"Ich Bin Ein Corkman:" FolkWorld webzine sounds off

FolkWorld webzine #50 posted this review of the CD "From Cork With Love". The English version below is brought to you by Google Translate.... see the link following for the original German. http://www.folkworld.eu/50/d/cds3.html#coga

"The Irish storyteller, singer and actor Mairtin de COGAIN (vocals, bodhran) sent, together with Brian Miller (guitar, bouzouki, Shruti Box), Norah Rendell (flute, whistles, vocals) and guest fiddler Nathan Gourley greetings from his home town, was added Live in St. Paul, Minnesota."

"Mairtin sings cover versions, traditional and original songs, telling his stories and plays with the band tunes fleet. There is "The Star of Sunday's Well", a text from the 19th Century by William B. Guiney, a poet from Cork; Mairtin sings the poem A Capella for Shruti Box. "Jiggin 'around Cork" is a set of traditional jigs from Cork, performed brilliantly with tin whistle, bouzouki, fiddle and bodhran. Then he tells the audience says "How to make proper tea", a real laugh. Norah, Mairtin and the audience sing "Johnny go boating", as you would most like to sing myself, and Norah charmed with the beautiful guitar ballad "The Rose of Coburg Street." The Irish text of "Grá dá raibh" comes from Mairtin, the music he wrote with The Fuchsia Band, a rhythmic folk song. Another highlight is the up-beat set of "Reel Cork like," Fiddling with great, bouzouki / bodhran rhythm and the rich sound of the Irish flute."

Praise 'Echoes' for "From Cork with Love"

Review from the Irish Echo

Dan Neely of the Irish Echo reviewed Máirtín's new DVD travelogue in the Feb 2013 issue, alongside the great Donie Carroll's second recording, 'Divil of a Noise' (up Cork!). Both reviews are available in print or in this PDF.

Three years in the making, this project demonstrates Máirtín's engaging character and entertaining performance style in a musical travelogue of his Ireland home. It's an exciting new approach to the music's presentation from a younger U.S.-based artist.

Made possible by a successfully funded Kickstarter project, each of the DVD's 14 chapters finds Máirtín exploring a different facet of Cork's history and culture. Máirtín's own music brings depth to each chapter, but many of them include brilliant performances from high profile guests, including John Spillane, Jimmy Crowley, Matt Cranitch & Jackie Daly and Máirtín's father Barry Cogan. These contribute greatly to the finished product.

The DVD is professionally shot and comprises footage taken in Ireland and in St. Paul, Minn. For the material shot in Ireland (and for the feature's editing), Máirtín called on cameraman and filmmaker Paschal Cassidy of Red Shoe Productions. Cassidy has a stellar reputation in the trad scene. He got his start working for Cork's Forefront Productions as the cameraman for RTÉ's annual Fleadh program. Over the years, however, he's been behind several important programs on TG4, including "Geantraí," "Gradam Ceoil" and "Ceol Ar An Imeall."

Spliced into the travel narrative is concert footage shot at the Celtic Junction in St. Paul, Minnesota by Zach Nicholas, which features Máirtín playing live with Bua's Brian Miller, the Outside Track's Norah Rendell and the Doon Céilí Bandn's Nathan Gourley. The audio from this concert was recorded and used for Máirtín's 2010 album also called "From Cork With Love," but it is used here to bring musical depth to Máirtín's various rambles. The DVD also includes three bonus tracks, all of which come from this live footage.

Ultimately, this is a really fun and entertaining project that lets Máirtín's unique brand of humor and enthusiasm really shine.

 

New Supermarket

We've been slaving away here at MáirtínMusic.com, filming, editing, designing, mixing, burning (sounds like a cake!) the DVD, and it's still hot! At long last, we have all of the Máirtín de Cógáin Project T-shirts, CD, postcards, and the brand new DVD travelogue all available for online order, all for your convenience. In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day, all orders from the shop are shipped free through March 18th, 2013.

Where would you get it?

Right here in the new shop.

You Kickstered it! 

