Swallow Hill Music and Twist & Shout present an acoustic evening with legendary Scottish folk-rocker Al Stewart on Friday, December 18, 8 p.m. at the L2 Arts & Culture Center. Escaping the harsh confines of public school at the age of 16, Scotland native Al Stewart decided his path was to be that of a musician. Having purchased his first guitar from Andy Summers (The Police), Stewart started his musical career playing in various bands (one in particular with famed disc jockey Tony Blackburn), but after being introduced to Bob Dylan he decided to focus his attention on being a lyricist as well. In 1965, he moved to London where he landed a job as emcee at the legendary folk club Les Cousines in Soho. During this time, he started writing and performing at the club as well as introducing to the stage artists the likes of Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, John Renbourne, and Ralph McTell. Surpassing his duties as emcee at Les Cousines, he started performing at Bunjies and the Troubadour in London. He then moved on to perform at folk clubs and colleges throughout England with the likes of The Incredible String Band, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Pentangle and Roy Harper.Stewart”s first album, Bedsitter Images, was released in 1967, followed by Love Chronicles in 1969, Zero She Flies in 1970 and Orange in 1972. Many of these early songs were pages ripped from a diary of love affairs, Proust-like in detail and startling for their unabashed exposure of intimacies. If it wasn”t the length of “Love Chronicles” (19 minutes) that kept it from the BBC airwaves, then certainly the explicit lyrics did the trick. Musicians featured on these albums included Jimmy Page, Rick Wakeman, Richard Thompson, Phil Collins, Queen”s Roger Taylor and Brinsley Schwartz.Then came a crucial shifting of gears: Stewart decided to write about any and everything but himself. He began incorporating historical data and elements of film, literature and current affairs into his lyrics. Past, Present and Future, his first U.S. release, was the first record Stewart made using this approach. It became a cult album that has now sold close to a million copies worldwide. His next album, Modern Times, cracked the U.S. Top 40 Album chart that led to a successful U.S. tour. Year of the Cat, released in 1976, became his first platinum album in the U.S. It featured two Top 20 singles, “Year of the Cat” and “On the Boarder.” Buoyed by this success, he moved to Los Angeles and released Time Passages (1978) that also went platinum and featured the singles “Time Passages” and “Song On The Radio.” This period was followed by worldwide tours with his band, Shot In The Dark.The “90s brought a return to Stewart”s folksier roots with a UK solo tour (his first in 15 years). He enjoyed the freedom of performing the songs acoustically and, on his return to the United States, recruited long-time musician and songwriting partner Peter White to perform a series of shows in both the U.S. and Japan. It was during these shows that the album, Rhymes in Rooms, was recorded. It features some of his most well known songs performed in an intimate live setting. Its follow up in 1993, Famous Last Words, is an album of original songs incorporating acoustic instrumentation with traditional folk and classical styles.His latest album, Sparks of Ancient Light, was released in the U.S. in September of 2008 by Appleseed. With a dozen new vignettes of history and mystery elegantly intertwined by the timeless master of musical storytelling, it spans at least 2500 years of history in its tales of exotic locations and situations.Tickets are now on sale at www.swallowhillmusic.org (now with no processing fees) or by calling (303) 777-1003 x2. Discounts are available for Swallow Hill members.

THE ELDERS, one of America’s leading Celtic rock groups, will play two shows in the Denver/ Loveland area In January. The band, which tours across the U.S., Canada and Europe, will appear at the Soiled Dove in Denver Thursday Jan. 7th at 8PM, and at Loveland’s Rialto Theatre Friday, Jan. 8th at 8PM. The lads will perform material from their latest CD, “GAEL DAY” plus a few new numbers, as well as favorites from their large catalog of originals.Tickets for The Soiled Dove, 7401 E. 1st Ave, Denver. Tickets are $15 Gen. admission and $20 reserved. Tickets online at Soiled DoveFor further info call 303 366 0007.Tickets for the Rialto show are $25 and available in advance and at the door at the Rialto box office, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland, CO. For further information call 970 962 2420. Singer STOLL VAUGHN will open both shows, and the THE MCTEGGERT IRISH DANCERS will appear at the Rialto.Information regarding the band’s activities, including the JANUARY CARIBBEAN CRUISE and the JULY IRISH TOUR is available at www.eldersmusic.com.

