I'm making a lot of changes right now. I'm moving my weekly Coffee with The Celtfather show to Patreon-only concert. Pub Songs & Stories is being broken up and put on my Patreon also.
Times change. I continue to try to innovate. I'm trying to fund this blog series with the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast Patreon page. But I'm over $70 a month away from that goal with less than two weeks to go. So unless I get flooded with 14 new patrons, I'm gonna assume this goal is not happening.
And that's okay. I regularly overwork myself and then have to pull back. I have so much I want to do and accomplish. It's good reevaluate every now and then.
Meantime, I'm performing Saturday at Ironshield Brewing. Come join me!
Some of the best Celtic music is deeply rooted in history, and this is the place that The Gentry draws from in their music. While there are some bands that play for fun, and others that play for camaraderie, this is a band that plays out of a respect for the lineage of Celtic music in all its glory. Even their name is traced back to the origins of Scottish and Irish music. Clearly, this is something that the musicians thought through before they formally chose a name and a musical direction. Honoring the Celtic music history is a great reason to play—and these band members certainly do the music justice when they take to their instruments.
Based out of the Atlanta area, The Gentry is made up of a trio of musicians. John Norris is the guitar/percussion backbone of the band, Sam d’Entremont is at the helm of the vocals, whistles, and Irish flute, and all of that is rounded out quite nicely by the sounds of Tracie Brown on the Celtic harp. The blend of all three is a solid tripod which the band’s music rests upon, and each brings something unique to the table. It’s definitely a team effort here.
The knowledge and skill with which these musicians play sets them apart, and when you listen to them it’s easy to tell that they each come from a rich musical background. Even so, not all groups blend together as easily, and when you hear these three play it can sometimes seem they have been together for many decades. Each song of theirs is truly easy and smooth, making them a pleasure to listen to.
Fans of Celtic songs, sounds, and instrumentation will delight in the offerings of The Gentry. You’ll hear them play lively jigs and reels, but they also do ballads and other songs as well. The selection of tunes they share is varied and always interesting—yet familiar and very obviously traditionally based. Whether you enjoy something dreamy and angelic or you prefer a jolly, lively romp, this is a band that can deliver it all!
You can find out more about The Gentry here.
Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and for the Irish & Celtic Music Magazine and Irish & Celtic Music Podcast for nearly 15 years. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com.
