Saturday, May 9, 2009

Gretchen Peters: Independence Day

This song has been in the news quite a bit over the years, one way or another, most recently during the November election campaign. If you've not seen it before -- or if you have --maybe time to take a look again.
Martina McBride sings it, Gretchen Peters, whose work you've met here before, wrote it.

Embeddding is not allowed, so please follow the link.
Independence Day

Monday, March 2, 2009

Eddi Reader sings Robert Burns

It is the year of homecoming Scotland, after all, and here is Eddi Reader singing -- and wi' wee bit o'dancin' too-- the song Willie Stewart at the concert of Robert Burns songs called Auld Lang Syne at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall in January. Check out her backing band too, especially John McCusker on fiddle...



Thursday, January 8, 2009

julie fowlis with bagad kemper

Here's a lively bit of music for the new year -- and music you'll not have heard everywhere, at that. Julie Fowlis, who sings in Scots Gaelic, offers a tradtional song from her home in Scotland's far northwest, and she's backed not by her usual two acoustic musicians, but by a really big backing band, the Breton ensemble Bagad Kemper. They were playing at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall.






there's more about Julie Fowlis here

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Kathy Mattea: Sending Me Angels



the two songs in this clip from a BBC documentary are not winter holiday songs -- but they could be.

you may also want to see Mattea's take on holiday music
Music Road: Kathy Mattea: Joy for Christmas Day

Cowboy Christmas Ball



things haven't changed that much, in some places...

silent night



Silent Night, in English and Irish, from the annual Boston based celebration Christmas Celtic Sojourn. a bit of reflection and joy of the season shared in song.



more about Christmas Celtic Sojourn Live here.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Lau: Scots trad re invented

Scots trad at warp speed with a whole new energy....



Kris Drever, Martin Green, and Aidan O'Rourke bring different backgrounds to their collaboration (for more on that, there's an interview I did with the three of them in the current issue of the music magazine Dirty Linen). This four minute promo video includes some very interesting ways of getting their musical energy and connection on tape.