March 15, 2011
Marc Gunn, The Celtfather
Celtic Music, the Traditional and the Twisted
Proud Supporter of Indie Celtic music!
www.marcgunn.com

“Marc definitely knows how to have a wonderful time. He and his music is enjoyable to listen to. I love his music. Keep up the great work. I wish you much health, happiness, and of course… prosperity. Thank you for your wonderful music.”
– Jeff Peterson, on The Bridge

Greetings,

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We are just days away from my birthday, and I'm tired. I've been nearly non-stop promoting indie Celtic music for St. Patrick's Day. But I'm also tired because my daughter is teething. The last two nights were spent waking up to a wee baby crying, and then trying to go back to sleep. Don't let the picture fool you. I'm exhausted. 🙂

Nevertheless, my birthday, St. Patrick's Day, is almost here. I will celebrate it with my family in Austin. Then all weekend, I'll continue the party as I perform at Sherwood Forest Faire. I hope to see a few of you out there as well.

Speaking of Sherwood, I want to ask a wee favor. If you're in Texas, please spread the word about the faire. Sherwood won Best New Renaissance Festival in the 2010 Renaissance Festival Awards, but every new faire needs a LOT of support to succeed. So tell a friend, and when you leave the faire at the end of the day, make sure you pick up some fliers at the front gate to pass out to other people who might enjoy some Ren Fun.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who came out to last month's Things Celtic benefit for Kenzie. It was a tremendous success! We raised a few hundred dollars towards our many expenses. So thank you!

Help Me Record a CD at an April Fools Shindig

The St. Patrick's Day Shindig did not happen this year. We had trouble securing a venue. So instead, we decided to postpone the live recording session until the next time I'm in Austin.

Now we finally have a date for the show. On April 1, 2011 at 7pm, we will gather in Round Rock, Texas to make a live acoustic recording of songs inspired by the Firefly verse.

I invite you to join the Bedlam Bards and Marc Gunn for an evening of Firefly Drinking Songs!

We will start the evening with a set of songs inspired by Joss Whedon's acclaimed TV show Firefly. The Bedlam Bards will then perform a short set, as will I. Then we will record a few more songs together before closing out the evening and heading to Sherwood Forest Faire the next day.

Right now, we have all but about three songs recorded for this special event. While it is a no booze venue (ironic ain't it), we need the *sounds* of drinking and partying to make this CD complete. So please mark your calendars and join us!

More details about the event will be posted on my website next week. Meantime, Friday, April 1st is our day to Shindig.

Recent News You May Have Missed:

• Irish Songs for St Patrick’s Day
• Marc Gunn’s “Irish Drinking Songs” Climb the Charts on iTunes
• Rate My Celtic Playlist on iTunes from Anywhere in the World
• St Patrick’s Day Playlist
• Dragons vs. Pirates – Sea Shanty Steampunk Album Coming Soon
• Celtic Music vs. Celtic Interviews?
• Thanks to Things Celtic
• Marc Gunn T-Shirts on Clearance

Recent News from my Celtic Music CD Store:

• Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers for St. Patrick’s Day
• New Celtic Music CDs on Sale
• Top Selling Celtic CDs of 2010

New Celtic Playlists on iTunes

iTunes started a new social network a few months ago called Ping. When they did, they ditched their former iMixes and replaced them with “Playlists”. This makes me happy because Playlists are available to ALL iTunes users around the world. That means, my Celtic music promotion on iTunes is much more relevant than ever.

You can now Follow Me on Ping where you'll be notified of every new playlist I create. The latest is called This Week in Celtic Music #101.

If you had problems accessing the Celtic iMixes, could you please try again?

Once you visit the Playlist, scroll to the bottom and rate it. This will help push all of those great Celtic artists up the charts on iTunes. It's a great way to support me and indie Celtic music. Thanks!!!

Free MP3 for March: “A Man's a Man for A' That”

I haven't had much time to start mixing my next album, Scottish Songs of Drinking and Rebellion. However, I did start do a quick mix of a Robert Burns song I recorded in January. I posted it on the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine website .

Once St. Patrick's Day finishes that'll be at the top of my list of things to do.

Performed by Marc Gunn
From CD: Scottish Songs of Drinking and Rebellion
Buy MP3: not yet available 

Listen: HiFi
Download MP3: 128 kbps
Read Lyrics: coming soon
Donation: Make a Donation

Celtic Music CD Store Presents

Once a month, I highlight Celtic music artists who were reviewed by my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. It's a nice way to promote great indie Celtic musicians. All purchases through Amazon via the links below also help support my musical endeavors as well.

