Celtic Woman and Celtic Nights comparisons

This has been an interesting year when it comes to Celtic Music, at least for me and a few others. Two ensembles are on our radar, Celtic Woman, now approaching ten years old, and Celtic Nights, which just finished their third USA tour. There are similarities and differences on stage and off.

Tech. Both shows are stage productions but they differ in scale. Celtic Woman is a high gloss, well exposed, institution in the USA and other areas. They have the budget to do a great deal. Therefore not only do they generate huge amounts for the controlling interests but they do incur a lot of costs in the process. They travel with three buses and a couple of tractor-trailers. Staging, lights, sound, and choreography are complex. Celtic Nights is a lower budget operation. It has at times a simple short riser at the back but at times not. The stage is essentially bare. Sound and lights are excellent though not on the scale that CW operates at. It is enough to accent yet not distract from the artistry of those on stage. They all travel in one bus and tow a small trailer behind them.

Merch. The sale of merchandise is a big deal with Celtic Woman and has been from the start. It is a product of both their PBS affiliation and the desire of EMI and CW LTD to generate as much as possible from their employees. It has produced numerous CD and DVD as well as T-shirts and other trinkets over the years. Prices are typical of a big name group for the items sold and each tour has current merchandise that reflects the current show. Also, some of the individual artists have their CDs available at the merch table during the tour.  Some of these may or may not generate money for the artist themselves. Most of what is sold will do little to fatten the wallet of the artist themselves who are simple employees. Celtic Nights is only now understanding the role of merchandise. Their CD is from the original show three years ago and does not contain any liner notes in the booklet. Sad for the artists that contributed but it is a good CD even if a bit out of date. None of those original artists remain with CN save for Derek Ryan who subbed in briefly again this tour. They tried T-shirts on a small scale this tour but found the demographic at the shows wrong for it. They also offered the solo CDs of three of their artists and I do believe the artists profit to a degree from those sales. A few generic Irish trinkets also graced the table and they did a drawing for a tour of Ireland that as yet they have not yet announced the winner of. Prices are similar to CW but they did offer a smart deal of 4 for $40 on the CDs.

Musicians. Celtic Woman has a long history of having numerous live musicians on stage. They can the orchestra as one might imagine. Can’t be toting them all over! Typical for CW is a bass player, Eoghan O’Neill, lead guitar in Ewan Cowley, Uilleann pipes and other pipes with Tommy Martin, Bagpiper who also does other duties, Anthony Byrne, Piano player Brian McGrane, and two drummers in Ray Fean and Andy Reilly. On this tour some of them sing as well. Most of them do multiple duties and they are as diverse in their gifts as one could imagine. They are all top drawer and a vital part of the touring show ensemble. All are very likeable people too. Celtic Nights cans most of their music. They have little choice on a limited budget. Their two musicians this tour were piper and guitarist Stevie O’Connor, and fiddler Ben Gunnery. While small in number they are big on talent. Stevie is a student of Tommy’s and it shows. Ben can shred on the fiddle every bit as wonderfully as the CW violinist although of course he does not have the look or the choreography to go with it. Speaking of which, the Celtic Woman violinist, Máiréad Nesbitt is a member of their front four (formerly front five) and is the sole remaining original girl in the show. She is incomparable. It is the sole musician CW has had in the front row. Both Ben and Máiréad are huge focal points of energy in their respective shows and get the audiences jazzed.

Dancers. Until Believe dancing, except by the marvelous fiddler, was not part of Celtic Woman. That having been said they have had some choreography in some pieces that could be viewed as dancing. But it was not until CW brought in Craig Ashurst, premier Riverdance dancer, that CW incorporated dancing into the show. This year they added a second lad, Nicholas, to make it a pair of dancers who do double duty as vocalists. This year’s show incorporates a great deal more dance into it including a solo dance/percussion bit late in the first act which is a hoot. Celtic Nights has always had as part of the show a fair amount of dancing. It is operated by GFD (Gaelforce Dance) which has long supplied shows with top notch dancers. So, a small troupe (this year 2 male and 3 female) dancers are part of the show and have several dance routines in it. Dancers this tour were Gavin, Aidan, Leanne, Heather, and Ciara. I found at both shows that the dancing really lights up an audience especially the female attendees. Dance is a part of the culture just as song and musicianship so it is appropriate it be included.

Vocalists. Here is a major difference in the shows. Celtic Woman front row has always been exclusively female. Well, it IS called Celtic WOMAN! It went from four vocalists down to three after spring 2010. In that loss they, in my opinion, lost some of their better harmonies. That does not mean the show lacks but it is an element that is obvious to a long time fan especially in the loss of a lower register voice to broaden and deepen harmonies. The current lineup is Susan McFadden, Lynn Hilary, and Máiréad Carlin. All are higher end soprano although Susan closer to mid. Susan and MC have tremendous power and MC has quite a dynamic range. Lynn is a crystal clear and delicate voice.  Throughout Celtic Woman history there have been a long line of sterling vocalists, each of whom have brought their own unique gifts. They include Deirdre Shannon, Meav, Orlagh Fallon, Hayley Westenra, Alex Sharpe, Lisa Kelly, Chloe Agnew, Lisa Lambe, and the current three. Change has been inevitable if not an annual thing since year one.  Celtic Nights is a mixed ensemble, three male and three female. This year we had Derek Moloney most of the tour along with Will Mulvey and Gregor Firth. These gents are great stage performers and nice guys. They complement each other very well.  They have a nice harmony bit in Auld Triangle and some solo bits as well as ensemble pieces. Front row girls this tour were Rebekah Robertson, Rebecca Winckworth , and Éabha (pronounced like Eva) McMahon. The latter two worked together in Anuna. It is an excellent blend of a high range soprano, mid range, and full on alto that produces the best harmonies I have heard since the four vocalist days of CW. Bekah is the spokesperson for the show and also serves as office staffer with GFD. Éabha is a voice you simply must hear. It fills a room and is the most unique and haunting voice I have heard among CW/CN female artists. She has incredible stage presence and poise for such a young lady. Closest to her in voice from CW would be the same haunting quality of Orla Fallon.

Ensemble vs. ensemble, song versus song.  They are both quality troupes in every respect. But there is a clear line in CW between front row and supporting cast. In CN there is really no front or back row. Ensemble pieces run the gamut from high energy to quieter. There are only a couple places where we can make a direct comparison this tour, Danny Boy, and The Parting Glass. Danny Boy is traditional and every show has it. In CW it is purely the front four in harmony. It has always been lovely though in my opinion never as lovely as the four vocalist version of spring 2010. They added choreography this ear they did not need to do. In CN it was done as a solo either by Derek Moloney or Rebecca Winckworth. Both were different but very lovely. Honestly you just can’t go wrong with this song. Parting Glass is very different between the two groups. In CW it is full on ensemble with every element in play. It starts somber but them morphs into a huge piece. It is very uplifting. The CN version has Éabha doing the lead and it is pure vocals by their six vocalists. It is solemn, stirring, and very emotive. It is her signature piece. Two very different interpretations and both well done. CN did some of the songs we heard from CW over the years, Caledonia (A Rebekah solo), and Isle Of Hope (lovely courtesy Ms. McMahon) to name a couple. They did them well. Bekah’s signature is Caledonia and I found I liked her connection with it better than the CW one. She is, after all, from Scotland.  Both Celtic Woman and Celtic Nights are marvelous nights of entertainment with top drawer artists.

