January 4, 2011
Marc Gunn, The Celtfather
Celtic Music, the Traditional and the Twisted
Proud Supporter of Indie Celtic music!
www.marcgunn.com
“Funny. Sexy Songs. Oh my… Is it warm in here – or is it just me? Gunn will heat up your blood with this devilishly funny collection – sure to elicit the many naughty giggles and blushes promised by the title. A sure bet for fans of sexy Scotsmen (like Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series), beer, filk and cats.”
– Melissa McCauley on Kilted For Her Pleasure
Hey there,
Happy New Year, my friends! I hope you had a beautiful holiday season. I sure did.
My daughter had her first Christmas. And while she is too young to really enjoy it, Gwen and I had a great time making it fun, a nice warm up for when she is able to enjoy it with us… complete with embarrassing photos in ridiculous Christmas outfits that she will hate us for when she becomes a teen and we threaten to show them to her boyfriend. Hehe! 😉
Ah! The new year! It's time to make my Resolutions. The theme for this year is change…
Moving to Birmingham, Alabama
The first big change of 2011 is that my family will be moving to Birmingham, Alabama. My wife is going back to college.
Originally, we planned to move in April, but Kenzie needs a second surgery to fix her heart defect. That will take place around April or May. We may not move until June or July. After that, a move will definitely take place.
I hope to find some gigs in the Northern Alabama area later this year. Which brings another big change in regards to touring.
Less Touring in 2011 and How to Get Marc Gunn to Play Your Area
I worked hard to book gigs the last couple o'years. Now I have a daughter. I don't want to spend nearly as much time on the road.
If you want to see me perform this year, check out my show schedule. The list is currently incomplete. I have several shows that I haven't added yet to the calendar. So stay tuned.
However, I am not actively seeking any new gigs this year. So if you really want me to perform at your festival or event, you will need to contact me directly or have the festival contact me.
That may change in 2012. But for now, I'm gonna focus on gigs around Birmingham and the region around it.
Rebirth of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine and Podcasts
2011 is the year of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Ten years ago, I started it as a way to promote indie Celtic musicians and band's who didn't have an easy way to promote themselves. The magazine now has over 20,000 subscribers and is one of the top Celtic music websites online. But I haven't done much with it. That's gonna change.
This year, I'm gonna spend more time writing articles, posting CD reviews and MP3s, and sharing Celtic stories and history. That's assuming I can find the writers to help me out. So far, I have a crew of over ten people. But I need more.
If you want to help out your Celtic community and are interested in writing for the magazine, email editor@celticmp3s.com.
Other than than magazine, I plan to focus a wee bit more on promoting my various podcasts, including the Renaissance Festival Podcast, my Pub Songs Podcast, and of course, my award-winning Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.
Yes, it won “Best Podsafe Music” in the People's Choice Podcast Awards for the second year in a row! A special thanks to everyone who voted for it.
My hope is that I can provide you with even more great Celtic music and entertainment with my magazine and podcast than ever before!
But what about Marc Gunn CDs?
CDs Galore Planned for 2011
Once again, I plan to release a bunch of new CDs in 2011. I know, I know, I'm probably a bit too ambitious… I have six albums I'd like to finish this year, including: Firefly Drinking Songs, Hobbit Drinking Songs, Scottish songs, Celtic songs, Celtic Christmas songs, and another instrumental album.
For most musicians, that's crazy talk. And I'm positive, I won't finish 6 CDs. But if I can finish half that number, then I'll be thrilled!
More CD news will come in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, you can buy my CDs in my Celtic Music CD Store. I'm sure you'll need some for St. Patrick's Day. It's just three months away…
And as long as I mention that, check out my St Patrick's Day Podcast. There four shows currently posted.
Join Marc Gunn on a Celtic Invasion of Ireland in 2011
If you really want to see me perform, there is no better way to do that then when I'm playing in the green grass of Ireland.
This summer's Celtic Invasion is starting to fill up. But it's not too late. Reserve your spot today. The price is just $2034 if you take advantage of the Early-Bird Special and sign up before January 31st.
We're gonna visit Dublin, Sligo and Donegal. This is a part of Ireland that is barely touched by tourists, but with some of the best traditional music the country has to offer.
Good food, good drink, good company. The vacation takes place June 13-20, 2011. Find details at www.celticinvasion.com.
Free MP3 for January: “Liquid Sunshine”
This is one of my oldest recorded songs. I wrote it in 1997. It was inspired by my college vacations to Hawaii where my parents lived. The name was based on the super soft rain that fell from the sky that felt like liquid sunshine.
Performed by Marc Gunn
From CD: The Bridge
Buy MP3: Amazon or iTunesListen: HiFi
Download MP3: 128 kbps
Read Lyrics: “Liquid Sunshine” Lyrics
Donation: Make a Donation
How Can You Get Involved in 2011?
So you enjoy Marc Gunn’s music and you want to help spread the word about me? Here’s what you can do to get involved.
1. Tell a Friend
Word of mouth marketing is by far the most-powerful. So post a message or blog on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. Share & Like on all those sites. Post a banner. Grab a beer at the pub and talk about Celtic music and how I introduced you to it. Get excited and talk about my music and many projects. Just talk about it. (“You’ve got to hear this.”)
Read the full article: “How You Can Get Involved in 2011?” on my website.
Celtic Music CD Store Presents
Once a month, I highlight a few of the Celtic bands who were reviewed by my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. It's a nice way to promote great indie Celtic musicians. You can see a full list of featured bands and find all of my CDs in my Celtic Music CD Store at www.celticmusic.org.
“Scottish Pipes and African Drums” by Jimi McRae & Sam Okoo
Get ready for something different! Piper Jimi McRae teams up here with Sam Okoo on the African drums for a blended sound that has good depth and a unique flavor. I enjoyed this unusual pairing very much. Although the mixing of the two may seem unorthodox, it really worked [read review…]
“1,000 Feet Closer To Hell” by Jasper Coal
It’s almost funny to think that this band hails from Alabama. When you hear them you’d swear that they were straight from Ireland. This CD, 1,000 Feet Closer To Hell, is a high-energy ride that is perfect for those who love the likes of the Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly or other bands [read review…]
That's all the news. I hope you have a great month. And keep an eye on my website for more news from yours truly.
Slainte!
Marc Gunn, The Celtfather
Photo by Chuck Davis
ABOUT MARC GUNN
Please add “slainte@marcgunn.com” to your whitelist or email address book, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues!
Marc Gunn, The Celt Father, plays acoustic folk music rooted in the American Celtic song tradition–-Celtic music, the Traditional and the Twisted. He brings a powerful and expressive voice to Celtic music. His musical instrument of choice-the autoharp-continues to surprise musical veterans and fans a like for it’s unique sound and spirited energy. Embrace independent Celtic music!
Copyright 2000-2011 Marc Gunn