“Slide… the future of Irish Music” Radio 1, Ireland “They can sing , they can write, they can dance across fingerboards and piano keys,buttons and bows, and by crikey can they play.” Irish Music Magazine SLIDE ” energetic, creative Irish music – named after the liveliest and most exciting of the tune rhythms from the South of Ireland. Consisting of the youngest acclaimed artists from bands that have stretched across a few generations, D” Danann, Stocktons Wing, Liam Clancy’s Band through to Damien Dempsey Band and Dan”, Slide collectively have honed an electrifying fresh sound building on their deep roots and teaching expertise in Irish Traditional Music and are “…taking Irish music to a new place”, said celebrated Irish musician-producer D”nal Lunny, who added, “Their music will touch people far beyond the realm of traditional music” Call Celtic Events at 303-777-0502

(from Cindy’s monthly column “Around the House”in November 09 Celtic Connection) Seamus called into Cindy Reich”s “The Long Acre” radio show to talk about the new Solas album, Seamus” ongoing solo project, baseball and “balloon boy”!  CR You”re calling from Scotland and I know you”re supposed to be in studio working on a new recording, so are you recording in Scotland?  SE We”ve been working on the new album but also working doing other things, and we”re away at the moment but we”ll be back to work in the studio in a couple of days. CR So what”s going on in Scotland, then? SE We”re just hanging out. We played just outside of Bilbao, in northern Spain, over the weekend, so its been a crazy schedule, since we were in studio right before that. Its been studio”go someplace”studio”go someplace.  CR Well, yeah, because you”re kicking off the next leg of your touring on Halloween in the south of France and then your next stop is”. Denver. SE Yeah, we”re playing at a small town in the south of France called Lanel. Actually it is at a mandolin festival. My mandolin playing is.. well” I don”t play it very often, but thankfully it was enough to get us to play in the south of France (laughing). We”re really looking forward to it. Mike Marshall is going to be sitting in with us and we”re really excited about it! After that, we”ll be coming to Denver, and we have a great band from Alaska coming with us, called “Bearfoot”. We did a bunch of shows with them in North Carolina and Maryland and it was great fun. CR What are you putting together for the new album?? Hopefully some more original tunes? SE Yes”all of the tunes on the new album have been written by various members of the band. There is an interesting variety of songs on the album as well. Some traditional, but others as well. We haven”t decided on the final cut for the songs that will be on the album, so I”m a little reluctant to say at the moment. CR Is Mairead (Phelan) still your main vocalist?  SE Yes, she is still with us, and I think on this album she really comes into her own. She sang absolutely fabulously on this recording”I think she”s really going to blow people away when they hear her.  CR How do you handle the altitude here in Denver? Its got to be hard on the flute.. SE It gets your attention! (Laughing) CR I think one of the things you all do really, really well, and I don”t think you get enough attention for it, is that in addition to sourcing out good traditional tunes, you all compose great tunes that seamlessly sit side by side with the traditional pieces. It seems to be harder and harder to find individuals or bands that can craft really good original tunes. SE It”s something that”s always been important to us and is an important part of the overall sound of the group. And as I said, on this album, every instrumental track is one we”ve written. It”s something that we enjoy doing and we will continue to do it. There”s so much stuff that we”ve written that we didn”t even record, that we”ve got a leg up on the next album! CR I ask you this every time I interview you, which is yearly or every other year, and that is, when are you going to do another solo album?  SE And I probably told you the last time we spoke, I”d have one done before we spoke again and I”ll tell you this time”before we speak again, I”ll have one done! (Laughing) CR Well, I”ll tell you now that when we are done, I”ll be going out with a tune off your”let me remind you–1990 release “A Week In January” It has only been 19 years since your debut release” SE Wow”.(laughing) Now THAT got my attention!  CR Don”t we all feel really old, now? SE You know, its funny”I did get into the studio for a couple of days back in January of this year with John Doyle and Dirk Powell and we worked for a couple of days. It was at the end of the Celtic Connections Festival here in Glasgow. We were all here and we worked for a couple of days. But trying to get everyone”s schedules back together again”everyone is always running all over the place”every attempt is being made to get a few more days together this year! If we get together every year for a couple of days, maybe in five years we”ll get it finished!  