, but for those of you who might have missed it, Gaelic Storm provided us with incredible music in the film “Titanic”.

When they took the stage, I was instantly captivated. The music made me want to dance, and sing along. The stories that were told were funny beyond belief, and we were told that each one was true. I can’t even begin to remember every name of the songs they played, but there wasn’t a single one that I didn’t love. There were some that I loved more than others though. Johnny Jump Up, Pina Colada in a Pint Glass, Johnny Tarr, Darcy’s Ass, The Night I Punched Russell Crowe, and Floating on the Flambeau were my highlights.

Patrick Murphy, originally from Cork City Ireland, regaled us with tales between songs. With his Irish charm, voice, harmonica, spoons, and accordion, he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

Steve Twigger, from Coventry England, sang, played guitar, and for one of the final numbers, a bodrhan. He also assisted in the story telling, giving an added sense of fun to the whole night.

Pete Purvis, originally from Merrickville, Ontario, is a great addition to Gaelic Storm. Playing Uilleann pipes and the Irish whistle, not to mention adding his voice to many of the songs. What a treat it was to listen to this accomplished musician.

Ryan Lacey, the incredible drummer kept the beat steady and strong all through the night. His passion for playing is phenomenal. Watching him play was a great show in and of itself.

Last but not least, the beautiful fiddle player, Jessie Burns lights up the stage with her bright personality and dancing. Raised in England by her American mother and Anglo-Irish father, she adds a bit of glamour to the group, with her beautiful music, a bit of fancy foot work, and the energy and joy she puts into her playing.

The band members stayed after to sign autographs, and have a few random pictures taken.
All in all, the night was made complete by talking to the current president of the Myles Reif Center, David Marty, and other members of the Grand Rapids community. They are very proud of their theater and events that take place there, and they have every right to be. I wish to extend thanks to them for the time they took to talk to me and all the information they provided for me. I look forward to returning to the Reif Center for many performances to come.

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Wicked Tinker schedule for January 2010/February 2010
Jan.15

THE NAMM SHOW

9AM FRIDAY MORNING! Anaheim Convention Center, CA http://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2010

Jan. 22 – 23

CRUISE TO MEXICO WITH WICKED TINKERS

http://www.wickedtinkerscruise.com

Feb 27 – 28

46th ANNUAL ARIZONA SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES

Phoenix, AZ http://www.arizonascots.com/05games.shtml

I hope that those of you who can, go and check them out. They are a great group.

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I usually listen to music most at work, and I have recently started listening to their On the Brink album. I find it quite soothing at times, especially the first track, Prince Charles. It is like a balm, healing the rough edges of my day. After that, the second track, Miss Spence’s Reel, gets my toes tapping slightly, bringing a wee smile to my face, and a pleasant greeting to my lips, should a customer just happen to walk in at that moment.

The entire album goes to and fro, flowing from soothing, all the way to being slightly mischievous, and back again, as most Celtic music does.

This album is wonderful as background music, non-distracting, but pleasing to the ear.

The track lineup is as follows:

* Prince Charles
* Miss Spence’s Reel-Sleep Soond ida Moarnin’-Willowfjord
* Harper’s Waltz
* Rakes of Mallow
* Haste to the Wedding-Swallowtail Jig-Blackthorne Stick
* Wantoness Forever-Tae Dautan Me-The Auld Man’s Mare’s Dead-Peat Fire Flame-Glenburnie Rant
* Covewood
* Holborn March-Mairi’s Wedding
* Wedding in Ennis
* Poached Pork Chops-Spootiskerry-The Easy Club Reel
* Bonnie at Morn
* Flowers of Edinburgh-Jackie Tar-Off to Livermore

This Peat & Barley CD, along with others, is available at CDBaby, or through the Peat & Barley website. http://www.peatandbarley.com/

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So, when Fanrealm staff members recently got to tour CDBaby, I took advantage of being there, and got Wicked Tinkers’ very first CD.

On the back of the CD it says, “It’s Not About Pretty”, and they weren’t lying. It is however, about pipes, drums, and music.

The songs that really grabbed me were Wallop The Cat, and The Pumpkin’s Fancy. I liked the other songs, but I loved these 2 .

I am looking forward to adding their other CD’s to my collection as finances permit.

If you love to listen to pipes and drums, this is the group for you. I hope to see them live and in person sometime. I think another working vacation is in order.

