Welcome to our regular music and entertainment guide, brought to you by Paddy McCarthy for your reading enjoyment
Now here is a group that I know quite well as I have been promoting Celtic Woman here in America for a very long time. The success of this group of ladies is just fabulous and they never seem to disappoint. You have to get their new album, it is a knockout and destined to be one of their biggest hits yet. Here is a little introduction on the album and also on the group that I am proud to give you: Celtic Woman return with a brand-new studio album “Postcards from Ireland”, due for release on October 29th. “Postcards from Ireland” – Celtic Woman’s new album and TV special – represents the sentiment they would like to share with their fans around the world. One of love, hope and expectation as the world looks towards getting back together again.What better way to express these wishes than to write and send a postcard, but this postcard is written with the music and songs from Celtic Woman’s latest album. “Postcards from Ireland” features 13 brand new songs, and is the group’s first new studio album since 2018’s “Ancient Land”. It features new arrangements of beautiful and iconic songs including “The Dawning of the Day”, “Wild Mountain Thyme”, “The Galway Shawl” and “Black is the Colour” among others.
They welcome back Chloë for a stunning version of “Angel”, Megan Walsh & Tara McNeill duet on “The Lakes of Pontchartrain”, and Susan McFadden performs the haunting “May It Be”. The album also introduces newest member Muirgen O’Mahony, and includes a performance by British folk group The Longest John’s who join Celtic Woman on a version of Richard Thompson’s “Beeswing”.
Following the album release, PBS will air the accompanying TV Special in North America across 60+ PBS local stations. Filmed on location in 14 beautiful and iconic locations around the island of Ireland, this 80-minute TV special showcases the beautiful landscapes of Ireland as Celtic Woman perform their brand-new compositions and arrangements, plus some fan favorites. Breaking from the usual format of their former TV specials they bring an innovative, fresh and vibrant approach as they take fans on this magical journey through Ireland, stopping off to perform their music in some of the most stunning land and seascapes across the country.
International music sensation Celtic Woman is recognized as the most successful all-female group in Irish history, with a legacy of 12 consecutive Billboard number ones, 10 million album sales, a coveted Grammy nomination and an incredible 1.8 billion online streams to date. Since 2005 Celtic Woman have produced 10 TV specials for PBS Television in North America. The show is one of the most successful PBS specials aired to date. There will also be a DVD release in 2022, and a North American “Postcards From Ireland” Tour is scheduled to begin in February 2022.
Now is that something or what; just to let you know that they are major star quality and not to be missed when they come to your area.
Here is someone you are going to hear a lot about as well I promise. His name is George Hutton who sings a Phil Coulter composition “Dear God”, the video is right there on our website at www.irishexaminerusa.com along with another video of the Celtic Woman singing a track from their album “Postcards From Ireland” for your listing pleasure and boy, are they both just brilliant so you can see the talent that comes out of Irelend.
Now back to George, growing up in Derry, he was immersed in the music of Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew, The Dubliners, Planxty and Liam Clancy. As a teenager, the local trad session was his classroom, and the folk tradition became ingrained in his musical DNA. With his mother’s Maria Callas-led kitchen playlist added to the mix, the young singer absorbed every voice he heard, laying the foundation for his eclectic approach to songs. Emerging from all this, a unique and remarkable voice was born.
Over the years, he has shared the stage with leading lights of Irish music including Glen Hansard and Moya Brennan – as well as Hozier, while they were both members of Anúna. And it was with Anúna that George went on to record and tour to worldwide critical acclaim. His vocal dexterity was soon spotted by the legendary Columbia Artists in New York, who signed him to their roster of world-renowned performers.
A string of sold-out tours of the US and Canada soon followed. The folk singer embarked on his solo career with the hugely successful debut album “Chapter One”, which was soon followed by the critically acclaimed “Home”. All the time, he was quietly developing his songwriting skills, which can now be heard in his new single “One Shot” (released digitally in July). Written during lockdown the song is a strong departure from his past musical accolades, evoking a strong pop sound but maintaining the lyrical strength found in the folk tradition.
What a great pleasure it is for me to introduce them to you for your reading and listening pleasure. I will always do my best to highlight any Irish entertainment act whether it is country, rock, pop, folk, ballad, theatre, screen or anything that is part of the arts as it is my first preference to do so and I’m very happy about it as well.
I very much like to promote up-and-coming artists who need some publicity and for people to see their talents and that is what The Irish Examiner USA is here for.
This group has come to my attention from a good friend of this newspaper whose name is Pauline McDermott. She is helping promoting the fabulous band Strings & Things who are a high octane four-piece who reside in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Their makeup of musical instruments include guitar, banjo, mandolin, whistle, cajon and bass which in turn helps to deliver a sound that could only be described as something out of the ordinary, but refreshing nonetheless. Coming from all kinds of musical backgrounds, the four lads use their experience in different genres to also give their music a signature sound. Elements of rock, pop, trad, folk and even funk help to set the stage for what can only be described as Strings & Things.
Following the release of their first album, “Turbulence”, in 2017, Strings & Things have since released a new album in 2021 called “The Unsolicited Dance”. With almost two years of planning and recording, the band strived to make this album stand out from their last, bringing diversity, nuance as well as something different to the ever growing world of traditional Irish and Folk music. There is something for everyone in this album with a range of themes as well as each song telling a different story.
Since completing the album back in the summer of 2020, the band have released three singles from the album. The first released, “Jigtime” is themed around the love a mother has for her son while the second, “What If” ponders on the innocent questions those often wonder were the world a different place. The last, “Fuaim Gathering” takes the conventional Irish tune and leads it into a world full of mystique and mayhem while still being able to create a balance between the two contrasting themes respectively.
The efforts of their promoter, Pauline McDermott (Impact Promotions), cannot go unaccounted for. Her efforts and constant hard work have helped Strings & Things to get their foot in the door of the ever evolving music world as well as to places that were out of the band’s reach before. The band has seen more of Ireland and the world thanks to her efforts and support, with London and Orlando in Florida to name a few. It is with the great perseverance of Pauline that I am helping get the word out about the wonderful group.