Philosophy, pricing, and fan relations. And here we get to some touchy subjects. The Celtic Woman philosophy is big city (NYC) mentality. It is all about the bottom line. Who the artists are don’t matter. Who the fans are don’t matter. It is pure, cold numbers. The artists are all replaceable employees rather like pieces in a machine and the fans are simply butts in seats. I do not believe the artists have adopted that same view, especially after first night Atlanta Believe recording 2011 at The Fox. It matters to them. We matter to them to a certain degree. An audience has a better chance of being a good one if there are more familiar faces in it. For the bean counters they could not care less what the energy level of a show is only that the place is as full as possible. Over the years there have been numerous changes in relations for the positive but they were mostly based on who was running the tour. David Downes has done well paying attention to what fans like and finding suitable replacements for vacancies. Mr. Kavangh seems to have backed off a bit in his hostility toward familiar faces and that was evident in his demeanor and comments in Dublin after the Christmas show last August.  But it has been Madstone that has been consistently hostile in its pricing and policies. Maggie has been trying to kiss up to the artists and a few select female fans and the reverse is true as well. But the majority out here aren’t buying it. The show is priced at what it is now because of the charts and consistent sales. From a venue and Ticketmaster perspective prices are in line with what one might expect. But it is the PBS connection, pricing, and seat availability that have changed the past couple years that show a certain level or hostility. Gone are the best seats in house to go with paid meetings. It’s a crap shoot. Gone too are autographs at meetings and in place of it are a simple photo op with the front four. Best thing about all of that is the barrier of a table is gone and the girls are free to hug if they so desire. But these meetings are typically overpriced and rushed to go with a mediocre seat. And, as I found out, you are not assured your photos will turn out. Some of these meet & greet packages cost in the hundreds of dollars yet meetings can be held in a hallway, stairwell, loading dock, mop closet, etc. which is very disrespectful to the artist and to those forking out the money. It is a multi-million dollar operation annually and an entire venue is rented. You cannot afford a proper room? They also disrespect the artist by holding the meetings within minutes of them having to take the stage. That is when they should be warming up and focusing on the show. It is done for a reason, to give the excuse to rush it. As for the photo itself, mine in Denver this tour did not turn out. When I mentioned that to the tour manager in Colorado Springs the response I got should say it all to you who buy the meetings. “I’m not a professional photographer. I’m doing this as a favor. Good luck.” That from the rather grumpy Sett who is only a notch short of the dismal Mitch from Madstine in cold and prickly. Once again, you are a multi-million dollar annual profit center at CW, you can jolly well afford a good photographer and a polite demeanor for the money paid. But again, Madstone does not care. If you won’t be foolish enough to fork out the money for the dog and pony show, someone else will. For me that means I will discontinue meet & greets. They are simply NOT worth it. Prices vary from $150 to $600 per person, in some cases requiring a pair be bought, for these meetings with a ticket. Denver and Springs allowed us to acquire the meetings stand alone but they were still far too expensive for what you got. Some now buy two tickets to get a good seat AND the meeting.  It is your right to do so and Madstone laughs all the way to the bank.As a further example of Madstone hostility you can look back to the two recordings last year. South Bend gave less than 72 hours notice. The Christmas recording gave a bit less than three weeks for peak travel season in Europe. Plans for recordings happen months in advance. There is no reason to delay letting people now other than pure hostility to the familiar faces. Make no mistake about it, Madstone does NOT want you there at recordings or shows. 

Contrast this with Celtic Nights. There is no PBS. There is no Madstone. Their record label and promoter is CAMI (Columbia) which is more fan friendly.They filled their venues as well as CW did and without the exposure. You go online and buy a ticket from the venue or Ticketmaster first come first served on best seats. Most were in the neighborhood of $40. Michael Durkan’s philosophy is one of bringing a high end show to smaller communities and venues. It works. Even at common venues this tour like Popejoy in Albuquerque they were as sold out as CW. Meetings are full cast and free after the show. Photos, autographs, chat, and no one walks away unhappy with the result. At Popejoy there were 1900 or so people. 200 or thereabouts took advantage and stayed after. It took about forty minutes before the lobby cleared. So, to limit to a handful , limited time, at a high price makes no sense unless you intentionally are hostile. We had marvelous meetings and it is huge bang for the buck.
Fan and artist relations. If you did not know the artist as a friend before they became well known you will never become their friend after. That is the philosophy of artist management. In some cases an artist may agree but in many cases they may not. It is an artificial line drawn by the ones who control the artists. The only other place where you see such a line between a profession and the general public is politics. The higher ups place their charges on some other plane than the rest of us. at no time have I ever gotten the impression the artists themselves feel that way. To them it is simply what they do for a living. Yes, some artists are more comfortable than others with avid fans. Some prefer that barrier while others will cross it at every opportunity. As I and others have always said, contact is up to the artists and not the fans. But at times you wonder if management wishes that isolation simply so they can enjoy the perks of hanging with these people alone and not diluting their time with the unwashed masses. I do believe that friendship between a fan and artist IS possible but it takes an extraordinary amount of trust on the part of the artist for that to happen. It is also a very fragile thing easily disrupted so one has to proceed with caution. In some cases also the artist may not like attacks on their management and take it personally when that is not the case. What you get from an artists from the stage, at formal meetings, at chance meetings, and on line is a gift from them. None of us are entitled to any sort of relationship with any of them. When they grant it then count it as a great blessing and cherish it. I am grateful for what I have received from the various artists of both groups. If anything more comes of it that is up to them. 

There are other things behind the scenes that were not quite so pleasant at CN but not enough to affect the average concert goer. Their tour manager, Alan Whelan, was very accommodating on the tour at times and reminded me of the days of Bubba Dixon with CW. There is still a bit of insider industry elitism in both managements but it is not as pronounced at CN as it is at CW and that is due largely to Mr. Durkan. I do recommend both groups as shows. I recommend CN over CW for the dollar conscious. But to a person I recommend all the artists past and present of both. In the end it is they who have touched us and brought us their gifts and hard work.  It is up to each of us to determine how much we are willing to put up with from the non-artistic elements of a show. I will always feel at least some need to be there up close to support those who have inspired me and touched the lives of so many through song, dance, and instrument. Now I am off to see Lisa Kelly with Chloe in their first real performance since leaving CW. It is what we fans do.

Of speeches, awards, and Celtic shows

   Hello!

      Just a little about the young year so far. As always a mix of things. I did not watch the State of The Union speech and have not since Reagan. That was the last President I thought worthy of listening to. The only one before that was JFK when I was a kid. I do not watch award shows as they have gotten so raunchy and filled with other agendas aside from the artists and their musical contributions. I am so totally turned off by the pop divas and by rap "music". So many that win awards pale in comparison in talent to the artists I enjoy from across the pond and some in the states. Closest we come to a proper award is the Irish Music Association awards. Two artists I follow won awards this year, Meav, formerly of Celtic Woman, and the Washington state based Gothard Sisters. Both would blow away any of the artists who win the mega industry awards in my book. The artists I know, follow, and enjoy seem to think all the pop divas are so good. They are not. They are simply the most hyped and most promoted. I sure would not use any of them as role models for young girls! I would, however, use any of the female artists I follow as good role models. Are they human? Yes, thus not perfect. But you'll get none of the raunchy antics on stage or off in public places with them.

    The two primary ensembles I follow are Celtic Woman and Celtic Nights. The latter is new to me and has grown quickly in my heart after only two shows. So what makes these ensembles special? Both are from mainly Ireland or have folks of Celtic origins in them. Both are mixed male and female although CN is mixed vocalists up front where CW is purely female vocalists up front. I did not think I'd go for the male mix in the music but I very much do. I have been to 86 CW shows and recordings and have a few more coming up in April. The artists are truly exceptional on stage and off. They have been an inspiration to me and to countless other fans. Management policies and decisions have been the only flies in the ointment, and at times large ones, over the years. Some of their artists are wonderfully interactive and fan friendly, others not as much, but it is ALWAYS up to the artist about that whether on line or in person encounters. I am especially impressed in that respect with current front row girl Lisa Lambe. What an absolute sweetie! But each of them over the years has been most kind and the only limits really are the constraints of the paid for meetings and management policies. Again this year that is a fly. We'll know more after opening night later this week as regards meetings but those that ran them last year are gone. Again PBS is NOT getting the premium seats with the meet and greets with some exceptions. It forces avid fans to either buy two tickets or choose a primo seat OR the meeting and a mediocre to poor seat. I chose the better seat. Pricing is not cheap but without the added PBS prices $100 or so is well in line for a world class show. My predictions for CW this year are partly now known wrong but partly I KNOW will be correct before the year ends.

    As for Celtic Nights, my two shows thus far are enormous bang for the buck! No, they are not as well known, as they have had no TV exposure here and are far newer and the show lower budget. Does that detract from the fan experience? Not in the least!  My tour opener in Nampa and the Albuquerque show the other day were marvelous. All the people on stage are world class just as the CW folks are. Michael Durkan has done a fine job in selecting these folks and is much more fan friendly in his view toward his audience. He is not encumbered with a Madstone or PBS and his tour manager, Alan Whelen, is top drawer and wonderful to work with. The show is a mix of musicians, dancers, and vocalists. with 13 altogether on stage. The band is simple with a fiddler, Ben Gunnery, and a multi-tasking piper and guitarist, Stephen O'Connor. Both are excellent and get the audience going and with great humor at times. The dancers, Gavin Boyle, troupe leader and man of many hats, is joined by new member Aidan McGinley, and three lovely lasses in Heather Metcalfe, Leanne Phelan, and Ciara Doyle. They are top drawer as one might expect from the same stable that has brought the world Gaelforce Dance. Then there are the vocalists. Male singers Will Mulvey, Gregor Firth, and Derek Moloney have great solos and wonderful ensemble pieces. They also do a nice version of Auld Triangle joined vocally by Gavin and Stephen. They connect well to the songs and the audience. For the ladies in the audience (and their female cohorts on stage) they are easy on the eyes as well. Then there are the three from row girls. Rebekah Robertson from Scotland has a wonderful, full, mid-range soprano voice and has some excellent solos. She connects very well on stage and off with her audience and fans. Rebecca Winckworth is a higher range soprano and also has beautiful solos and a CD available at the show. Then there is alto and hauntingly wonderful singer, Éabha McMahon. She has a voice like no other and will leave you spellbound. The three combine for some amazing harmonies. After the show there is a full cast meet and greet at no charge in the lobby. So, front row of an international and top drawer show and a full M and G after the show for what? Maybe $50 tops with few exceptions. Major bang for the buck. After meeting with Michael and Rebekah in Ireland last year we established a fan forum that has become an appendage of the organization but fan owned and operated. My meetings with everyone have been wonderful and I cannot recommend the show more to everyone.

