Author Archives: vaple

“Ich Bin Ein Corkman:” FolkWorld webzine sounds off

 

Dan Neely's write up in the Irish Echo

Dan Neely’s write up in the Irish Echo

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.”

“The album is a fun trip to the in my opinion most beautiful city in Ireland, the typical chant of Corkish English, the rousing tunes and great songs can travel thoughts. ”

 

New Supermarket


DVDWe’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.

 

Praise ‘Echoes’ for “From Cork with Love”

Dan Neely's write up in the Irish Echo

Dan Neely’s write up in 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.

You Kickstered it!

kicked

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

A big thank you to all my fans, friends & family who backed a winner and shattered the Kickstater goal. I flew over to Cork and joined by the great team of Red SHoe Productions captured what we could in the time allotted. We have all the filming done and it’s up to the editor now to work his magic. Keep an eye to the Kickstarter page for updates and follow along with all the excitement.

I can’t thank everyone enough. It was amazing to finally get it off the ground.  If you are only now finding out about it and wish to get in on the craic and pre-order a copy of the DVD yourself.  Send Máirtín (myself, like) a note to mairtinmusic (at) gmail (dot) com.

Gigs in September
15 Minneapolis, MN: Hosmer World Music Series – Máirtín solo
26 – 30 Huerfano County, CO: Spanish Peaks Music Festival – Máirtín solo teaching Storytelling & Dancing

Gigs in October
13 Milwaukee, WI:  ICHC concert series  – The Máirtín de Cógáin Project with Brian & Devin of Bua
14 St. Paul, MN: The Celtic Junction – The Máirtín de Cógáin Project with Brian & Devin of Bua
26 – 28, Dallas, TX: O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat- Bodhrán & a bit of Storytelling (All levels)

Gigs in November
2-3 Austin, TX: Austin Celtic Fest – Máirtín Solo, storytelling and bodhrán instruction
12-15 Liverpool, UK: De Bogman the show (it’s back on the road, again)
19 – NY, NY – Charity Event lead by Donie Carroll, be there. Máirtín with a huge shower of singers and musicians

More dates updated frequently enough on the calendar.

The Education Section
September 27 – 30, CO Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival Storytelling & Dancing (All levels)
October 26 – 28, TX O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat – Bodhrán & a bit of Storytelling (All levels)
All info above subject to change.

May Fame

May has come and welcomed in the bright half of the year (in the Northern hemisphere anyhow) and on the 1st of May I went and before the sun rose in the morning rolled in the May Morning Dew.  Many songs have this phrase used and I have often been asked about it, so, for the first time I went and did it myself, washing my face in the fresh dew of Summer.  It was great, 5.59am on a brisk Minnesota morning. You should try it for yourself next year!  Here is a few links to get you in tune with what I am say if you are totally lost, like.  Read about the celebration of Bealtaine here or listen to Joe talk about it here more art on it here. No matter where you go, there you are!

Gigs this Month & Next
May 18 – 20: Ormond Beach, FL info here
The Máirtín de Cógáin Project with Don Penzien & Valerie Plested of Legacy
May 27 & 28: Chicago, IL info here
The Máirtín de Cógáin Project with Brian Miller & Devin Shepard of Bua
June 2 & 3: Oshkosh, WI info here
Máirtín de Cógáin Project as a Solo Act

Check out Norah’s other Band The Outside Track here
You may have heard Norah Rendell singing and playing flute on the Máirtín de Cógáin Project’s debut album ‘From Cork with Love’, well she is the front of another amazing outfit doing amazing things, like helping poor oul’ defenseless children and more.  They have launched a charity single which is not only great musically but fantastic for the bunch charities…check out and buy it cheaphere

Summer Lovin’ – Where we’ll be…

July
15 – 21Catskills Irish Arts Week – East Durham, NY – Máirtín solo teaching
22 – 27 Augusta Irish/Celtic Week – Elkins, WV – Máirtín solo teaching
27 – 29 Dayton Celtic Fest – Dayton, OH – The MdC Project

August
11 – 12 Minnesota Irish Fair – St. Paul, MN – The Fuchsia Band
14 – 16 Milwaukee IrishFest Summer School – Milwaukee, WI – The Fuchsia Band teaching
17 -19 Milwaukee Irish Fest – Milwaukee, WI – The Fuchsia Band
31 – 2 Irish Fest MN – Rochester, MN – The MdC Project

September
31 – 2 Irish Fest MN – Rochester, MN – The MdC Project
7 – 9 CelticFest Mississippi – Jackson, MS – The MdC Project
27 – 30 Spanish Peaks Music Festival – Huerfano County, CO – Máirtín solo teaching
More dates updated frequently enough on the calender here

Want to learn the Bodhrán? Need a Lesson? Book Now!
Máirtín is teaching this year, do click on the week names for website.
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 some 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)
Eoin – Drinking (advanced level, no sign up fee)

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.