Cafe Buzz
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Welcome to the Cafe Buzz! We started the "Buzz" section here at the Celtic Café as a means of sharing some of the news and information posted to our associated mail lists, which are devoted mostly (but not exclusively) to Irish dance and Celtic music. For more detailed information, and to join in the discussion about "anything Celtic," please sign up for our main list, large and very international: Celtic Cafe Yahoo Group Got any "newsy tidbits"? E-mail us via the Contact Form. |
Off the Coast of Ireland sits Na Blascaoidí, or the Blasket Islands, a deserted Gaeltacht. Robert Kanigel's On an Irish Island is a beautiful love letter to a disappearing way of life. With the Irish language vanishing throughout the rest of Ireland, the Great Blasket in the early Twentieth Century became a magnet for scholars and writers drawn there during the Gaelic renaissance, to study and learn.
The author takes us through a story of love and friendship, literature and language. He immerses us in the fascinating culture of the islanders tucked away from the rest of civilization who kept alive an entire country's past, and in the newcomers and residents alike who would bring the island's remarkable story to the larger world.
Read more at Robert Kanigel's official site.
Shalayleigh Irish Dance are an all-female performance troupe based in South West England. The highly sought after dancers perform at a variety of community and private events and are looking for Irish dancers aged 17+ of preliminary/open championship standard to join the group. Rehearsals are in Bristol 1-2 times a week. Applicants interested in auditioning to join Shalayleigh Irish Dance should e-mail a CV and photograph to shalayleigh@hotmail.co.uk
New Irish Dance sensation In Love With the Dance features some of Ireland's most gifted traditional musicians, vocalists and world class Irish dancers taking the audience on a journey of "love, sadness and exhilaration."
Upcoming shows include the Irish Heritage Center in Chicago on May 27th, and the Arcata Theater in St. Charles, Illinois on May 28th. From September – December 2011 , In Love with the Dance will be touring Europe / USA, a trip back to Ireland after their successful tour last year and also a massive 26-date tour of the UK starting in October.
Champion dancer Brian Donnelly, the Director/Producer of this 100% live show, will be holding auditions in England and Ireland on Saturdays July 16th and 30th, with rehearsals beginning in August. Applicants should email a CV and a full-length image to brian@jbdproductionsltd.co.uk or for more information on their upcoming tours and shows visit www.ilwtd.com
To celebrate 21 years of Ceol Chiarrai Productions Ireland, we have been working over the last few months in updating the original Dance of Desire Irish dance Production and are now pleased to announce ‘Dance of Desire - The New Beginning’, which
features a cast of Champion dancers and musicians, with an exciting twist in the storyline compared to its original. With new choreography and impressive Irish music and vocal performances, this new production is not to be missed. This groundbreaking Irish production challenges the boundaries of other Irish dance productions and has uniquely elevated the world of the Irish dance show to a new level.
Should any dancers, singers or musicians wish to audition for an opportunity to join the cast of 'Dance of Desire - The New Beginning' please send your CV along with a full-length photo via the audition section of our recently updated website: www.irishdanceshow.com.
We will be holding auditions in Dublin in the New Year with rehearsals beginning in February, 2011 with tours scheduled for Germany, Switzerland, U.S.A., South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand during 2011/2012.
During June, July and August 2011 we will have a resident production in Ireland.
All information on each of our various productions and tour dates, etc. can be found by visiting www.irishdanceshow.com
On March 18, 2011 famed Irish singer Michael Londra will film a concert spectacular for PBS at The California Theater in San Bernardino, California.
With the tenor who came to fame as the lead voice of Riverdance on Broadway will be guest artists like Irish music superstars Frankie Gavin and De Dannan, the hugely talented Irish sisters Sephira, a 16-piece orchestra, choir and an audience of 1700 people in the historical music hall famous for its association with showman Will Rogers. The show will highlight Michael's repertoire, bridging the gap between Irish traditional music, classical crossover and the pop world. The show is being produced by Mindfox Productions and International Media who have produced many PBS broadcasts for artists like Clay Aiken, Celtic Thunder, and Blue Man Group. The show will be directed by Mark Lucas (Keith Urban, Black Crowes, Dave Matthews) and designed by Emmy winner and Irishman, John Casey (Moscow Eurovision, The Martha Stewart Show).
For tickets go to www.californiatheater.net over the coming weeks. For further information go to www.michaellondra.com.
Two Step Productions is launching its inaugural Irish dance production, Rhythm in the Night, The Irish dance spectacular! Two Step Productions is looking for 12 female and 12 male Irish dancers to perform a steady run of performances from mid 2011 into 2012. Dancers must be 17+ years of age and willing to travel. Must be high level dancer, preferably with show experience. Please send your resumes (C.V.) to info@twostepproductions.com and for more information on Rhythm in the Night, visit Two Step Productions.
A new CD by Brongaene Griffin
with Gerry O'Beirne and Kevin Burke
and special guests Johnny B. Connolly, Nancy Conescu, Bob Soper, Elizabeth Nicholson, and Jim Chapman
Produced by Gerry O'Beirne
Brongaene (also known as Bronnie) Griffin is a highly talented fiddle player from Portland, Oregon. Her interest in Irish music began when she was a teenager. Already a very accomplished player of American Old Time and Bluegrass tunes, a chance meeting with Kevin Burke led to Bronnie becoming his fiddle student. Kevin later introduced her to producer/guitarist Gerry O'Beirne and the seeds were planted for this unique and exceptional recording project.
In keeping with the cat "theme" of the album Bronnie is donating part of the proceeds of this recording to benefit the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and Indigo Rescue. She has been a dedicated animal welfare worker for many years and she even persuaded Kevin Burke to record four "cat poems" in celebration of her feline friends. These readings have been deftly woven into the CD by producer Gerry O'Beirne and engineer Billy Oskay.
Preview tracks at LoftusMusic.com. Also available at CD Baby, and Amazon. You may also visit Bronnie's official site.
"Three Colours Ginger" is a charming collection for both music-lovers and cat-lovers alike.
Tribal Celtic Trio BROTHER. Angus, Dalbo and "DidgeriDrew" combine the Highland pipes, drums, guitars, signature vocals and the Australian didgeridoo for a fusion that will knock your socks off. The new CD "Out From Under" can be sampled at BrotherMusic.com:
Check out this powerhouse trio at the Faerieworlds Summer Celebration in
Eugene, Oregon, with more Brother tour dates starting up in September.
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