      So, with a great many events left on my plate the first half of the year I am anxious to tap into more Celtic magic. The hype and promotion of the major labels and media phase me not. I'll take any one of these artists over 100 pop divas any day! And with that I'm off to more shows. Check both ensembles out and go to a show near you.

                      Peace,      Scott

Another year in the books and a new one on the way

   Well here we are again at the beginning of another year. One is behind us and one is ahead of us. Most years for most folks are a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mine was no exception. I write this from a chilly valley still covered in a blanket of snow, with a couple inches of it fresh. The rest came the week before Thanksgiving and a layer of it is still around thanks to the cold. The sun is setting behind the mountains to my west and so with a cup of hot liquid it seems right to ponder the year that was and the one that is to come.

   You’ll note many of my blogs are a mix of politics, social commentary, personal, and mostly all things Celtic. This will be no exception to that. In politics and social events, it is it has been for quite some time now, a divided people and world. It is that way not because of the many but because of the few. Those few are the ruling elite who continue to use wedge issues to keep people bickering with each other while they profit from it in one way or another. It matters not what side of the political aisle one is on as both are guilty of caring little about their people but more about their own luxury, power, and wealth. It is clear to me the globalist movement that leans strongly left wants a vast planet of serfs, a few ruling elite, and no middle class. They impose all manner of contrived fixes to supposedly cure the very ills they create. Rather like a drug that has side effects their “cures” cause more problems. Until we the people are a unified one, and not in the way they want, we will continue to see the darkness looming ever larger. Agree to disagree on some issues but understand the big picture and that is the enemy is not each other but those that wield the dollar, the sword, and the boot. Strength comes from unity, not diversity. In any case, I see little change in the wrong direction our nation and world have taken and can only use what I am gifted with, pen and voice, to try to awaken a sleeping mass of humanity in my own small way.

    In personal matters it continues to be a challenging life both financially and in other ways. My gall bladder decided it wanted out at the end of May and so I was obliged to listen. I had no health insurance and could afford none. I had no resources, only far too much debt. But a Colorado program kicked in and helped a huge amount in cutting the bills to a reasonable level. Yes, without the “magic” of Obamacare. That program is yet another phony fix and fleecing of the middle class and came from a cloud of lies and a rush through a one party rule in congress. It is not at all what it pretends to be but is exactly what its creators wanted. That should say enough about the attitude among the ruling elite. So, in spite of the fine program I still had bills and still had to earn a living. That I made it through yet one more year successfully in that is due only to the blessing of God. Vehicle, health, and other bills don’t get any smaller or occur any less frequently as time moves on. I’m blessed to have a roof over my head, food on the table, and good friends without whom I could not truly live in any meaningful way.

   What meaningful way is that? Well, as it has been since 2007, a creative and musical way. I still write, though not as much volume as I used to. The inspirations remain the same and that is mainly the people and music from across the pond. Through the year it was a blessing to hear and meet again the lovely visions that have been the instruments in God’s hands to move me in various directions. Spring brought more Celtic Woman shows that always tend to fill me with what is positive about the world. It was lovely people, singing and playing beautiful music, in nice settings, and with my fan friends around me.  The artists were wonderfully kind especially after my surgery and are truly gems of great value. But the year also brought a new group and new faces, Celtic Nights. Some fan friends found them via one of their members who used to be in the CW choir. They attended a show in Austin and were hooked. They have now brought me along for that ride as well though I have yet to see the show in person.

   Celtic Woman, as has been the case throughout its history, had a few changes and a few twists in 2013. Most notable was the departure of iconic original cast member, Chloe Agnew, in August just as the ensemble was working up a new Christmas DVD in Dublin. We had given her a birthday fest at Red Rocks this past spring and I’m so glad we did. I had suspected she would be the next to leave but did not figure it to be quite so early. Several clues led to my thinking this, some the same as those left when Lisa Kelly departed. Those same clues are now making themselves known in their fiddler Máiréad. While the departure of a key vocalist has always been met with sadness and some fans going with them, the departure of the fiddler would certainly end the ensemble as we know it. Like the previous departures, Chloe has indicated some things on her plate and we already have a taste of that in her new Christmas single. I was not thrilled she chose LA rather than Nashville to move to but support her move to build a solo career. It is incredibly expensive to live in that part of California. We watched her grow up while with CW and many of us older types have rather fatherly feelings about this dear girl. In fact, I was born the same year as her dad and exchange posts now and then with him on Facebook. Stepping in to the closet full of shoes of Chloe came a delightful young lass from Derry in the north of Ireland. Videos clued us in about some things but could not approach what folks would hear live on stage. Her name is Mairéad Carlin and I early on quipped to her on Twitter that I was prepared to be Carlinized. I most certainly was. I have nothing but positives to say about her after my symphony experiences in November and December. But I get ahead a bit. In between the spring tour and symphony tour was to come Australia. That was not to be due to a combination of Chloe leaving and a new Christmas DVD to be filmed at The Helix in Dublin. For that Ms. Carlin had not yet been brought forward. Rather it was Meav who returned for the recording. I had not seen Meav since the last Christmas recording at The Helix in 2007. That was her last stage performance with CW. How perfect her next one was another Christmas treat. The resulting DVD is glorious and truly showcases them all and established a signature song for Susan McFadden. As always, the every lovely and ever gifted Lisa Lambe was a shining star. This brings up some negatives to follow, not regarding artists but once again management.

     There were a few curve balls this past year. One was a change in the way meet and greets were conducted. Now they would be before the show, barely before, and be a photo op only with no autographs. Gone was the barrier of a table, which was a good thing. I have plenty of signed things but I know many who don’t and we liked to get things signed for folks who could not get to meetings mainly due to their cost. Bubba Dixon was always good about that. However, part way through the spring tour he was gone. We can only speculate why but it always seems the fan-friendly ones get the boot and he will be very much missed. Ken Craig was the tour manager and did just fine along with able helpers like Brett Miler, Michael Elder, and Naomi Agnew. Yep, Chloe’s sister. Yet another Agnew gem. There were flies in the ointment about this new way of doing things. They were too close to show time thus creating potential for rushing things, there were times there were way too many people so that assured it would be rushed, and in many cases seats that went with the meetings were not the least bit optimum. Add to this that prices at some places were well out of line with the economy and it meant someone was not paying much attention to reality or didn’t care. We suspected good seats would not be with the meetings when they were offered through Ticketmaster long before any PBS pledge drive. That is again the case this year. PBS prices are insane in some cases and tell the general viewer that only the well healed need apply to meet these lovelies. Do the artists approve of such a policy? Last I checked they themselves did not feel elevated in social status above their audiences. Yet some behind the scenes still seem to believe that. Having the meeting before the show is fine but it should be an hour, not half hour prior, and should be firmly limited to 20 people. That also gives the artists time to warm up and reflect before taking the stage which they cannot really do now. Pricing is up to each station and some should be ashamed of themselves. Yet where the seats are located mostly falls to the promoter Madstone and for the prices paid tickets with meetings should ALWAYS be in the first three rows of the venue. Yet another boner was the incredibly short notice, barely any notice at all, of a live recording of one of the touring shows in South Bend. It was insulting and frankly a rather blatant slap at the avid fans community. Good seats were long gone and no one save for the well healed could hop a flight on essentially two days notice. For that reason I will not purchase the resulting DVD. I will acquire the CD as that had nothing to do with it. Later on the same short notice was pulled for the Christmas recording. While it was more than two days, it was poor notice for the busiest travel month in Europe, August, and within the 30 day window where fares jump for international flights. It was yet another slap and there is no reason for it other than hostility. Both events were planned well in advance, they have to be for technical reasons. However, this time was different as my old airline knowledge came in handy and a handful of us made it across the pond for the fine event and another wonderful week in beautiful Ireland. At the event were also some European fans and after the filming we were even stunned to be approached by David Kavanagh, the head honcho of CW LTD. That was not at all expected but very welcome and he was most kind in his comments, though clearly still in a state of shock about Chloe. Fine office staffer, John Flanagan, was also there, and had I been set to stay longer we’d have shared coffee one morning. Next time.

