RITA MacNeil
Blue Roses
Rita MacNeil and the Men of the Deeps will begin their final tour of Western and Central Canada this November with the presentation of a new concert entitled "Mining the Soul: Christmas!"
Rita and the men have been a truly powerful pairing of talents, selling out concerts across the country since they joined forces in 1999. The purity of the music and honesty of the stories have always made for a magical evening of entertainment that has left audiences asking for more.
Blue Roses is Rita's twentieth release and her first album of all original material in 10 years. As she enters her 60th year, the album is a brilliant representation of the many personal and professional milestones in a much celebrated life.
Their Lights Still Shine is the newest release from Men of the Deeps. The all miners choir is a Canadian treasure formed 38 years ago in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Selections on the release include the perennial favourites Rise Again, Song of the Mira, and Immigrant Eyes.
The tour is billed as the final tour of Rita MacNeil and the Men of the Deeps, only because the cost of flying across the country with such a large entourage is prohibitive. However, Rita MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps will continue on their own separate tours in the future.
When you listen to Rita MacNeil singing, it's like an old friend telling you about their life and about friends that you both know and about the everyday hopes and dreams of these friends...it's like news of home listening to Rita sing.
Check-out Rita's website to see where and when she will be performing in your area at: www.ritamacneil.com.
Tracks on Blue Roses are: Floating; Knowing When To Go; Some Things Never Change; Memphis; Blue Roses; You Can't Go Home Again; Never Under 85; Moon Was Rising; Please Believe Me; and Time and Again. Rita MacNeil's Blue Roses is available at fine record stores everywhere
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The Town Pants
Weight of Words
I first met brothers Duane and Dave Keogh, shortly after they moved to Vancouver from Ottawa. They are very friendly and naturally personable on and off the stage. They told me about their grandfather who lived in Chapeau, Quebec who had a still up on the hill, and how they would listen to The Clancy Brothers records as they grew up.
Seeing them on stage and listening to their energetic music, it would seem that the Chapeau influences are still there with the lively music and sea shanty drinking songs. They are great party lads and you can rest assured of a lively evening wherever they perform.
The Town Pants have just completed a very successful tour of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany. They have two CDs to their credit, Liverdance and Piston Baroque, and now they are set to release their newest CD entitled Weight of Words.
Tracks on Weight of Words are: The Weight of Words; Breakfast with St. Swithin; Rum Runner; The Old Landlord; Diggin The Grave; Mr Valentine's Dead; Bottle of Rain; Boys of the Old Brigade; Old Vancouver Town; and Ships Made of Wood.
Musicians are Duane Keogh on lead vocals, background vocals and guitar; Dave Keogh on lead vocals, background vocals, mandolin, all banjo and Spanish guitar; Aaron Chapman on background vocals, mandolin, tin whistle and melodica; Virginia Schwartz on fiddle and background vocals.
The group were joined on the CD by the following musicians: Dino DiNicolo on percussion; Rich Priske on bass; Ryan Robbins on didjeridoo; JP Carter on trumpet; Seamus Murphy on drums; Hugh McMillan on bass; and Rob Thomson on background vocals.
Weight of Words is vintage Town Pants with some wicked fiddling and the lads have thrown in an old Clancy's tune, Boys of the Old Brigade.
The Town Pants have invited everyone to join them at their CD release party on November 18 at The Red Room at The Drink, 398 Richards, Street, Vancouver. The party starts at 8 PM and the show starts at 9 PM. Tickets are $10 or $15 and you can receive their new CD. For more information, visit their website at: www.thetownpants.com.
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The Carpenter's Son
It's About Time, It's About Jesus
The music of The Carpenter's Son is lively, energetic and with a Celtic flavour. It's toe- tapping, easy listening music, yet with a message of hope and inspiration for a troubled world.
The Carpenter's Son describe their music as Christian Celtic folk music and have been composing and performing music since 1994. The group has an impressive listing of churches of all denominations where they have played for fundraising events.
The main focus of the group's ministry is "to share with others what God has given them." All the members of the group come from different backgrounds and musical experiences, but collectively produce a rich intricate sound they can uniquely call their own.
Members of The Carpenter's Son are: Patrick Michael Ceaser on vocals, guitars and keyboards; Tim Renaud on vocals, bass, mandolin and percussion; Natalie-Anne Wicha-Rutherford on vocals, flute, whistles and percussion; Julie Buffett on vocals and percussion; Rosie Carver on vocals and fiddle; and Vince Renaud on vocals, bass, Moog, drums and percussion.
Tracks on It's About Time - It's About Jesus are: It's About Jesus; Once Again For Love; Shoot Me Like An Arrow; Spirit; Tidings Of Great Joy; Wheel Of Life; The Brotherless Child; Silent Night; Stop This Love From You; Now I Lay Me Down; Come Unto Me Like A Child; Forgive Me Father; and Goodbye.
It's About Time - It's About Jesus will be released in mid-November, which is timely for Christmas gift giving. Sample audio cuts can be heard on their website. Visit: www.thecarpentersson.ca.
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