Máirtín chats with Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly during filming of the upcoming DVD

Kickstart the Party

I am very excited about this project. My aim with this Kickstarter is to raise the necessary funds to produce an off-the-beaten-track video travelogue, bringing the music of From Cork with Love to life. I will be the audience's guide, taking them by the hand to the oft-overlooked magical places that will make any heart yearn for my county’s beauty and history. Together, we will tour the locations mentioned in the songs and find ourselves diverted into conversation with some of Cork’s true characters – her musicians, shopkeepers, barmaids, and historians – and have a truly quintessential Irish experience, with all of it framed by the songs of From Cork With Love.

Come be a part of the experience at Kickstarter.

Máirtin Wows House Party

Brooming

The craic was mighty in Romeoville, Illinois, when people "went back in time" and gathered to hear a traveling Cork man share his music. Máirtín de Cógáin was booked to entertain at Gaelic Park's Irish Fest Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day Weekend. Then he had a creative brainstorm, and floated an idea to anyone who wanted to host an "Irish Music House Concert" Saturday night, May 26.

Read the whole review here.

May Fame

September 27 - 30, CO Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival
October 26 - 28, TX O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat - Bodhrán (All levels)
All info above subject to change.

A Dacent Education

The March season is upon us and the year ahead is looking educational indeed. It'll be great to have you on board!

• March 8 & 10, NE: Lincoln's Celticus Spiritus Irish Language & Storytelling (All Levels)
• April 20 - 22, MO: St. Louis Tionól - Bodhrán (Beginner/Intermediate levels)
• July 15 - 22, NY: Catskills Irish Arts Week - Bodhrán (Beginners) & Storytelling (All levels)
• July 22 - 27, WV: Augusta Irish/Celtic Week - Bodhrán (All levels) & an optional evening Storytelling mini-course
• August 16-19, WI: Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School - Bodhrán (Advanced Level) & Storytelling (All levels)
  Also the rest of the Fuchsia Band will be educating the masses in these disciplines...
  Brian - Mandolin (intermediate/advanced) & Whistle (intermediate/advanced)
  Mick - Flute (intermediate/advanced) & Guitar (intermediate/advanced)
• September 27 - 30, CO: Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival
• October 26 - 28, TX: O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat - Bodhrán (All levels)
  All info above subject to change.
  

Cad 'tá ar Siúl Agaibh, Ya'll?

Máirtín goes East

It's 2012 and all of us at Máirtín Music hope this one will be full of contentment for you!  In January and February Máirtín will be playing in PA, CT, NY, The Caribbean, WI and MN! Be on the lookout. 

So, let's talk about the upcoming shows...
January
23rd White Haven, PA - Solo House Concert 
24th Brooklyn, NY - Solo Concert 
25th East Lyme, CT - Solo House Concert 
26th Winsted, CT - Solo House Concert 
27th Queens, NY - A mighty session lead by Máirtín 

Jan 29th - Feb 5th Cruising in the Caribbean with loads of mighty musicians and fans. More info for last minute bookings click here 

February
16th La Crosse, WI - Concert with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
17th Madison, WI - House Concert with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
18th St. Paul, MN - Máirtín plays for Irish Dancers in the Cities. 
25th St. Paul, MN - A Gaela Event

For more dates into the future look to the calendar on the main website which can be found right now by clicking here.

Next month we will be doing our big spring cleaning here on the mailing list and will be sending an email asking if you wish to stay on the list. Be on the lookout for that... it should come around the 6th or 7th of Feb as ever the get out early clause is at the bottom of this email.  Also, if you need off of the email list NOW, the get out early clause is at the bottom of this email...
We are keeping it short and sweet this month and look forward to more sunshine in the spring!

Great Deals on the cruise in May from Rome around the Mediterranean, they tell us. Click here to read all about it.

A Blog to Sleep on...

I will endeavor to blog the beds that I stay in on the bumpy road of life for the next year (excluding the beds I own or family-owned beds). So here we go! I would love to hear what ye think of it as I go along, so do leave comments!

Bhur gcara,
Máirtín

http://mairtinsbeds.wordpress.com/

Read more Old News...

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