    But I also went for another reason and that was business with Celtic Nights. This group is operated under the umbrella of GFD Productions under the Columbia label, and is the brainchild of Irish artist Michael Durkan. His lovely office staffer, Rebekah Robertson, is also one of the principals of the group. Her brother Jamie was also there and we had two days of great conversation as they gathered information from us about the CW experience and we gained inside entertainment information about how things work. It was the kind of meeting several of us had hoped for with CW for many years but was ignored or refused. It was a great promotional tool for them to do this and since the meeting we have been doing what we can to promote the upcoming tour and find other ways to offer support. Their tour begins a month before the CW one and only goes to the end of March. CW goes from mid-February into some time as yet determined in June. As long as I am able I have tickets for both groups all up close. The nice thing about CN is no inflated ticket prices and a full cast M and G after the show at no charge.

   Here are my predictions based upon history, various clues, instinct, and just plain dart throwing. Celtic Woman will lose yet another front row girl in 2014 at some point. Celtic Woman may eliminate the choir and reduce the size of the band in a cost cutting measure due to the drop in ticket sales this past spring and since Madstone will not be willing to reduce its piece of the action. Fewer people on payroll, fewer hotel rooms, fewer buses. They will also simplify the staging to also reduce costs. There will be new faces in road management again and a reduction of opportunities by the stage door and buses as the girls are quickly herded onto the bus before folks can get there. Why would folks try to go near the buses or stage door? Poor seats and high costs of M and G will dictate that many familiar faces will opt for a good seat and then take their chances if the venue set up is conducive to it. Celtic Woman will do an anniversary DVD at The Helix in Dublin, likely on or near the anniversary date in September. Although they could opt to do it earlier again, it will most certainly be at that venue since that is where it all began. They will again give short notice for the event. Celtic Nights will have a good spring tour and release a new CD and DVD in 2014 to go with their 2015 tour. Artists will change a bit there as well. New CDs will be released by Alex Sharpe, Chloe Agnew, Mairéad Carlin, Máiréad Nesbitt, Rebekah Robertson, Lynn Hilary, and possibly Lisa Kelly. The latter already has a performance planned in May near her home. Chloe will do some solo gigs as will all the other former CW artists, though many will be in Ireland. Another tour and artists to watch will be The Roots Of Ireland which has indicated a CD release and a fall tour in the states. That ensemble includes Lisa Lambe’s hubby, Simon Morgan, and two artists we CW fans know, Deirdre Shannon, and Una Pedreschi.

  I have also tuned in to several other artists and groups in Ireland and the states and all combined they represent fine examples of what should occupy our entertainment dollars and time. We cannot take the eye off the ball on what is going on in the world. We cannot afford to be distracted. Yet at the same time we all need to be uplifted and surrounded with positive people and things that strengthen us. Music has that kind of power and can be used for good, as with the above groups and people, or can be used badly as we see with the plethora of sleazy pop divas and dark music. My prayer for you all and myself is that 2014 is a positive one for us all. More good and less bad and ugly would suit me just fine. Finally, my thanks to the amazing artists I’ve had contact with this past year, many of whom have been incredibly kind and interactive. You never cease to inspire. And my thanks to so many friends who made 2013 events possible for me that otherwise would not have. 2013 saw some fences mended, including a fan I had been long estranged from, and Maggie at Madstone, Both of whom I exchanged tweets with, some new relationships, and some old ones strengthened. If we all treated each other that way we’d have a truly wonderful world. Happy new year and God’s peace.

                                          Scott/Moscapoet

Christmas in Dublin, Celtic Nights meets Celtic Woman

   You know, it feels like full circle here in Dublin. Almost six years ago to the day, off by a week, I attended the Celtic Woman Christmas recording at The Helix featuring the original five. It was my first trip to Ireland in spite of having been in the airlines for ages. I had no intention of coming to this one as notice was way too short for an international trip. But, as things do with this group and their fans, fate stepped in and brought me here. And so as I type part one the night before the recording I have no shortage of background and commentary.

    Tony and I had been chatting as soon as it was leaked this was happening. We suspected early October between the Oz and European tours. That was the most likely. But my crystal ball was off a wee bit and so had to scramble if we wanted to go. Was it worth it? Well, it turns out it was when the management of a competing group said they would be up for a meeting if we came over. Well, cool! So Tony started looking at flight options and they did not look good. Ahh, but he forgets I’m an old hand at this airlines stuff and we found a viable, though still rather high fare. Combined with hotel for a week it worked out to about $500 more per person than my trips in 2007 and 2009. Again, we can thank EMI/Madstone for the delightful short notice that raised fares (always higher inside the 30 day window internationally) and kept a goodly number of familiar faces from coming. So many were sad they were left out just as many were on the short notice for South Bend. It really has become very clear to a great many this is intentional and aimed at the avid fan community. But, for those in a flexible situation, not to be denied, and fully willing to support the hard working artists, where there is a will there is a way. And so, I type this from my hotel in Central Dublin looking forward to the morrow and a business meeting with Celtic Nights and they attending the show with us. I invited them and received extra tickets for two of them so they could see how this is done and take notes for their own future recordings.  The Helix very kindly informed me of four tickets and so we were set. I also made contact with a couple other artists and plans are now somewhat set to meet with them later in the week.

     So, on Saturday I left by bus to overnight and meet up with Tony in Denver. We had a hotel near the airport (is ANYTHING near DIA?!) with a major storm blowing in. I had about three hours to kill at DIA and made use of them by enjoying some coffee. We meet up and can check in for the flight next day as we are within the 24 hour window. We delay dinner as the storm is way too intense then wind up at the only place within walking distance. Go figure, as always with Celtic Woman, Denny’s! Honestly they should get them as a sponsor as many times we fans eat there after a show! Up the next morning and off to the airport. We have long security lines but they move along fairly well and soon we are at the gate for our 757 to Atlanta. Yes, yet another magical connection to this show. Atlanta, where the previous major DVD was filmed, and where a certain Lisa Kelly now has a business in a nearby suburb! I wave as we fly over Peachtree City. A few hours layover then we board an A 330 for the 7 plus hour flight to Dublin. We are near the back but the seats are good enough for as comfortable a ride as you can have in peasant class. Decent dinner and a snack and we arrive in the Emerald Isle at about 0730. Now, all my advice about getting around fell flat as we learned the day before that Dublin Bus is on strike! Complicates matters a bit but we’ll work with it. We get an alternative bus to O’Connell Street then walk to our hotel near the central bus station. We wanted convenience to bus, taxi, and DART. It was a “soft” (ie WET) day upon arrival but cleared off for the most part by afternoon. Our room is not ready that early which is no surprise. Neil from Canada is staying there as he arrived the day before. So, we met up and changed in his room after seeing him in the café for breakfast. No point napping so we just get busy touring about. We wanted to book a tour for Tuesday and so went to the visitor center and booked a nice Wicklow tour of Glendalough and Powerscourt. Neil wanted to go see Riverdance at The Gaiety so we made our way there up Grafton Street. This is now my third time here and I know all this so well now. Feels like home. He gets his ticket but not before we made a slight diversion to check out where the Celtic Nights offices were, a couple blocks away. We stop and watch numerous buskers then I take them to Arlington Hotel and we book the show there for Thursday night and grab a pint of the black stuff (Guinness). At this point there is plenty of day left so I take them across Halfpenny Bridge and to the Temple Bar area. We wander about and then decide it is time for dinner. I suggest we eat in another area as Temple Bar is touristy and prices are higher. So we wander back over the bridge and up a street I had not been up. The result was finding a very inexpensive food court with all you can eat buffets for 9 Euros. Asian food hit the spot. Then back to the hotel to catch up on line and then meet up again an hour later. We decide to go back to the Arlington for another pint and watch the show from a distance. It is done by 10:30 and we head back to get some sleep after a long day.