CR I hope we”re not having this same conversation in another 19 years! SE No, no, I hope not!! I hope the next time we”re speaking, we are talking about the new album! I really do want to get it finished. CR You guys are making good use of the social networking media I now see” SE (Laughing) It”s a new thing for us.. CR Apparently people can now follow you on Facebook and Twitter and you”re going to post (or have posted) pictures and stuff from the recording of the new album? SE Well, we had all these good intentions of posting video while we were working on the album, but we didn”t get around to posting the stuff we wanted to while making the album. I honestly don”t know how people are able to keep up with doing what it is you”re doing and then telling everyone about it! (Laughing) You almost need”you doing it”then having someone tell everyone about it. But we do have lots of video that we are going to be posting very, very soon. Hopefully it will be of interest to some folks to see what goes on when we”re locked behind the doors and down in the dungeon! CR We”re looking forward to seeing you and the band out here in November, and hopefully without snow, after your trip to the south of France.. SE It”s hard to have sympathy, isn”t it, when you say it like that.. “playing the mandolin in the south of France”.. I saw that you had snow out there when the Phillies played the Rockies in the playoffs.. CR Yeah, we don”t want to talk about that”.we GAVE that game away! We gave it away”that”s all I have to say. We were one out away from the division playoff.. SE You were one STRIKE away!  CR That”s true.. SE You were almost like the Phillies” CR Yeah, we were almost like the Phillies in that we blew a big lead”.but we”ll talk baseball when you get back here” however, we have “balloon boy” and you don”t” SE That was very exciting to follow from afar”exciting times out there! (Laughing) 

Singing “Danny Boy” down a phone line landed Anthony Kearns a place in “Ireland”s Search for a Tenor” contest. The contest was in conjunction with the release of a new ten-pound note (commonly referred to as a “tenner”) and Anthony”s phone audition would change his life dramatically. Kearns had to hitchhike to Dublin for the finals and he was the only untrained singer in the competition. He sang “The Impossible Dream” and “Danny Boy” for an encore and won the contest. From there, he has gone on to become an international star. Anthony”s passion for singing was evident at an early age. He sang at Mass. He sang in contests such as the All Ireland Fleadh. He sang sean nos. He sang contemporary. He sang classics. He just sang.  While working at the Grand Hotel in Wicklow, he sang while he worked, and became known as the “singing barman”. Now he travels the world, singing with the wildly popular “Irish Tenors” as well as individual projects. Speaking from his home in Dublin, Kearns explained his passion for singing. “I knew I had some talent, and it was my way of expressing myself. And I had to just do it. I needed a fix and my fix was singing. Other people had sport or whatever, but for me I had to sing to get that buzz, that enjoyment, you know?”  I asked him in this YouTube age, where there are competitions like “Britain”s Got Talent”, “X-Factor” or “American Idol” that previously unknown singers now have a world stage in short order. “If you have a natural talent or ability and get that opportunity, its great and anything can happen”. But the pressure is immense, too, I added. Look at Susan Boyle, who was a lovely singer in her local circle, but was catapulted to the world stage where the pressure caused her to have a brief breakdown. It has disadvantages, too.”But I would say to people”, Anthony replied, “You have to want it. You have to want it so bad there”s nothing else. You have to eat, sleep, drink the music and you have to want it. You have to have the steel and the reserve to handle what”s thrown at you. The singing is the easy part.” Two of the songs in is contemporary repertoire are the poignant and powerful “Bring Him Home” and Empty Chairs And Empty Tables” from Les Miserables. I asked him if he had considered a stage career. “I was approached once, in New York, believe it or not. I sang “Bring Him Home” and did a good job of it on the day, and the woman booked me for a concert. Then she asked if I had performed in musical theater and did I have any interest, but it is another discipline and a different style of singing I suppose. “But I”ve always had a fondness for musicals”.  In looking through the research on the songs that Anthony sings on his website, it turns out there is a very interesting connection between the song “Danny Boy” and Ouray, Colorado! Very few people know that “Danny Boy” was written by an Englishman, Fredrick Weatherly, in 1910. The tune he had set it to did not sell. Weatherly”s brother moved to San Francisco then followed the gold rush to Ouray, in Colorado. While there, Weatherly and his wife listened to Australian miners playing a tune called “The Air From County Derry”. Weatherly”s wife sent the music to her brother-in-law back in England, and he set the tune to “Danny Boy”. This new version was published in 1913, and it has become the unofficial anthem of Ireland across the world.  