Newsletter - December 2013
2013, what a year! We started off the year touring the highlands and islands of Scotland teaching Manx music to trad music students, through huge public generosity raised £6,353.23 for Manx farmers affected by the dreadful snow, launched our debut album in the UK, came home to the island to a sell-out concert in Peel, with the help of the MHF we visited the island's secondary schools to raise awareness of Manx music amongst the next generation, played gigs up and down the UK to promote the new album including the on the BBC Radio 3 Stage at WOMAD, became very familiar with the Channel Tunnel and Belgian beer, attended the WOMEX trade fair in Cardiff... and now here we are - it's December already!
To finish off the year, here's some of our latest news for you. |
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We're comin' back tae Glasgow!
After our last gig at Glasgow's award winning Folklub (congrats by the way!), we didn't want to leave it too long before our next visit. So we're very excited to say that we'll be back in January for Celtic Connections! We're set open a spectacular evening of music at the beautiful Old Fruitmarket on the 19th January, featuring the supergroup 'Celtic Fiddle Festival' - Ireland's Kevin Burke, Brittany's Christian Lemâitre, ex La Bottine Souriant/De Temps Antan fiddler André Brunet and Breton guitarist Nicholas Quemener. Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham are also set to join the lineup for what should be a fantastic night! |
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We need your help!
After our album was featured in the Songlines Magazine reviews earlier this year, we are now eligible for nomination in the Songlines Music Awards 2014. In order to be officially nominated though, we need some friendly people like you to take 2 mins of their time to vote for us!
All you need to do is follow the link, select your choices for each of the 4 categories, we're up for Best Group & Newcomer by the way, pop in your email address, do a wee email confirm thing, and it's done! Come on, let's help get a Manx group nominated for something a bit different...
http://www.songlines.co.uk/music-awards/ |
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New Booking Agents!
During our travels this year, we've been lucky enough to find the support of three booking agents to help us take our music to new audiences around the world. Patrick De Loecker has been working with us already this year for concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands. As well as being a fantastic agent and great a guy, he is also partially responsible for our Belgian beer habits! The lovely Hannah Bright at Haystack Music will be representing us in the UK, and is currently booking dates for 2014. We also had the privilege to meet Jessica Jungegård from Äsping Music at WOMEX in October, and she has agreed to represent us in Sweden. So we're very much looking forward to taking some Manx music to Sweden! |
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Polkas anyone?
We like polkas. There, I said it. Here's a video of us playing a few of our favourite Irish polkas whilst rehearsing in Glasgow recently - recorded on two iPhones and a Macbook! So excuse the sound quality, and the odd rumble from the death metal band practising in the room next door, and we hope you enjoy!
http://youtu.be/1ZuYcxH6z5o |
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Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa!
If you're on the Isle of Man on the 28th December, we'll be playing a slot at the annual 'Mollag Ghennal' in Douglas. It's always great fun, and we're looking forward to seeing what tinsel based stage dressings Greg comes up with this year!
Wishing you all a Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year). |
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