        We meet up Tuesday morning for breakfast downstairs. Cloudy and misty to start and it remained mostly cloudy for the day but nicely cool. Perfect day for our Wicklow outing. But not before I alert Tony and later Neil about the stunning Chloe news. She is done. No DVD recording, nothing. Several of us had talked for many months especially when she moved to LA that she would be the next to leave. Celtic Woman is almost all she has known as a performing artist. We could sense at times a restlessness and certainly this past tour a heightened emotion at times and a stronger connection with her fans. That was certainly obvious at her birthday event at Red Rocks. Many of us feel so blessed about that and the entire event. So, it is with that chatter we head for O’Connell Street and to hook up with the bus. Bus Eireann is running some buses on contract to make up for some key routes not operated due to the strike. We walk across from the Dublin Bus main ticket station and see no shortage of picketers. Our bus driver was pulled from his city tour duties to do our route. Joe is very  pleasant and has plenty of great information, jokes, and sings a bit all through our journey. Tour goes from 1000-1730. First stop is Glendalough, a place I went to on a tour in 2007. More of that full circle thing. It is such an amazing place, home of St. Kevin, and one of the most amazing monastic sites in a land filled with them. Our bus driver must have had some funny issues with Canadians and jokes around about them throughout which gives us all a chuckle with Neil sitting there. We make sure the driver knows Neil is from there and so that assures more joking around! We are there for over an hour and get photos and just take in the place. Then off to the next stop, Powerscourt Estates. Yes, more full circle as the last time I was here was for that recording. We have 2  ½ hours to wander the paths and take photos. We take plenty of areas we did not visit when we were there before as we had been distracted  by a certain Irish group and the sound checks. Interesting photos of the lawn area used back then now simply a big patch of grass. Along the path we talked to an American couple from Ohio and other as well and told them why we were not only here in Ireland but at this site.  The Ohio couple knew about Celtic Woman but not about the recording here.  At the end of the tour we directed them to the CD and DVD available in the gift shop. The format for the DVD would not work in the USA but we did hand them a CD which they promptly bought! OK, EMI/Madstone, in spite of you we are still promoting the group! That is because of the amazing artists and their kindness. How much longer that continues is up to you as many fans are becoming far less interested due to short notices and the almost steady stream of artist losses. Sigh. Anyway, we have a wonderful walk and it brought back so many great memories of two amazing nights and, for me, two amazing weeks in a wonderful country. Back in Dublin we part with Joe and get off at Grafton street. Neil is seeing Riverdance this night so we stop at Bewley’s Oriental Café for dinner. Very nice. Neil then heads for his show and Tony and I back to the hotel to catch up on line. While Tony and I do that we get treated to a crime scene. OK, is this CSI Dublin? Nope. A car pulls up to the Store street Garda station next door to our hotel and a man who has been shot up (his car as well) runs into the station for help. The area is taped off including our hotel and folks cannot leave or enter until they are sure the shooters are not around.  The area is still cordoned off and RTE has the story up now. The car is sitting outside our window with windows shot out and bullet holes in it. OK, so tell me again disarming the citizens stops gun violence when the criminals can still get them? Just ask Chicago. In any case the guy was taken to the hospital with a serious wound to the head. LUAS and buses are fouled up a bit as the area is sealed off. I do hope the night will quiet down a bit! Neil returns with some interesting news about his Riverdance experience. I won’t let on here yet, but will do so later. Rest assured it is very cool news.

       So, this wraps up the events leading up to what will be part two and that is show day and meeting day. Stay tuned, everyone. Also, more excitement to come in the days to come as we meet up with others and do more touring. I’ll follow up on that in this thread too. It feels like Powerscourt all over again and I’ll be up all night getting you all as much show and experience detail as the coffee and pixie dust will allow me to dispense. Part two next. 

   
      We awoke as we did yesterday and went downstairs for a hearty breakfast. Once done we grabbed a taxi and headed for the Helix box office to snag our tickets for the night. I chat with the lady dispensing the tickets and ask some questions. One question I had was to confirm venue capacity. I remembered it to be 1200 and that is correct. But with the design for the show it was down to 750 including the balcony. I ask about seating and it is open but with possible variations set up by the producers. Hmmm. OK. With tickets in hand we get back in the taxi and back to the hotel to dress up and get ready for the day.

     First order of the day is a walk over to the Celtic Nights offices for our business meeting. So myself, Tony, and Neil hoof it the brief 15 minutes across the bridge to the office and buzz from the doorbell down below. I tell the girl who answers it is two crazy Americans and a Canadian whereby she buzzes us up and we head for third floor. Rebekah greets us warmly with hugs and welcomes us in to a comfortable but spartan office. No fancy digs but perfectly functional. We chat for a bit and then her younger brother, Jamie, comes in to add to the conversation. He is helping out with online things on a break from university in Scotland. That too is where Bekah hails from. Another gent, Derry, is there and asks some questions and for the next three hours we are all talking about strengths and weaknesses of what we have experienced from a fan perspective with Celtic Woman and we bounce a few creative ideas around regarding marketing and such. Time went so fast and before we knew it we were already late for our 1500 lunch at a nearby restaurant. A pint and a nice meal and much more conversation. Bekah is delightful and Jamie is a sharp young man. Both are great assets for the Celtic Nights organization. Michael, the producer, is away in Australia and will meet with us on Friday along with the others. Bekah could not say enough good things about him and how the operation is run. It is not the huge project and budget of Celtic Woman but it is building as is their following. While we are there Una calls Bekah and the phone gets passed around so we each get to talk with her. She thanks us each for the support and it was a very kind thing for her to do. She did tell me to not blab too much about the pub after the first night Atlanta DVD recording. As with the office, before you know it we're late getting under way for the Helix. Taxis are hailed and we get to the venue before six. It had been suggested we sit in the balcony and I thought the doors we chose would lead us there and we were first in line. Not before a Ray sighting and chat. Then while on second floor we look up to third floor and see the girls being photographed and interviewed. They are done and come down the stairs and Lisa Lambe sees me. She stops and waves and I send her the now traditional sailor salute whereby she returns the favor! They make their way down to our level but we stay back but within eyesight. Máiréad sees me and says, "Hello, Scott, thanks for coming. Enjoy the show!" OK, I'm already woolly and with pixie dust. We chat up the usher at the door and soon enough we are allowed in. My mistake but we are not at a balcony door but at the top of the floor and get ushered down to.......front row house right of three sections. We are roughly where the band on a touring show would be but well back from the stage. They have removed all the seating in front of us and added a short half circle extension in the middle of the stage. In the intervening about 15-20 feet there were about a dozen round tables set up like a restaurant each with four chairs. Candle, tablecloth, etc. These appear to be for family and friends. The first few rows of the center section are also reserved as I suspected they would be. The venue itself is nothing fancy but a typical university type theater venue. Good acoustics and flexible for a variety of staging and show schemes. The stage is a shiny black as are the risers up to a point on each side where there is white winter decoration. Above that on each side is orchestra and above them the drum kits for Ray and Andy. In the center back are bleachers for a full choir. On either side of that are pathways from the back for the front four to enter and exit. Above it all are a sweeping array of panels that have various decorative and moving patterns on them throughout the night and in various colors. Above and between those is a black background of points of light that will also vary in color. On stage left back there is a simulated spiral Christmas tree of white lights with a star on the top. It is not quite as elaborate as 2007 but is very elegant and reminds one of a 1930's big band night club sort of feel. I am seated at the far house right seat of the front row right section. Next to me are Bill from PA., Karsten from Germany, Neil from Canada, Bekah and Jamie from Celtic Nights, and Tony from Alaska. I have a big boom camera in front of me and at times during the first show it blocks our view at times. Normal and expected for this and at times I get a good view of what the cameraman is seeing and compliment him between shows. Plural you say? I'll get to that. So, we are set and soon a young lady comes out and lets us know what the deal is and gets us to do three rounds of applause for the cameras. It is now show time. That in part three.

        Part three: The show and after

    Lights dim and we are now in the Christmas spirit. I have donned a Santa hat and the white trim in front is adorned with the various solo artist buttons. I have a green fiddler crossing T-shirt under my black sport coat. Bill has a Santa hat as well and there are several sprinkled throughout the venue.

     Máiréad takes center stage and is dressed in a lovely white gown with silver sparkles and plenty of frills. Sigh, I do so love her in white. The others enter with Lisa and Susan in dresses with silver tops and white skirts. Really pretty. Synan hits another winner as he always does. Meav is in a silver gown with wrap around silver glitter. It is fitted and is a strong competitor to the original Helix show mermaid dress. It is Meav who starts the first song which is the delightful Walking in a Winter Wonderland. It is what is on the CD and Máiréad has some nice bits in it. Very festive and a fine way to open.

     Máiréad goes back to center stage and Meav sings her lovely rendition of What Child Is This. Like everything else that has happened here this is more full circle. The last time I saw Meav perform live was at The Helix in 2007 for the previous Christmas DVD. Wow, has it really been six years?

    Meav speaks and introduces the next song, We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Everyone is involved including the full choir. BTW, there is no CW choir in this at all. Eoghan and Ewan are not there. David Agnew is up in the orchestra. BTW, we met up with David prior to the show and had a fun chat with him. I gave him one of the Chloe birthday pink T-shirts. He is a fine fellow and it was great to finally meet up with him in person after all these years and reading his funny FB posts.