Anthony has an extensive repertoire that includes Irish songs, songs from musicals, classical and even comedy, such as songs by Percy French. I asked what people might expect from his show. “There is something for everyone. I tend to lean towards Irish songs. There are the Moore melodies, you need to have some comedy, some nostalgic Irish songs”some glorious operatic arias. With my accompanist, Patrick Healy, we tend to have some fun as well with some duets. You have to have a bit of laughter, a bit of tear shedding, a bit of elevation. People need to have that reason to stand up, and applaud and stamp their feet. Music is entertainment, and people need to be entertained. For those wanting to be entertained by Anthony Kearns, he will be performing October 9, at the Northern Hills Christian Church, 5061 E. 160 Avenue. (just north of Thornton) in concert to benefit The Senior Hub. Doors are at 6:30; show starts at 7:30. For information on tickets, check Anthony”s schedule on his website: www.anthonykearns.tripod.com or go to: www.blacktie-colorado.com and search for upcoming events.–Cindy Reich

by Michael ReshetnikWhen you hear a fine Gaelic singer, or a great piper or fiddler, you know that their music comes straight from the heart, that they embody and express the soul of a rich and deep tradition. Tony McManus is one of this sort. With his twin obsessions of guitar and traditional music he gives voice to a full range of emotion and very precise nuance of expression. The fact that Tony is one of the top technicians in the world on his instrument is only half the story, though that would be more than enough for lots of folks. He is a guitarist’s guitarist, and people who have little to do with Celtic music or culture look up to him as a master who opens up new territory. He’s also a very warm and funny guy.McManus began his career in his native Scotland, recording with a huge list of respected musicians and touring with multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Brian MacNeill. A tour with MacNeill brought him to Colorado in 1997, and since then he has toured solo, also with Andy Irvine’s “Mozaik” , a guitar grouping called “Men of Steel” (with Beppe Gambetta, Dan Crary and Don Ross) and Irish and Scottish musical luminaries too numerous to mention. He teaches at guitar camps and Celtic music camps in the summers, including a Colorado visit to Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in 2006.Tony has produced and recorded 5 CDs of his own music, and produced numerous recordings of other Scottish and Irish artists. The latest is called “The Maker’s Mark,” consisting entirely of his solo playing (except for the track where he overdubs 15 instruments!) The CD is a collection of soulful and exuberant tunes and a celebration of the current “golden age” of guitar-making, featuring 14 contemporary hand made instruments provided for the recording session by Paul Heumiller of Dream Guitars (Asheville, NC.) In fact, it probably wouldn’t matter what guitar you put in his hands–there would be beautiful music–but these are exceptionally well-crafted specimens.So, whether you’re a guitar nerd, a lover of Celtic music, or just someone who enjoys having their heart touched by way of the ears, you’ll want to be at Swallow Hill, Friday, August 14, for a rare concert. 

Join mascot Nessie, the friendly Loch Ness monster and friends, at the ALL NEW Colorado Scottish Festival, August 8-9, 2009. The Festival has adjusted it”s hours to Rocky Mountain Party Time on Saturday, extending from 4pm to 10pm.Kilts will me swinging at the evening concert featuring the high energy of Angus Mohr, Colorado”s popular Celtic rock band, and U2 Tribute Band “Under a Blood Red Sky.UABRS is an acclaimed U2 tribute band that passionately recreates authenticU2 concerts. Covering the War tour in 1983 to present day, each show has amazed fans with their ability to recreate famous U2 shows and has solid reputation for sold out venues – including the world-famous Red Rocks!Early risers need not worry – the fest still will open at 9 a.m. both days with activities to dazzled senses with bagpipe band competitions, the great Highland athletes throwing the caber (telephone pole), dozens of colorful clans, the Dogs of the British Isles, children”s games, sheep-herding demonstrations, genealogy information, historic re-enactments, food, drink and vendors, Scottish Highland dancing, Scottish country dancing and Irish step-dancing. A continuous flow of music can be heard all weekend from bands which include the celebrated group Oceans Apart and internationally known Irish fiddler/singer Seamus Connolly.It would not be a proper Scottish Festival without some of the top pipers around, whom will compete 5:30pm on Saturday in the Hot Piping Contest. This competition asks the audience to judge from the comfort of their seats. No hurry needed, there will be plenty of food and drink to help you relax into the evening. 2009 Colorado Scottish Festival August 8 & 9, Saturday 9a-10p, Sunday 9a-5p. Highlands Heritage Park, 9651 South Quebec St. in Highlands Ranch, just two miles south of C-470. Parking is free, as are children 6 and under. Group discounts are available.Become a Fan of Nessie at http://www.facebook.com/nessie.lives, or search for the Fan Page “Colorado Scottish Festival” on Facebook. For map, ticket and other detailed information, visit www.ScottishGames.org or call (303) 238-6524. 

