Our latest new music find and I have to admit it was my parents who discovered Peter Hollens. What a voice! Peter is an A Cappella singer and he has collaborated with the wonderful “Home Free” who I recently blogged about. I love his post video chat, he is so full of enthusiasm, his love of the music and his engagement with his followers, he is inspirational to me on my musical journey.
I’ll let you judge for yourselves; I have chosen below a few of our favourites. My parents love these folk songs and they are so very calming to listen to. Peter’s latest release which features Tim Foust from Home Free is just incredible. “Greensleeves” is for me complete perfection in one video. Let me know what you think.
A few months ago I discovered Home Free. As usual I am late to the party. I am now however completely obsessed and I mean OBSESSED. I cannot get enough of listening to these guys sing, such wonderful harmonies. I completely forget that every sound is made just by their voices, no musical instruments at all. I believe they may be about to announce a European tour and I really hope Birmingham is on their list…I keep tweeting them to include Birmingham within their schedule. Did I mention that they are kinda hot too!
I’ll share a few of my favourite songs below. I’ve limited myself to four otherwise this could be my largest blog post ever and you wouldn’t need to visit their You Tube Channel. If you’d like to check them out yourself you’ll find them at:
This is just so perfect, the voices, the hymn, the scenery. It is well with my soul.
The Home Free guys usually inject some humour into their video’s. All About the Bass…oh those voices!! My junk is in all the right places 🙂
I so want to meet these guys for a beer on a Friday night.
Such a beautiful song and a wonderful video. The guys asked seven couples to chose a photograph from their past, their memories…love is Timeless.
Well I have happily had a Monday morning fix of Home Free which has set me up for the day. Just another reason why Music is my salvation and my heart and soul are Country. To be able to escape into these video’s, sing the songs and dance just uplifts me and I can take on whatever the day throws my way…which as you know can be just about anything as a full time carer to my parents.
Proud to call myself a Home Fry!
Happy Monday, wishing you a totally sparkling week ahead.
Nothing for ages and then a flurry of activity in a short space of time. I was very lucky in that once again some of my favourite Irish Country Music stars were appearing in Birmingham and I was able to attend. My fabulous boyfriend stayed in with Mom and Dad so that I could get out to see my absolute favourite John McNicholl.
It was the Eve of St Patrick’s Day that the dance was on hence the heart shaped, shamrock tattoo ☘️
My friend and I had a little Snapchat fun before we left for the dance, I just love how it removes wrinkles.
We also celebrated Mom’s birthday that weekend, so many flowers, just beautiful and they are still around the house looking good.
Derek Ryan, absolute class singer, songwriter, entertainer had a sell out concert on the Sunday night and it was just fantastic. A great mix of his old material and the newer material and we were up dancing in the aisles. I hear he will be back in November for a dance so that’s a definite date for my diary.
The beautiful Tipperary Songbird, Louise Morrissey, who celebrates thirty years in Country Music this year is touring with Derek Ryan. A real treat to see and hear her amazing voice.
No further gigs now until April. I have three planned; Nashville, Daniel O’Donnell and Michael English. I make the plans in the hope I get to carry them out. As you know, if it wasn’t for Country Music I might possibly go crazy!
Regular readers of my blog know that I love to sing and that I have been visiting a wonderful vocal coach, Christine, for a number of reasons. The main reason is that singing brings me stress relief; life as a full time carer to two elderly parents is not easy, it’s harder work than I ever thought it was going to be so stress relief of the singing kind works for me.
I have so enjoyed learning about the voice, to hear my own voice develop, to hear the clarity of the notes I can produce and to know that I am blessed with a good vocal range an a natural vibrato (apparently some singers would kill for a vibrato)!!
I am coming on well now with my Guitar lessons. Since Christmas I can actually get the sound of a few chords from the Guitar and I bought myself a new Guitar book “American Country Hits” so that I can practice the chords and learn the songs at the same time. It has taken time and I have more or less cracked “Jambalaya”, very little plink and thunk on that one now. I am learning, practising four more songs and I want to download the guitar chords for some of the Irish traditional songs and country songs that I love to sing.
