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www.celtic-connection.com
DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013
Mark your calendar now for 2013 CelticFest Vancouver
CELTIC WOMAN features the celestial voices of Chloe' Agnew, Lisa Lambe, and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha along with dynamic inventiveness from Celtic violinist Mairead Nesbitt.
All-female Irish music ensemble release second Christmas holiday album
NEW YORK - Beloved global sensation Celtic Woman has released Home For Christmas, a new holiday album, via Manhattan Records.
Sure to become a must-have gift item, Home for Christmas features the celestial voices of Chloe Agnew, Lisa Lambe, and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha along with dynamic inventiveness from Celtic violinist Mairead Nesbitt.
This is the all-female Irish music ensemble's second Christmas album and features such holiday favorites as Winter Wonderland, I'll Be Home for Christmas and the Christmas classic Silent Night.
The first, the platinum-selling A Christmas Celebration, featured songs from Celtic Woman's PBS special and is a perennial holiday favorite and stocking-stuffer.
Since Celtic Woman's inception in2004, the unique ensemble has emerged as a spectacular commercial success and a genuine cultural phenomenon thanks to their evocative, uplifting music.
The group's albums and DVDs have gone multi-platinum, sold over seven million units worldwide (including their 2012 projectBefteve), notched two top 10 album debuts on the Billboard top
200 album chart, and four top five releases on the top DVD music video chart, and sold more than 2.2 million concert tickets.
All seven Celtic Woman album releases have debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart.
Home For Christmas features the following tracklisting: I'll Be Home For Christmas; Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Silent Night; We Three Kings; We Wish You A Merry Christmas; What Child Is This; Adeste Fideles; Winter Wonderland; Mary's Boy Child; Auld Lang Syne; Joy To The World.
In addition to releasing Home For Christmas, Celtic Woman has announced a 2013 concert tour which promises to be a dynamic live music experience that showcases the angelic voices of Celtic Woman underscored by the stirring sound of a full symphony orchestra.
The Canadian tour dates are as follows: February 23-24, Toronto Sony Center; February 25, Montreal Place des Arts; February 27, Moncton Centre Casino Moncton; February 28, Halifax Metro Centre; June 2, Vancouver Queen Elizabeth Theatre. More information available at: www.celticwoman.com.
Top 10 Celtic Hits for December
Celt In A Twist is local contemporary Celtic radio heard weekly on AM 1470, CJVB in Vancouver.
www.worldbeatcanada.com.
The following is the Celt In A Twist Contemporary Celtic Top Ten:
1. Lean On Me Love by Merry Hell - Blink...and you miss it on Mrs. Casey Records.
2. The Blue Mountain's Lullaby by Mary Jane Lamond/ Wendy Maclsaac - Seinn on Independent.
3 Shakespeare Road by The Mahones - Angels & Devils on Whiskey Devil Records.
4. Shed Life by Sketch - Shed Life on Skye Recordings.
5. A Bunch of Time by The
Fretless - Waterbound on Independent.
6. Superfly by Treacherous Orchestra - Origins on Navigator Records.
7. Cette Bouteille-la by La Bottine Souriante - Appelation D'Ohgine Controlee on Borealis.
8. Legua da Povoa by Dazharieh
- Ruido do Sillencio on Galileo.
9. Go the Road by Tillers Folly
- Go the Road Life on Tillers Folly Records.
10. Foeter Breizh by Dom DufF -Foeter Breizh on Independent.
Celt In A Twist Pick Of The Month: larla O'Lionaird - Foxlight (Real World)
VANCOUVER - Mark your calendar with the dates of the biggest and best-loved celebration of all things Celtic in western Canada.
The ninth annual CelticFest Vancouver is coming to concert halls, clubs, pubs and streets in and around downtown Vancouver from March 9-17, 2013 to deliver music, dance, comedy, revelry and a healthy dose of that magical Celtic spirit.
For lovers of Celtic culture in all its many expressions, 2013 is already looking to be one of the most exciting years yet.