Friday, November 06, 2009, 8:00 pm MST at L2 Arts & Culture Center, Denver CO ALL AGES SHOWSubscribers get tickets now and save money at:SOLAS-BEARFOOT http://. ”Simply one of the best Celtic bands around.” ” PEOPLE MAGAZINE”Solas is one of my favorite groups. Lovely music from lovely people. They’re the best.” – EMMA LOU HARRIS”It”s not often that Irish music sounds like this much fun.” – HOT PRESS, IrelandSome of the best acoustic music in the world will be heard in Denver, Friday, November 6th when SOLAS performs with special guest, Bearfoot, at the L2 Arts & Culture Center at 8 p.m. in Denver. The event is an “all ages” show and with sponsors that include Harp and the Celtic Connection.SOLAS, (“light” in Irish) officially began in 1996 and soon skyrocketed up as one of the brightest stars in the Celtic music galaxy. Their arrival was trumpeted early and often by Earle Hitchner, notable music critic for the Irish Echo and Wall Street Journal, as the “most exciting bands anywhere in the world.” Soon critics from Denver to Dublin were smitten as well and brought fuel to the fire praised Solas with words as:”mind-blowing;” “virtuosity;” “giants;” “unbridled vitality;” and “worlds finest.” A Denver Post review described the bands first appearance in Denver in 1996 as  “a smashing concert”. Over the past decade the Solas have been honored with a room full of awards from “Best Album” to “Best Concert” and have earned the respect of their fellow musicians, media, and fans for their unique contribution to Celtic Music and beyond.Although Solas can play undiluted traditional Irish music as well as anyone alive or departed, they are always varying the mix of fire tested tradition and contemporary sensibility with an ease and naturalness that is as astonishing as their overwhelming musicianship. As a result, they transcend musical genres into the realm of pure musical expression that only a relative handful of musicians attain. Having played all of the major Celtic and folk festivals around the world, the internationally acclaimed super-group has not only captured the hearts and ears of Irish music fans, but fans all around the globe with their blend of Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies, bluesy sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations and global rhythms. This year the band was even called back to Russia for an encore performance at The Moscow Performing Arts Center. The Solas sound today is anchored by founders Seamus Egan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran, and fiddler Winifred Horan. They are two of the most respected”and imitated”musicians anywhere in acoustic music. Mick McAuley from Kilkenny plays accordion and concertina; Eamon McElholm from Tyrone plays guitar and keyboards. Working her way towards two years with the band, County Kilkenny native Mairead Phelan is the newest member to add her own world class talents to Solas. Not only has she come into her own as a vocalist, she is also an accomplished musician, playing flute and tin whistle and has won the All Ireland Championships on both – She also studied piano at the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.Friends and labelmates (Compass Records) BEARFOOT will open the Denver show. The Alaskan based bluegrass band, has been nominated for the Emerging Artist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and was named one of the Top Five Must-See Bands of Merlefest by Kim Ruehl (news editor for NoDepression.com and folk music editor for About.com), and Best Band at Telluride.Friday, November 6 at 8 p.m. L2 Arts & Culture Center, Colfax and Columbine, Denver, CO 80206Adv: $23/25, D/S $25/27. ALL AGES SHOWBox Office: www.swallowhillmusic.org, 303.777.1003 x2, 71 East Yale Avenue, Denver, 8021. Info at [email protected] or 303-777-0502

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival Huerfano County Colorado American Indian tribes called them “Wahatoya”, Huajatolla” or Guajatoyah”, roughly interpreted as “breasts of the earth”. Some Indian tribes believed that they were the site were mankind first emerged onto earth. The “Double Mountains” were easily recognizable reference points to European explorers and pioneers. One pioneer to the area, Colonel John M. Francisco looked down upon it”s valley which would become the future site of La Veta and declared, “This is paradise enough for me.” Today the Spanish Peaks are recognized by more and more by friends and supporters of traditional Celtic music and dance as the landmark for a wonderful and unique weekend at the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival.Similar to some renowned festivals across the foam, SPIMF is held in multiple locations over the coarse of days. The Huerfano County towns of Walsenburg, Gardner, La Veta, and Cuchara all have offerings over the September 24-27 Festival. In it”s 5th year, The boutique festival has an a la carte component that allows participants to chose activities by interests and budgets. There are free events as well as paid workshops offered to the