At the start of the year I mentioned to my Guitar tutor that it would be a dream come true for me to record some songs. I don’t care if anyone bought them or not, but to have recorded and released some songs would be just awesome. He informed me that he can help me with that as he can bring a mobile recording studio to me here at home and we can record away. I’ve to choose four or five tracks so that we can utilise the recording time and keep cost to a minimum. He can then do the mixing at his professional studio.
My vocal coach is almost as excited as I am about this. Every time I think about it I get a headache with excitement. Of course this has now thrown me into a world I know nothing about, the music business…something new to learn.
Choosing four or five songs may sound easy but it is proving to be a little difficult. There is only one I am absolutely sure of and I keep changing my mind about the other four. I have backing tracks but I need to shop around for the best sounding tracks and then I need to check on the licensing. Most that I purchase online are licensed for private use or public performance but not recording. I require permission to use the track and there may be an additional cost.
I also need to research public broadcast licensing and how royalties work. I’ve been told to start getting things ready; website (although there won’t be much content at first), photo shoot (who me?), video’s for the songs (really, me in a music video?) and to get to grips with self promotion.
These are things I really want to do, this is very much dream come true time and if I can get these things done before I set foot on a stage to sing it will boost my confidence enormously. It really is a case of “Feel the fear and do it anyway” for me. However, I’m a full time carer to both of my parents along with running the home and everything that goes with that. I have very limited free time. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it but you can bet your bottom dollar that any free time I have will be spent on the music dream.
I have put together another video. One of my favourite songs is “Making Memories of Us” which is sang by Keith Urban and also a couple of my favourite Irish singers; Mike Denver and Derek Ryan. I managed to locate a good backing track but the key may be not quite right. I can just about hit the bass notes but if I take the key higher, the higher notes may be off.
I used photographs of places I have been on holiday with my lovely boyfriend over the years for the video. Places where we now have memories of being there together from taking him home to Ireland to visit Galway where my Mom is from to our summer holidays in Spain, Portugal and England.
Please give it a listen and let me know what you think. Thank you for supporting me on this journey to my dream.
It’s been ages since I posted any new music video’s from our fabulous Irish music stars and we have had some great new music releases over the past month or so. There are one or two included which date back to the end of last year and which I didn’t get an opportunity to include on my blog.
First up is a couple from Nathan Carter. Last year Nathan held his first Arena concerts, one in Dublin and one in Belfast. Both were sold out and the Belfast concert has been voted as the Arena Concert of the Year by voters for the SSE Live Awards. I recently purchased the Live DVD of the Dublin show and it is absolutely fantastic. Mam, Dad and myself sat and watched the concert and we all sang along. As I had only seen Nathan live in concert in Birmingham the week before I was really buzzing. Below is an extract from the show with the Glen Campbell Medley. Also below is the video to Nathan’s latest song written by Nathan and Don Mescall. Released for Valentine’s Day it has a lovely message of eternal love with a connection to Alzheimer’s. Just beautiful.
Derek Ryan is one of Ireland’s most successful singer/songwriters of the current time. His latest release is a fun offering “Down on your Uppers”. I think he could write a song about anything!
Lisa McHugh had a huge hit last year with “Girl with a Fishing Rod”. This is her latest release “Country Girl”. It took me a few plays and I really quite like it now. Of course the video’s help, I love to see the story unfolding.
Michael English is another fabulous singer/songwriter and last year Michael filmed his first Live DVD at the INEC Killarney. The night was a fantastic success and seeing the clips on his weekly TV show and on other shows, it looks like an amazing night with big bands, Irish Dancing and a great mix of music. Below is the video for “Ten Guitars”.
I hope you have enjoyed this small selection of music, more to follow…
Once again I find that time is flying by and I’m not getting an opportunity to keep my blog updated. I have amazing ideas that pop into my head, subjects to blog about, songs to include on my blog, blogs I want to catch up reading and yet nothing gets done. I seem to be constantly on the go from the moment I get up until I get into bed…if we get into bed. Daily I am surprised that I get to 9 pm and not had a chance to do anything on my own “to do” list as I had more important tasks to do for my parents. Life as a carer is like this and I have noticed that I have become calmer within this role. If the past few months have taught me anything it is to just go with the flow. Don’t try to force anything, Mom will do what she wants to do when she wants to do it and everyone only gets stressed if I try to make things happen. It hasn’t been easy, I still silently scream inside when it can take fifteen minutes to cajole Mom into the kitchen to eat. Poor old Dad has had to get used to going with the flow also, we are all on a continual learning curve.