    Next up is one of many melt moments in the show. Tommy Martin comes out with his Uilleann pipes and sits on a stool at stage left in front of us. Lisa Lambe takes position near the piano. It is her beautiful rendition of I'll Be Home For Christmas. Wow, does she ever connect with this. Just gorgeous.

    Next up the three vocalists take position and Susan leads them into Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Full choir joins in as does Máiréad during the course of the piece. Very full piece and wonderfully done.

    Máiréad is now center stage and Susan takes a seat at one of the tables at center stage floor. There are quite a number of kids on the floor seating at the tables and that is by design. Interaction with the artists during the show as Christmas is a major deal with kids, and as "props" for some of the songs. Susan sings Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. She wanders about the tables interacting with various kids before getting back up on stage. It is very cute. Near the end as she makes her way back stage she turns around and blows a kiss to the kids. Nicely done.

   We get another group piece and Anthony accompanies on pipes. Another rich song in We Three Kings. Anto adds a great deal to this and eventually winds up center stage up front at the end. Marvelous.

   The next piece is the only Máiréad solo of the night. Just as in the first Christmas CD she is given just one solo. For we M fans it is not enough but yet she is very liberally placed in most of the other tunes. This song on the CD is a vocal with her strong assist. Carol Of The Bells. She is skipping and twirling and and all over the stage. Not the gymnastics of a regular touring show but just lovely and a fitting showcase for fiddle and feet alike. She is just so amazing and no one does what she does the way she does it.

    Next up we get a surprise addition. Lisa comes out and begins singing in German. That is something she does very well. She leads into O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) and is followed by Meav, also in German, and then Susan in English. They then do a gorgeous harmony in German to wrap it up including some sweet Meav high notes. Wow, and Karsten is grinning from ear to ear. Ausgezeichnet!

    The choir now holds candles and Meav enters and does a beautiful rendition of Silent Night. That piece is perfect for her and we are getting a heavy dose of the AMeaving one tonight.

    We get a short break for a costume change. The ladies re-enter wearing various hues of red. Gorgeous! Máiréad's skirt is more form fitting but slit and floral. Reminds me of a tropical sort of look. It is a beautiful look for them all. They sit at floor level stage right and start to sing It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Back up on stage they have great fun with it and we get our first batch of snowfall from the rafters! Good stuff

     Meav heads toward the piano and Máiréad occupies stage left in front of us. Lisa later joins in with the next melt moment of the night, The Light Of Christmas Morn. I'm all wet faced as I just love this song and arrangement. Stunning. But something didn't go quite right so they do a re-take. Oh darn, we get to hear it again! 

    Next it is Susan's turn to wow us and she does so in spades. She has a eight member multi-ethnic Gospel choir with her. Tommy is somewhere on pipes at some point too. She does It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. Since Susan joined CW we have all been waiting for a signature piece for her. This is it. What a powerful arrangement and performance. Another melt moment. David may have another one for her on next year's Emerald tour but for right now at least this is her power piece. Bravo, Susan. If you do this on the tour I will without question give you a standing O.

     Next up Lisa is at floor level and introduces the next song. Oh yes, I know what's coming. She asks if there are any folks from Scotland whereby Bekah and Jamie chime right in with enthusiasm! It is her beautiful Auld Lang Syne. On the symphony tour I always look at this as a highlight of the night. It was again tonight. She nails it as she always does. Yer a bonnie lass Li'l Lambe.

     Susan then speaks and wishes us goodnight and they do the final song, Joy To The World. All stops are pulled, including more snow from the rafters, and at the end the audience is on their feet as they take their bows. On that note, the audience was very good. Not by USA standards, but by all others it was very supportive. Can't help it if we're just a bit nuts in the states.

     They then scamper off to some instrumental strains of Let It Snow and we are done with show one. We are then told to return at 2115 (about a half hour later) as they are moving cameras around. Essentially doing a mirror flip.

     Yes, they are doing the full show twice in one night! Yeah baby ya gotta love it! Twofers on Celtic Woman.

     On the break we are all ushered out but told to return to our same seats. We are out chatting and then Tony comes and gets me and says there is someone I need to meet. So we go outside and there is a man I've chatted with on FB for quite awhile who is not only a gifted artist but a huge fan of a certain fiddler and one who has worked with her, Colm Ó Foghlú. A nice gent and we chat and he surprises me. He said, "aren't you the man who sent me lyrics to There Is No Night?" I said I was but it was quite awhile ago. He said his computer got wiped out but he had always looked for lyrics for that song and would like me to send them again. I told him I would do that right away in a FB message. He said he'd like to try and work it up for Lynn Hillary and Máiréad. Say that again?! I told him I'd send it and he is free to work it up however he would like. I was and still am a bit shocked and it would be beyond cool to work with such a gifted man and for those two amazing artists. He has worked with the folks at Celtic Nights as well and did the music for Gaelforce Dance. He has no shortage of wondrous things on his resume.

      We make our way back into the venue and our seats are taken by a row of lovely ladies. The usher asks them to move a row back which they do and I have a nice chat with a couple of them. Seems they are friends of Susan's. One of them has a nice singing voice in her own right. So, some new people in the audience and some ones from the first show gone. Cameras moved and so no boom in front of me. A regular mobile one and a hand held this time.

      We are told we are going to start out with a special treat that will not air on TV. We get the fluffy socks talk which we know leads into Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. It is such a beautiful harmony. During it the handheld camera is aimed right at me as I sing along. This would happen three times in this second show. Up close and very personal. No idea if I'll make it off the cutting room floor but I have a chance anyway. The rest of the set list is as before minus the re-take. We get snow in two songs. At the end we get a full added encore of Let It Snow. Great fun and yes, Máiréad does once again say "Let It Snow" at the end! Two amazing shows and that brings me now to 82. It was a brilliant evening and not quite over yet.

     In the lobby we hang out for awhile. Bekah is talking with Colm and it turns out he has done work with Celtic Nights. We see Sarah Gannon out and about and I simply have to get her and Bekah together as Una took Sarah's place in the show. Then something amazing happens. Dave Kavangh approaches us all and thanks us each several times for our long time support and for traveling over to see the show. He thanks us for all the money we have spent and speaks about them still being in a bit of shock about the Chloe departure. It was something I never expected and it took a great deal of courage for him to do that. Thank you, sir, the pleasure in supporting these amazing artists, past and present, is all ours. Next up a man approaches who seems familiar. I met him once before at Powerscourt. It is John Flanagan and yes he still does work in the CW offices. He is a very nice man and asked if we enjoyed the show and were liking Ireland. Most certainly yes to both. Susan is wandering around and we chat with her a bit too. Very nice of her to take the time. We do not see the other three but we're pretty well saturated in CW magic for the night anyway.

      Time to part company and get some taxis. We thank Bekah and Jamie and will see them along with Michael on Friday. From the start of the day to the end it has been a truly amazing time. The next part will be posted in a few days as I'll continue a travel log and more on our meetings. Thank you to the artists of Celtic Woman. You're such incredibly gifted artists and some of the hardest working in the business. No lump of coal in my stocking! Thank you to Bekah and Jamie for a great start to what we hope will be a great relationship. We hope the notes you took tonight will help you with your own DVD in the future. BTW, that may come sooner rather than later. Thank you all. Now time to get more reviews up in other places.

       Well, after quite an amazing Wednesday, it was time for a bit more laid back Thursday. I did not get to sleep until 0500 and was up about 1000. Once up I did a few more reviews on line and now have only one left to do in the Chloe forum. Blog is up and pages updated. I was up too late to get breakfast so was a bit hungry. Neil wanted to go see the coast so we went over to the bus office and picked up our passes. Then it was back to the hotel to link up with Karsten and take the DART down the coast. As with last time I felt the desire to have lunch in Greystones. Convenient for Neil that it is by the sea. The ride is pleasant and once in Greystones we look for a place to dine. I had forgotten that many of the places only serve dinner. Neil says the town must be operated by vampires. So, we wind up back at the same place I dined at in 2009, Bochelli's. The same person even waited on me! OK, how many more full circles are there? The food is yummy and we get into a conversation with an elderly lady next to us who dines there every day. She is 82 year old Mrs. Finnigan. She's a real joy and a dear lady. We talked each other silly and in the end I had to give her a hug and a kiss. Neil wants to make his way to the coast so we walk down the hill and under the railroad to the beach. It is a beautiful day but the coffee in me wants out so I search out a toilet. It is way back up at a parking area. Pay toilet? Sigh, so I walk over the railroad bridge and up an alley and I'm back at........Bochelli's. Talk about full circle! Back down to meet up with the others and then get back on DART and into town. We had reservations at the Arlington Hotel for the dinner show. Hmmm, the name of the group is........Celtic Nights. sigh, more circles! Anyway, dinner is great and the show is a very fun traditional show with four band members and four Irish dancers. The fiddler is a Michelle from County Clare and is very good. The dancers were wonderful. Gosh, how many gorgeous girls are there in Ireland? I do live in the wrong country. At the end I go to the stage and ask Michelle if she'd pose for a photo with Tony and the fiddler crossing jacket. She does but not before asking where the festival was?! Um, no, let me explain. Which, of course I did. So, off we go back to the hotel and perhaps a semi-decent night's sleep.