casually interested to the most enthusiastic student. The Festival continues to bring top veteran and rising young talent to the festival stages and workshops and promises to be a weekend to discover or rekindle the magic of Celtic music and dance.For a schedule of events check our www.celticmusicfest.com or call 719-746-2061We asked Festival founder Barbara Yule to give us a few words on what”s new at this years SPICMF:Barbara Yule – Introducing GIVEWAY”We are proud to be showcasing GIVEWAY, a dynamite young four sister band from Scotland that has taken the international music scene by storm. The siblings Mairi, Kirsty, Amy and Fiona have been playing music and singing together since they were in grade school and went professional in 1999 when Phil Cunningham produced their first CD. GiveWay”s popular tours have taken them all over the UK, Europe and both coasts of America, but this will be their first visit to Colorado. The Giveway Saturday night Fox Theatre concert for the festival is a guaranteed winner. These girls” energetic blends of folk-jazz, spine tingling vocals will stay with you long after you leave their concert.” Rocky Mountain Celtic Radio Summit”Special and its free! Rocky Mt. Celtic Radio Summit presented by Pat McCullough, publisher of The Celtic Connection and founder of Celtic Events & Entertainment Saturday over the lunch break (12:00 ” 1:20 pm). The panel of radio hosts represent Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Denver/Boulder, Westcliffe and Taos. Here is a chance to find out how the DJ”s choose the music they play and how in fact they design their shows to excite their audiences. You”ll have a chance to comment on the shows, what you like about them, what ideas you might have to make them even more appealing. You musicians will certainly want to know how you go about getting your cd”s represented aired.” New instruments this year ” On Stage and in Workshops”We are delighted to have with us a phenomenal, multi-talented instrumentalist, Roger Landes who is part of the exciting lineup for our all Irish concert Friday night that includes Aine Minogue, David Coe and Linda Hickman. Roger, director of the International Zoukfest festival is an internationally renowned player of the bouzouki as well as the banjo and mandolin. He will be giving two workshops on Saturday combining all three instruments. The classes will be for intermediate and above players. Another new instrument offering is the button key accordion played by Kirsty of GiveWay. She will teach favorite Scottish tunes sharing hints of Scottish technique and timing.” Importance of the fiddle”For fiddle players we are offering a wider variety of workshops than in the past. David Coe, a Appalachian/bluegrass fiddler who took himself off to Ireland to study Irish fiddling will offer two workshop, one strictly Irish technique and the second showing the links and variations of techniques between Appalachian and Irish playing. Scottish fiddler Arlene Patterson offers a workshop on Scottish dance music for players. Playing dance music is an art unto itself as you fiddlers will find when you take her class. Fiona, GiveWay”s fiddler, is offering a Saturday morning class concentrating on players building their repertoires of Scottish traditional tunes. None of these workshops overlap time-wise so fiddlers can take them all!”Burns Supper and Concert”This event is in honor of Robert Burns, Scotland”s national bard, 250th anniversary. The “Burns Supper” is an annual tradition in Scotland and always includes a piper, an address to the haggis given by Jack Yule and entertainment led by Ed Miller, Alison bell and the girls Night Out, the Festival Singers and storyteller Heather Yule .This special event will take place on Sunday at 1:00 and will finish with ceilidh dancing following an informal concert. Great way to end the festival. Because we couldn”t bring haggis from Scotland we will be serving Scottish stovies, which I promise you are delicious.”Special Adjunct to the Celtic Festival ”There will be a CELTIC JEWELRY class taught by Linda Hickman who is known not only for her brilliant Irish flute playing but also for her exquisite jewelry making skills. The class, which focuses on Celtic photo etching on bronze, will be held at La Veta School of the Arts on 24 and 25 September. For details phone: 719-742-3421 or 742-5238.”Special pre-festival reductions for Celtic Connection readers ”We have been very conscious of the economy and have taken steps to lower costs everywhere possible. The first big early discounts that official ended August 31 will still be available for Celtic Connection readers until the start of the festival when full prices apply for everyone.For Celtic Connection readers to get these first early discounts you must write Pat McCullough”s “special” from Celtic Connection at the bottom of your registration form.See Festival registration form which includes discount listings on our website Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival or ask for a festival program ” 719 742-5410.”