"This year we celebrate our Celtic roots with a special Vogue Theatre concert on March 14 featuring two internationally-renowned Celtic songstresses; plus, an audience favourite, our ever-popular Ceilidh is back at the new Fan Club on Granville St. (March 16), and fans of Celtic rock can dance the night away at The Venue on March 15," said director of programming, Ross Powell.
The festival features the popular annual Whisky Kiss scotch-tasting, a traditional Irish music jam session and a range of fascinating (and free) Celtic music workshops at Tom Lee Music, a Celtic Comedy Night with one of Ireland's best loved comedians at the Fan Club, and an assortment of other events and activities.
Returning for its second year is the exciting pre-festival free event on March 9 at The Village on False Creek. Celts on the Creek is a family-friendly afternoon of Celtic music and dance, roving characters in costumes and lots of other fun activities.
The wildly popular ninth annual St. Patrick's Day parade, presented by Pacific Centre takes to the streets on Sunday, March 17. This massive, fun and colourful spectacle starts at 11 AM in downtown Vancouver.
Over 200,000 people come out each year to see almost a hundred parade entries with upwards of2,000 participants, including award-winning pipe and drum bands, marching colour guard, Celtic musicians, the Vancouver police motorcycle drill team and fire brigades, acrobats, vintage cars, Irish and Scottish youth dance and music groups, multicultural organizations and much more.
To be part of this grand procession, enter by January 31 (entry forms at www.celticfestvancouver.com).
On March 16 and 17, the Celtic Village and Street Market fills Granville Street between Robson and Nelson with laughter, fun and all forms of free entertainment.
Participating pubs in downtown Vancouver's Entertainment District will also be rocking throughout the festival, with great music and dance groups on tap to perform.
CelticFest's new executive director, Ian McAteer says, "As someone who is extremely proud of his own Celtic heritage, I am thrilled to be a part of CelticFest Vancouver, excited to play a role in this much-loved event as we look toward its ninth year.
"From the workshops to the concerts to the parade, we've got a great festival in store with something for everyone -I can't wait! Stay tuned as we roll out the details in the coming weeks and months. I look forward to seeing everyone there."
All tickets on sale and full information and schedule online on January 17 at www.celticfestvancouver.com.
CELTS ON THE CREEK will be back for a second year at The Village on False Creek. This is a free pre-festival family-friendly afternoon featuring Celtic music and dance, roving characters in costumes and lots of other fun activities on March 9.
THE ninth annual St. Patrick's Day parade, presented by Pacific Centre takes to the streets on March 17. This massive, fun and colourful spectacle starts at 11 AM in downtown Vancouver.
Folk legend Furey fit again after heart scare
DUBLIN - Folk musician Finbar Furey revealed he almost died when he suffered a heart attack on his wedding anniversary in October this year.
Furey (66) finally got the all-clear from his doctor, but was only saved by the quick reactions of his wife and medical experts.
He had returned to his Dublin home from golfing with his sons Martin and Finbar when he suddenly became ill.
He was about to travel into the city to meet acquaintances in O'Donohue's pub about a Bangkok gig - and later join wife Sheila for a 44th wedding anniversary dinner.
But a coughing fit started, and he felt what he thought was indigestion striking after eating some Belgian chocolate.
Sheila, a former nurse, quickly recognized he was suffering much more than indigestion. "You're having a heart attack," she told him, as daughter Katriona phoned the ambulance.
Furey credited the ambulance crew and heart specialists Dr. Niall Mulvihill and Dr. David Mulcahy, who treated him at St. James's and Tallaght hospitals, with saving his life.
He reckons another part of what saved him was his fitness levels. He is a former amateur boxer, played football and hurling, and is already back on the golf range.
FINBAR Furey is an Irish folk musician best known for his band of brothers The Fureys. He is a renowned pipe player who popularized the pipes worldwide while on tour in the Sixties and many bands followed in theirwake. The Fureys enjoyed a string of best selling records all over the world with Finbar as lead singer of The Fureys, including When You Were Sweet Sixteen, Leaving Nancy, Tara Hill, Green Fields of France, Red Rose Cafe and The Lonesome Boatman. In 1997, after nearly 30 years as The Fureys' front man, Finbar decided to follow his own path as a singersongwriterand pursue a solo career.