      Today dawned early as we wanted to have brekkie with Neil as he was leaving for Canada today. That done, we go back to the room and do a few online things before our meeting with the Celtic Nights management. We're getting used to this walk over to the office. We are buzzed up and make our way up and to a smiling Michael Durkan and Rebekah Robertson. Jamie is off doing something. We have a fine talk for about three hours and during it I give Bekah a hand written, suitable for framing copy of my winning poem, The Gift Of The Lough. But not before reading it to them both. Michael plays for us two as yet unreleased songs that are certain to be winners. The author of those songs has no shortage of accolades. The talk is very informative and productive on both sides and Michael is a very fine host and as nice a gent as you'd want to meet. He asks if we'd like to go grab a bite so the four of us head to a nearby dining place and he very kindly buys Tony and I a nice lunch. Thanks you! He has just come back from Australia and has tons to catch up on so needs to get on with some work. So we part company after a photo and then Bekah, Jamie, Tony, and I head upstairs for more chat. That goes another three hours or so and also includes me singing Will India Cry into Bekah's recorder for her to try her hand with. She likes it. So much great conversation and this is something that would NEVER happen with CW even back in the early days. There was a great deal of information given both ways and, of course, the details of which I cannot share. All I can say is it was an amazing seven plus hours and one I hope one that will benefit fans and artists alike. My thanks to Michael for taking some of his precious time and for lunch. My thanks to Bekah and Jamie for the lengthy talks and sharing the CW DVD recording with us. I will see them early and often on their spring tour.

Part five:The parting glass

     And so we are down to our last two days, the weekend. Saturday we awake a bit late but still make our way across the street to Bus Eireann and a day trip down to Cashel to see the rock. The fares are reasonable and it is a  2 1/2 hour ride with bus stops at a handful of locations along the way. Upon arrival we decide not to risk the last bus back in case it is full. So we have about three hours. I remember the walk and where everything was from 2009. There are a couple of changes now. Most of the roads in are now four lane and one is a toll road. Only the last bit into Cashel is two lane. Also, shortly after I left they erected scaffolding around Cormac's Chapel to cover it from the elements and allow the sandstone structure to dry out naturally. Aside from that all is as I remember and we take the guided tour. Tony has the entire tour on video and captured the lovely lilt of our tour guide. It is a pleasant day, more so than in 2009 and we're done on the rock after about two hours. We then make our way down the hill to a little bakery in Cashel that I went to before. We had a nice pastry and relaxed before the bus ride back. Upon return we stop briefly at the hotel room and then go off to find our stop for the bus on Monday. Nearby is a nice Asian buffet and we stuff ourselves properly. Then back to the hotel and to bed.

     Our final day is also started late. We had a long Skype talk with Mustang Scott and did not get to sleep until 0500. Helpful talk as it pertained to some Celtic Night planning. So I awake at around 0900 and grab a light breakfast downstairs. Tony is up an hour or so later and we just goof around on line before heading for dinner at a food court we ate at earlier in the week. People are everywhere this weekend due to major sporting events in the city, so places are crowded. We then make our way to the Gaiety Theatre and Riverdance. Tony had snagged second row center in this lovely, small venue. Tony had not seen the show live before and this was my third time but by far my best seat. We know one of the dancers from Celtic Nights is in the show and so we are anxious to see her. The show is as I remember and the cast is very good. But we also know tonight is extra special. When Neil went early in the week he told us something that made this night one last full circle. And sure enough, the lights dim, a form appears, lights slowly brighten enough to make out where the lovely voice is coming from singing the opening tune. The voice is clear, pure, and sweet. I know it well. It has not changed. It is Lynn Hillary.She appears throughout the night and is the female lead vocalist in the show. In spite of our location she does not see us. That too is typical Lynn. The only interaction I get is rather frequent looks and smiles from the lead female dancer, Maria Buffini, who has marvelous stage presence. Cute as can be and with magical feet. The whole cast is top drawer and I really love this show. They all take their bows and Tony and I are off after waiting a bit for the place to clear. On the walk back we run into some of the dancers and other artists. The fiddler was very good and I wish I had a fiddler crossing sign to give her. And then SHE is there. She does a double take and gets this deer in the headlights look. The conversation is polite but she is clearly stunned to see us. Tony shows his Lynn button and she says "Oh you can throw all those away". Yep, she has not changed. Many pleasantries but no hugs or even handshakes. We opt to not ask for a photo as she is clearly a bit uneasy. In any case we wish her well on her CD and congratulate her on a fine performance. On the way back to the hotel one last task and that is to grab a 99 (ice cream cone with a Cadbury's Flake) to top off the cool summer night.

      The theme throughout from day one here has been full circle. It has been like closure in some ways but at the same time like a new beginning. I want to thank Tony for allowing an alternate form of payment that allowed me to attend. He did not want to go alone anyway and he knew I knew my way around. It was also important I attend the business meetings this week with Celtic Nights. Along the way there was the marvelous DVD recording and our support of the fine artists on stage. We had no shortage of encounters of the Celtic kind and established new connections that may prove to be life altering. This was my third trip here and I stayed the same amount of time each time. Each was special, but this was by far the most special. They get better every time. As always I do not want to leave. I have grown increasingly uneasy in the states with the rapid wrong direction the country is taking. I have always felt at home here. What the future holds only God knows. All I know is we are given life and we are meant to live it and use the gifts we've been given. Some folks may think me totally nuts. They're right. Yet life is not about stuff and money and drudgery. It is about relationships and experiences. I return back to the valley and reality on Tuesday evening. I have felt for awhile now it is time for a change and a big one. Alaska, Canada, Ireland, helping with a tour, working up new songs, any number of things could present themselves. This trip was about laying those foundations. It was personal, and it was private in many ways. 99% of folks had no clue I was going and that was by intent for several reasons. There are just times when it is too personal and no point in saying anything until more is known. This trip was one of those times. Thank you to Celtic Woman for the best excuse to take a bold step. Thank you to the folks at Celtic Nights, Michael, Rebekah, and Jamie, for their incredible willingness to engage and spend valuable time. Thank you to people I met in the business who are huge names with amazing gifts and success who have given me hope I may yet make the connection I dream about. Thank you to Dave Kavanagh and John Flanagan for the kind words Wednesday night and to John for the invitation to coffee. Wish I could take you up on it but I'm winging my way back to the states whether I like it or not. I don't. Finally, thank you to all the Celtic Woman artists who have been so kind in person and online throughout all this. I am truly blessed and the fans are in for a marvelous DVD. No more reviews from me now until December. Now we all wait and see what happens with Celtic Woman as it makes various transitions.  

   

Celtic Woman tour retrospective 2013

  Well, the previous blog was certainly a different one and I am still on the mend. The onset of gout has been stubborn and painful but we just deal with it and move on. Recovery from surgery is going fine and my digestive system seems reasonably normal now. But let's step back a few months and move forward.

    February began yet another long grinder tour for the artists and crew of Celtic Woman. I had planned on about a dozen shows though really had no financial business doing so! I would miss the opener for the first time in many years and the closer as well. I'd miss Máiréad's birthday too after four years being front and center for that. Things simply did not work out in the schedule and I had no desire to fight winter early on in the tour. Why the powers that be scheduled it that way I have no clue, and it looks like that won't be the case in 2014. My first shows would be around Paddy's day and my first ones in that area of the northeast with Newark, Wallingford, Boston, and Manchester. I had meet and greet for all except Boston which has not offered them since the 2007 debacle. I went in with a bit of reluctance due to the new format for the meetings. In some cases that was justified and in others it was not. Newark we had great seats and I met Kenn Craig for the first time who is the person assigned to run the show on the road along with Brett Miler. We were stacked in a hallway and entered a small room singly for a group photo. It was brief but fine and Kenn is a very personable gent. In Wallingford, though, CPTV did it right and the meeting was huge bang for the buck! The artists themselves and Kenn's tolerance about it all made it even better. THAT is how it should be done and we had front row seats to go with it. Most special was the warmth and care of all the artists with no shortage of hugs and I had this candid photo with the ever delightful Lisa Lambe. Boston was fine and the venue is amazing. We were blessed with a bit of face time with band, choir, and front four near the stage door. Plenty of security but they stood back and watched as things flowed naturally. I commend them and the CW staff and artists for that lovely interaction. Manchester was in an arena. Those that know me know I'm not fond of this group in an arena setting. Yet we had good seats thanks to Mike and even better ones after intermission. Lisa was wonderful in making sure we were included in spite of our location early on. The meet and greet was more what I had worried about and was not at all worth the money. PBS seats were mediocre and there were two stations involved. So, 40 or so people and a very rushed meeting was not at all the way things need to be. I said earlier on this page that meetings have to be limited to 20 or less regardless of the number of stations involved. Yet it was St. Patrick's Day and we did have a great time at the show. We had tried to set up lunch prior to the show across the street at an Irish pub with Máiréad's in laws. All looked fine but at the last minute it fell apart and we never connected with them at the show either. So, in the five shows (double-header in Boston) I had overall positive experiences with the artists and touring staff. Yes, some snags and some tweaking needed but I did feel as though things were going in the right direction.