The entire song line up is as follows:
The Bird Set
Hugh Ross Set
Seal Set
Strathspey & Reel
The Odd Set
The Ferret Set
Wallop The Cat
6/8 Marches
The Pumpkin’s Fancy
A Flame of Wrath
Aaron’s Set
Toasty Set
Fiollaigean
Hornpipe/Jig Set

Other CD’s by Wicked Tinkers
Hammered
Loud
Banger For Breakfast
Whiskey Supper
Rant

Official Wicked Tinker Website
http://www.wickedtinkers.com/

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Katie McMahon, original lead singer in the Riverdance show, will be performing Celtic Christmas at several locations around the state of Minnesota.

The harpist/singer has several critically acclaimed CD’s, that include: After The Morning, Shine; Celtic Christmas; and St. Patrick’s Day.

Friday, December 4th, 2009 @ 7.30pm
Duluth, Mitchell Auditorium, St. Scolastica
Tickets: 218-723-7000 or www.css.edu

Thursday, December 10th, 2009 @ 7.30pm
Minneapolis, Pantages Theatre
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com

Saturday, December 12th, 2009 @ 7.30pm
St. Paul, O’Shaughnessy Auditorium
Tickets: 651-690-6700 or www.ticketmaster.com

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 @ 8pm
Lancaster, SC, Bundy Auditorium, University of SC
Tickets: 803-286-1145 www.usclancaster.sc.edu/bundy

For further information on Katie McMahon  http://www.katiemcmahon.com/iWeb/KatieMcMahon/Home.html

Purchase at

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Written by Stacey Parker

Celtic Thunder rolled its way into Portland, and the Theater of the Clouds, and so did I. My friends and I went to the show, knowing what to expect, but we were looking for the unexpected too.

The weather forecast given at the beginning of the show always makes me laugh. I have seen Celtic Thunder 3 times now, and each time there is rain, snow, or freezing weather. But this is Portland. If it isn’t raining or misting, then you aren’t really there.

Heartland starts off the show, and I know that I am going to be hooting and hollering with my friends, just enjoying the experience.

After the first song, Keith Harkin missed handing his duster off to George, but he hands it to a prop guy, and grabs his guitar to start the next song, Castles In The Air. Not one of my favorites, but he improves on it over the original artist, Don MacLean.

Harkin performs another cover, Homes Of Donegal, by Paul Brady. If Harkin has to do covers, Mr. Brady’s songs seem to fit him to a tee.

Mr. Harkin is in his element when he is singing along with playing his guitar. He also has one of his own compositions in this show. Lauren &I. The only way this song could be better, is if he were playing his guitar with it. This artist really needs to do more of his own songs, instead of a bunch of cover songs. He is good enough. It is time to let him soar.

George Donaldson has several serious ballads, and while I like them, especially Working Man, I really prefer the fun of his performance in 500 Miles. The audience participates with Mr. Donaldson, and I can’t help but love it.

Ryan Kelly sings Ride On, a Christy Moore song. He has made this song very memorable for me. You see, I saw him performing this song 2 weeks previously. I had seats near the front, and there was a little girl there that made a poster for him. She was worried he wouldn’t see it, so somebody gave her a glow stick to light it up. Ryan saw the poster and acknowledged the little girl with a grin, and a bit of a wave. This little girl could have gone to Miley Cyrus, on a trip to Disney, or see Celtic Thunder. After the show, she told us it was the best show ever. It is this memory that comes to mind every time I hear this song, and see Ryan perform it. From the bottom of my heart, Mr. Kelly, THANK YOU for treating your fans so well.

The other songs in Mr. Kelly’s repertoire are also tops in my book. Desperado, Heartbreaker, and Every Breath you take, to name some.

Damian McGinty’s serious songs are my favorites of his. Come By the Hills, and Bird Without Wings have always moved me, but now that his voice has deepened, they are even better. His cute songs are great because of his clowning with the band.

Paul Byrom, the classically trained tenor sings heartfelt love songs, and shakes the house with his strong voice. Because We Believe, by Andrea Bocelli, is my newest favorite of his offerings in Celtic Thunder.

That’s a Woman, Mr. Byrom’s duet with Mr. Kelly is also a highlight for me. The dueling pair both describe what a woman is, and Zara Curtis, dancer, is great with the both of them.

The group songs are all my favorites. I can’t pick just one, whether it is Danny Boy, Ireland’s Call, Raggle Taggle Gypsy, or one of the others. Most are wonderful. Take Me Home is a bit too reflective for the age of the group. They are way too young for this song. Give them 20 years or so before they sing this.