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.

Once again the Celtic Music CD Store is pleased to bring you more of the Best Celtic CDs for March. All of these albums are by indie Celtic music groups from around the globe and were recently reviewed in the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Together, we are changing the way you hear Celtic music!

“Celtic Squall” by Celtic Squall

In this, their first album, Celtic Squall gives an impressive performance. Formed by Heather Greene, and her husband Stu Venable, whose other bands’ (The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Poxy Boggards, respectively) styles didn’t leave them much room to perform small-group traditional Celtic music. Greene [read review…]

“Far and Away” by New Minstrel Revue

New Minstrel Revue has been playing the festival circuit for years. Far and Away is their ‘debut’ album offering. You will find 13 tracks mostly filled with classic songs like “Blackleg Miner”, “Bedlam Boys”, and “The Minguelay Boat Song”. The ubiquitous guitar and harmony of the male [read review…]

“Lonestar Banjos” by Jed Marum

Lonestar Banjo, strictly speaking, is not what we are conditioned to think of as Celtic music. The album is a banjo themed compilation of music described by CDbaby as “a variety of live and studio recording, Film and TV projects”. Where is the classic Celtic connection? The answer to that [read review…]

“Happy Songs Of Death” by Marc Gunn

This CD appeals to my morbid sense of humor—plus it’s a good time, and just plain funny! “Happy Songs of Death” pokes fun at the seriousness of death through song, and if you want a real chuckle, you should check it out. Fortunately, Gunn is also skilled at arranging [read review…]

“The Bog Bodies and Other Stories: Music For the Guitar” by Gerry O’Beirne

As beautiful and as breathtaking as the Emerald Isle itself.  Gerry O’Beirne is truly a master guitarist and in his album “The Bog Bodies and Other Stories: Music For the Guitar” we see him at the top of his game.   While many people are put off or [read review…]

Review: “Saints & Sinners” by The Kreellers

If you are looking for something in the Celtic rock genre to add to your collection, you may want to check out The Kreellers latest effort. This five piece band hails from Detroit, Michigan and they pack a lot of energy into their CD, “Saints & Sinners”. Although the traditional sound is [read review…]

“After The Wake” by The John Byrne Band

This is really a very unique album. Fans of Celtic music may recognize the name John Byrne from his days with the band Patrick’s Head. Here he has gone out on his own and joined forces with another group of musicians to put together a CD that is both folk and Celtic in nature. I found it [read review…]

“So Far…” by Slip Jig

Based out of Huntsville, Alabama, Slip Jig is a band that plays Irish, Scottish and other Celtic music in the traditional style–even if–as they say, they admit to “bending it on occasion”. The band was actually born out of a group that got together to play session tunes, which gives you an idea of what you [read review…]

“Wolves In The Walls” by Ockham’s Razor

This Seattle-based Celtic band continues to blow me away with its talent. They really are something, and if you haven’t heard them, there is no time like the present to introduce yourself to one of the most talented groups out there these days. Very hard to pin down into just one particular [read review…]

“County Kerry To Kerry Park” by Boston Blackthorne

Hailing from New England, Boston Blackthorne has put out a winner with its CD, “County Kerry to Kerry Park”. Award-winning songwriters present original music for the lover of traditional Celtic music with a fresh set of eyes (or should I say ears?) and interesting perspective. The [read review…]

“Take Root” by The AM String Band

Lively, foot stomping, swinging and just plain fun. That’s what you’ll get from The AM String Band’s album Take Root. This energetic CD is filled with a wonderful collection of traditional and new tunes. Taking a cue from their experience at the Montana Artist Refuge, this trio takes some [read review…]

“Honey And Holy Water” by Oona McOuat

Oona McOuat’s music has been referred to as “Eco-Celtic”, which I really liked as a descriptor for her sound. Others might place her in the world music category. A dreamy, yearning sound runs as if an undercurrent throughout much of the CD. The subjects of the songs here seem to have been chosen [read review…]

“American Wake” by Patrick Clifford

Sometimes you just want a nice, easy album to listen to. One that is pleasant and enjoyable, not jarring. This CD by Patrick Clifford would be one that I would suggest for that type of occasion. While it isn't the type of music you'll go to sleep to, it is the type of sound that will wrap you up in [read review…]

“Elvis Murphy’s Green Suede Shoes” by Black 47

With a title like that, you’re probably expecting rock ‘n’ roll music. In a sense, that’s exactly what you get, but on the other hand, it isn’t. Black 47 deliver a great Irish rock album here, with catchy songs that wouldn’t feel out of place on a mainstream radio station. But [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