I have managed a couple of outings since early January and there has been some progress on my music dreams which I’ll share in another blog post…which hopefully won’t be in another six weeks time!
Lucky me, my favourite Irish singer John McNicholl was in town and my fabulous boyfriend came over to spend the evening with my parents so that I could go to the dance.
A friend I have made through going to see John McNicholl over the years had bought me some beautiful flowers. A wonderful surprise, I was spoiled.
Back on track with my healthy eating again. It took a while after the Christmas excesses, once I get the taste of the chocolate I’m done for.
I purchased a wholly unsuitable pair of sparkly shoes. I’ve not worn high heels for years, I need to get some practice in. Not bad for £25.00
Beautiful Roses which I bought for my Beautiful Mom.
A little Snapchat fun after a quick catch up lunch with my friend.
Absolutely amazing, incredible, fantastic concert from the brilliant Nathan Carter. This lad just keeps getting better and better and lucky me I got a kiss, swoon. Oh yes I was the cat that got the cream.
This is my little Bitmoji from Snapchat complete with hearts for Valentine’s Day. I like the whole Bitmoji thing, it’s fun, expressive, confusing and I could even add my lack of sleep lines to my eyes, result!
And finally, my Snapchat Valentine’s Day post. How I love these wrinkle removing filters. I was just about getting used to using the Snapchat app and they have now changed it…oh well, time to start learning all over again.
Huge sparkles to all, hopefully I’ll be back to the blog very soon.
It’s a while since I managed to post a catch up blog, it’s on my to do list. However, last night I managed to get out to see my favourite Irish music star, John McNicholl and I just had to post a few pictures tonight.
John doesn’t visit Birmingham too often and as I am unable to travel to see him in other parts of the UK or Ireland, I have to wait for him to play my city and hope I can get out to the dance. It takes some strategic planning these days to do so, especially as it entails a late night but things worked in my favour last night and Cinderella did go to the ball. Cinderella also checked her phone every five minutes but that’s how it goes these days. I was so glad I was there. John has a fabulously rich voice and sings not only Irish and Irish Country music but also some Rock and Roll, Sixties and last night we had some Neil Diamond too. John has boundless energy on stage, a real entertainer. He has a great band of musicians with him, the music is wonderful. I was up on that dance floor almost all night, I made the most of the freedom I was enjoying, I felt like me again, if that makes sense? My knees are paying the price today though…
There are a lovely bunch of people I meet at John’s gigs and I’ve made some wonderful friends over the past four years. I was really feeling the love last night from them all. They had missed me posting on Facebook (I had no idea I hadn’t posted there since August), they were concerned about me, was I ok? Was I getting out? I’m still feeling emotional from the genuine concern and caring about me from these friends. I feel so loved by them and that feels so warm and comforting.
John himself is a true gentleman and I am so happy to count him as a friend also. Rumour has it that he is back in Birmingham in January so fingers crossed I’ll be pulling on the cowboy boots and heading for the dance floor again then.
So, a few photos from last night, I was so happy, I made them all have their photo taken with me.
John McNicholl
John McNicholl
Shane who plays Guitar in John’s band.
Johnny who plays the drums in the band.
My friend April and myself.
I’m wearing the dress I bought for my Graduation which I ended up deferring until next year. However, I’m so happy with how I look for a change, that 22 lbs weight loss makes such a difference. No wonder I was a diva on the dance floor, I had the energy to do so!!
I’m a little late in blogging about the Stars of Irish Country concert I attended at the end of September; it’s been a challenging couple of weeks on the sleep/home front but I’ll leave that for another blog post.
The concert was fantastic. Four very different artists, different styles of singing, different types of songs and a wonderful backing band in Keltic Storm made for a fabulous night of Irish/Country music.
First up was Frank McCaffrey, a lovely man with a long career in Irish music and a gentle, musical voice. He sang traditional and modern songs; “When I was a Lad”, “I’ll take you home again Kathleen”, “The clock in the Tower” and “Look at us” to name a few of his hits over the years.