I absolutely can not forget about the band members. Musical Director/pianist, Dave Cooke, Ruth O’Leary and Joyce O’Leary, on violins and Nicole Hudson on the viola. Cellist, Megan Sherwood, Neil Byrne on guitar, and backing vocals, (a bit of drum playing as well) Connor McCreanor on bass and backing vocals and Declan O’Donoghue, percussionist. On whistle, pipes, guitar and bodhran, Mr. Brendan Monahan. They have interplay on stage with each other and the main attractions, not to mention communicating with the audience. I have become a fan of all of them.

The only real drawbacks to this show were the sound not being quite right, and glitches with the visual screen behind the band. None of this was the fault of the people on stage. They had a way of making you forget there was something that was supposed to be on the screen, and they kept going no matter what the sound system did.

After the show, my friends and I decided to go to the stage door to see what we could see. We did see the buses, all five of the main performers and some of the band members. We weren’t allowed to see them up close, which is somewhat understandable. But they weren’t allowed to do any real kind of communication with us. This was the policy of the venue, Theater of the Clouds.

The recap? Performers were tops. Sound system needed some work, and stage doors sucked. But for me, the Portland Experience was the tops because of my friends.

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I discovered Ronan Keating last year, after listening to Phil Coulter’s Songs I Loved So Well. After hearing his voice on the last song, Town I Loved So Well, with Phil, I felt I needed to hear more from this man. While he isn’t well known on this side of the pond, he is known around Europe and Australia.

I have several of his CDs. I prefer the more recently made ones compared to the older ones, but there is something worth listening to on every disc.

Now, normally, I would be skeptical about a CD that is almost all cover songs, but this one is very good. It starts out with a rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time. While I still prefer Lauper singing this, I do think Keating’s version is worth a listen or two. Make You Feel My Love is absolutely beautiful.

I am not really a big fan of Both Sides Now, or Vincent, I do think this artist has improved upon them. I even find myself singing along to them, when I least suspect it. Momma’s Arms is so touching.

The traditional songs on this album blow me away. Carrickfergus, and Wild Mountain Time are 2 of my favorites on this disc. I never thought that I’d like anybody besides Elvis Presley singing Suspicious Minds, but Keating does a wonderful cover.The last song on the disc, This Is Your Song, quickly rose to be one of my favorites. If you have a good mom, had a good mom, or know a good mom, you can picture her with this song. It is a song about what mothers inspire in their children, and how it sticks with us as we grow into adulthood and beyond.

The complete song list

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Enter the Haggis Gutter Anthems

The Little and the Leaves starts, and I can immediately feel the energy. The instruments are the first thing that I notice. Usually it’s voices I notice, not so much the instruments. But with this group, the guitars, pipes, and fiddles rule. They do sing, and the words are good, but it’s the instruments that I really pay attention to with this group.

And the names….
The names of some of ETH’s songs just grab you before you even have a listen. Like “Noseworthy and Piercy”, or “Did You Call Me Albatros”. You know you just have to find out what that is about.
If the song itself doesn’t explain it, you can find the explanation in the insert of the cover.

I swear if this group is ever in my state I am gonna see them. I have yet to do so, but from what I have heard from others, this group is well worth the effort, and I am determined to find out in person.

Song List

Intro
The Litter and the Leaves
Cameos
DNA
Did You Call Me Albatross?
Noseworthy And Piercy
The Death of Johnny Mooring
Suburban Plains
Real Life/Alibis
Murphy’s Ashes
Sea of Crutches
Bury My Demons
The Ghosts of Calico
Lights And Cars
Broken Line

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My favorites on the CD are Brantry Boy, Destination, Soldier Soldier, and Holyland Belefast. All of the others on the CD are wonderful too. Just take a listen, and I think you’ll agree.

http://mickeycoleman.com
http://www.myspace.com/mickeycoleman1

Carefully Crafted is available through cd baby and http://www.mickeycoleman.com

Song List

The Holylands Belfast
My Coalisland Girl
Somewhere Else Instead
Plastic Paddys
Kilkeel Fishermen
Life and Me
Fishermans Lament (Old Ardboe)
Brantry Boy
Sometimes Its Hard
Sunday Morning Calling
Soldier Soldier
Destination

Mickey also has a new album due for release in Dec. 2009.

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