“Seven Nations, which melds bagpipes and fiddles with blazing electric guitars and drums … exited their tour bus and walked in to a standing ovation.” – San Francisco Chronicle”Seven Nations taught a crowd of nearly 10,000 one important lesson: bagpipes rock.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal”The music was riveting … folks were dancing in the aisles … the cheers were deafening.” – Independent Mail Just one more reason to join the Colorado Irish Festival volunteers! As a pre-Festival thank you to their volunteers, the Colorado Irish Festival (July 10.-12) has arranged a special appearance by the internationally renowned Celtic rock band Seven Nations (www.sevennations.com) for Tuesday, July 7th at 8:00 P.M. in the intimate confines of Scruffy Murphy”s Irish Pub, 2030 Larimer St. If you”ve already signed up, admission will be free. If you have friends who haven”t signed up, admission will be $10 ” and that will be refunded at the Festival if they go to Colorado Irish Festivaland register after the show with a code that will be given to them that night. Come by light rail, cab, bus, bike or carpool ” but don”t miss this special event Scruffy Murphy”s is a short walk or a $4 cab ride from the Union Station light rail stop. Please join us for an unforgettable evening of great Celtic rock music, fun and mighty craic to get you into the mood for the Colorado Irish Festival three days later!

CELTIC CONNECTION/CELTIC EVENTS/GIGS LIST DRAWING:Sara Gabriel (“My daughter was born at Swedish Hospital on December 26, 2006. I had the Celtic Woman playing in the delivery room! Love ’em!!”) IDLE IRISH CONTEST PROMO:Susan Smallwood HaroldPatrick McElhanySherree Sabelle 

THE POGUES live at the Ogden Theatre Friday, October 23, 2009. Doors 7pm || Show 8pm. By demonstrating that the spirit of punk could live in traditional Irish folk music, the Pogues were one of the most radical bands of the mid-’80s. Led by Shane MacGowan the Pogues were undeniably political — not only were many of their songs explicitly in favor of working-class liberalism, but the wild, careening sound of their punk-injected folk was implicitly radical. While the band was clearly radical, they also had a wickedly warped sense of humor, which was abundantly clear on their biggest hit, the fractured Christmas carol “Fairy Tale of New York.” The group’s first three albums — Red Roses for Me, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, If I Should Fall From Grace With God — were widely praised in both Britain and America, and by 1988 they had earned substantial cult followings in both countries. Shane MacGowan, an Irish punk inspired by the Clash, formed the Pogues in 1982 after playing with the London-based punk band the Nipple Erectors, a group which was later called the Nips. MacGowan met Spider Stacy in a London tube station, where Stacy was playing a tin whistle. The two began working together, drafting former Nip Jim Fearnley to play guitar. Naming themselves Pogue Mahone — a Gaelic term meaning “kiss my ass” — the trio began playing traditional Irish tunes in London pubs and streets, eventually adding Jem Finer (banjo, guitar), Andrew David Ranken (drums) and Cait O’Riordan (bass) to make it a full band. As the group developed into a sextet, they added MacGowan’s original songs to their repertoire, and began earning a reputation as a wild, drunken and exciting live act and shortened their name to the Pogues. The original line up of Shane MacGowan, Jem Finer, Spider Stacy, James Fearnley, Darryl Hunt, Andrew Ranken, Philip Chevron and Terry Wood will take the stage at the Ogden.TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TICKETMASTER.COM, AT ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS INCLUDING SELECT MACY”S STORES, SELECT FYE STORES, CHERRY CREEK SHOPPING CENTER GUEST SERVICES DESK, THE OFFICIAL VISITORS CENTER, 1600 CALIFORNIA ST., STE. 6, ANGELO”S CD”S & MORE, AND TWIST & SHOUT. TICKET CENTER HOURS MAY VARY; CONTACT RETAILER TO CONFIRM HOURS OF OPERATION. TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL 1-800-745-3000