Frank McCaffrey
Then came the Tipperary Queen Louise Morrissey. Oh what a voice this lady has. Not a note out of place. Next year celebrating thirty years in the business Louise sang songs new and old from her latest CD, “What’s Another Year” a three CD set each celebrating a decade in the world of Irish music. I got a signed copy for Mam and Dad and it is just heavenly to listen to the voice of such a beautiful songbird. Louise is touring with Derek Ryan next year and I already have my tickets for that concert in March.
Louise Morrissey
Next up was Mick Flavin who is this year celebrating his thirty year anniversary in the business. He spoke to people in the audience who have been attending his concerts and dances in Birmingham for thirty years. Mick has a wonderfully deep voice and can hit extremely low notes with little effort. “Wildflowers don’t care where they grow” and “The old schoolyard” are favourites of ours at home and he sang both.
Mick Flavin
Next up was Stephen Smyth who I knew nothing about but wow, was I blown away by this man’s voice. He was incredible. He sang, he danced, he played the fiddle and the tin whistle. He sang new songs, old songs, songs from the Irish Showband era of Joe Dolan and Brendan Bowyer. It was extremely difficult to stay sitting in my seat I wanted so much to dance. His rendition of “Noreen Bawn” gave me goosebumps. I would most definitely go to see him perform again.
Stephen Smyth
And of course a couple of pictures of me with Louise Morrissey and Stephen Smyth.
It was a very happy night, I’m so glad I managed to get out to attend the concert. My next Irish music date, all being well, is with the gorgeous gentlemen that is John McNicholl which is in November. Fingers crossed there will be plenty of dancing that night.
Burning Ring of Fire!!! No, I haven’t just fallen in love but I have fallen headlong into a song. An absolutely iconic song originally from Johnny Cash and sang by many artists throughout the years. I love dancing and singing to this when I get the opportunity to attend an Irish dance as the artist usually sings this as part of a medley.
Over this past year I’ve become a huge fan of the US TV show “Nashville”, I’m a confirmed, totally obsessed #Nashie even though we are way behind on episodes. We’re on Series three and I believe Series six is due to air in the US in January. In Series one, Clare Bowen who plays Scarlett O’Connor sang her version of the song, “Love’s Ring of Fire”. I love it!
Regular readers of my blog will be aware that I love to sing; it is my escape and I so enjoy visiting my wonderful vocal coach and stretching my vocal range, I’ve been amazed by my abilities over the last couple of years. I can’t visit her as often as I’d like to and sometimes even practising the vocal exercises is impossible as time just flies and I can’t get twenty minutes to myself to sing. When I do though it feels so good, a total uplifting release of stress for those few minutes, it is pure bliss.
I like to try out songs I wouldn’t usually sing and recently whilst looking up a karaoke version of “My Life” by Billy Joel, next in line to it was a karaoke version of “Ring of Fire”. I couldn’t resist singing it.
Now, I am being extremely brave, I’m posting my version here on my blog. It’s a rough version, recorded on my iPhone, in our conservatory. It makes me unbelievably happy to sing this song and up until a week ago I wouldn’t have dreamt I could sing it.
I’d love to know what you think but please be kind. One of these days I’m going to get confidence enough to get up on a stage and sing…one of these days…
Our fabulous Irish Music stars have a host of recently released new music, these are very popular songs already and are featuring on the various Country Music shows on Keep it Country TV and also on the various internet radio stations.
The second single from the forthcoming new album “The Fire” and filmed in and around County Carlow (where my Dad is from), this is another sure fire hit for Derek Ryan.
I can’t help but feel this one was released a little late in the season as the children are now back at school. Once again Nathan Carter pulls a hit out of the hat.
What can I say about the latest offering from the fabulous Michael English. You’ll definitely want to get up and dance. Taken from the forthcoming live DVD filmed in Killarney, I cannot wait to see the whole DVD, a must for my Christmas list.
I really enjoy Gerry Guthrie singing, he has developed his own identifiable sound. This is a great track and a lovely video.
Robert Mizzell has a wonderful voice. Originally from Louisiana and now living in Ireland, Robert is extremely popular. I’ve not seen him live yet but I hope he will tour the UK. This is a beautiful song and video. All proceeds to Marie Keating Foundation.
Dawn. The Sparkle Diaries. 