  

      It would be until June 1st until my next show, so a long gap. In the interim I watched as other fans had their experiences and they too were mixed. While on my break I also connected with another Irish group, Celtic Nights, who some fan friends had seen in Austin due to former CW choir gal Una being one of the main artists. By all accounts it was a marvelous show though without the major production elements of Celtic Woman. Since then some of us have been in contact with their management and a couple of the artists and are very much encouraged in our input and support. They will tour again in early 2014 and I do plan to see a few shows. It is refreshing when artist management asks for fan input and embraces them rather than pushes them away. EMI, Madstone Productions, and CW LTD over the years have been inclined to push the avid fan community away rather than embrace it, although the artists do not seem so inclined at all. Over the years CW has certainly been paying attention to fans and adopted some of the ideas especially on stage, although they have never asked for input or acknowledged it. I also became connected with a lovely Canadian foursome called Naria. A bit different tack with opera combining with techno pop. But they have a lovely presence, and a nice sound. Each have been open to fan support and input and willing to connect on line both on Twitter and Facebook. I even have the odd chance of one of the songs Liv and I created being a Naria song. Their leader, Katya, even did a guide track of the song and sent it to me for approval. So, fingers crossed there.

     Celtic Woman learned along the course of my break that some things were not sitting very well. Oversized meetings at some locations and with very poor places within the venues chosen for photos was part of that. Fuzzy photos and too brief encounters combined with mediocre PBS seats were not going over well. The biggest bonehead move was the slap in the face to the avid fan communities and the short notice given for a DVD recording at South Bend. Three days notice and all the primo seats were long gone. It was a clear and intentional affront to the most loyal fans yet a handful were lucky enough to have gotten tickets for the show. I sent a message to one of the artists and to CW that while I supported the artists without question, I would NOT acquire that DVD due to the insult given to their most dedicated fans. It will be the first DVD or CD from them that I don't own. This was clearly a decision by Madstone and likely Maggie Seidel. I have no affection for her at all knowing the things I've heard her and Mr. Hochwald say over the years. I was not pleased when she received a promotion to essentially manage the group and suspected she would do something averse to the fan community at some point. She did. After Springfield in 2011 many of us had hopes she would be gone or at least disconnected from CW. EMI retains that company and it is not a positive. In any case, I still looked forward to a nice string of shows in June.

      In late May I had a major health crisis and so was unable to attend five shows in the northwest. That hurt almost as much as the infected gall bladder and the gout! I gave my seats to a fan from California who is in a wheelchair and struggles with life in general. Tony flew him to Portland and Glenn would occupy my seats. They did not have meet and greet but opted instead for great seats bought early on through Ticketmaster. Yet at three of the locations they did get some lovely face time with the artists after the shows and again that is thanks to the kind road staff and the artists themselves. Such things are not expected and are so very appreciated. But Tony had created a special gift for Lisa Lambe in the form of a personalized Lambe Crossing jacket. He found a way to link up with her hubby, Simon Morgan, who happened to be along with her for a few shows, and gave the jacket to him. Everyone in the fan community who has met Simon has found him friendly, warm, and a very nice gent. He saw to it Lisa received her gift and she very kindly tweeted a photo of herself wearing the jacket. I have to say that of all the girls past and present from this group that she is the most engaging and warm with her fans on stage, at meetings, on line, and out and about. Certainly Lisa Kelly was and is good at that too, and  Máiréad at times as well. Al of them are delightful at the formal meetings and Susan really came into her own this tour connecting with fans. But Lil Lambe is off the charts and Simon is a wonderful and fitting partner for her.

     Meanwhile, back here, I opted to go forward with Red Rocks and Omaha. I've not missed a Red Rocks show with them except the first one in 2006. The hiking would be misery for me and my gouty foot but I was not going to be denied. The gathering of fans was a good one again and we had made plans to celebrate Chloe's birthday by donning special pink birthday T-shirts. It was a special venue on her special day and we had to do what we could to make it more so for the girl we've watched grow up before our eyes. She has matured both vocally and in other ways and is a strikingly beautiful woman. She has always been so but she has trimmed down and simply looks marvelous. I was given a surprise meet and greet when someone backed out and managed to hide around a corner until the end to surprise them. Mike was celebrating his 150th show and bless his heart had sent to me a card he had the girls sign in Las Vegas wishing me well. I cannot thank him and the artists enough for that little treasure. The meeting went so very well and hair chap, Michael, was now taking photos. He is the one posting photos on the CWNAT Facebook page and is very generous at taking various shots. He's a fine gent and a good compliment to the touring team with Kenn, Brett, and Chloe's gorgeous sister, Naomi. After the wonderful show we made our way to the buses and were treated with some great chat time with band, choir, and the very grateful Chloe. Michael took and official photo of all of us with her and posted it later. Nice touch and it goes along with a group shot before the show taken by 303 Magazine. Next day I flew to Omaha to be with old friends. Half my life was spent in Nebraska and I had not been back since the CW show in November 2007. I had front row center and later picked up a meet and greet from another fan. My good friends were right next to me at the show and simply loved it. The meeting was a continuation of Red Rocks and a real delight. Most special was a photo I had longed for many years, a proper solo shot with Máiréad, my muse and inspiration for so many of my writings. It was a wonderful ending of this tour for me and again I had some chat time with band and choir afterwards. I really did have some warm and wonderful encounters with her this tour including a very kind first ever tweet that wished me well in my recovery. 

    All along the way the artists and touring staff have done the best they could to make fans feel welcome and embraced. At points along the way it was a bit rough but the tweaking made it better and perhaps they now have the proper formula. There are still bugs and those are not from the artists or touring staff but upper management. I do commend the organization for relaxing things a bit and not chasing the few fans away after the show who might gather near the stage door or buses. That is a far cry from the Rachel days and very welcome. Makes for good PR and more ticket sales. I was pleased with a positive attitude towards familiar faces from people like the merch dude all the way to the fine Bubba Dixon. The latter has been a positive ever since his expanded role in 2011. Sadly, for whatever reason. he is no longer with the group. He will be very much missed and he is the last of the original crew. The longest lived one left is Máiréad's hubby, Jim, and perhaps only because of that relationship, although he does his job well. Tour dates for the symphony tour and 2014 are already leaking out. I have no idea how things will work in 2014 but it appears it may be much like this year. EMI is working the artists hard and squeezing every dime out of it they can while there is still an economy to support it. Sales were down by about 1/3 from my reports and yet there is still a solid following. I encourage EMI to minimize the role of Madstone and keep a leash on Maggie regarding fans. It worked fine this year and I encourage EMI to retain this touring staff. I was not happy seeing the grumpy and fan hostile Mitch at Red Rocks. He needs to stick to counting beans and not be involved in any way with decisions about fan interactions. The team of he and Rachel in 2010 was not a good one.

     So, now time to devote to attempting to keep my financial head above water and look forward to symphony shows, Celtic Nights, Celtic Woman 2014, and perhaps a bit of Naria if I can swing it. That is if we can keep our country from descending into the dark abyss DC is attempting to force us in to. A lot can happen between now and then including currency collapse, civil war, or other things created by and forced upon the people from both parties in DC who seem more aligned with globalists and Muslims than their own citizens. Such allegiance runs counter to their oaths of office and does not serve the people of this nation at all. I pray things will change in a manner that upholds our constitution and permits us and the artist families to meet again and enjoy each other. Between now and then CW will be in Australia and Europe and doubtless to warm, though not by USA standards, supportive receptions. We're a bit more demonstrative here as they well know now after nine years. My thanks to the fan community, the artists, and the touring staff for an overall positive tour. Enjoy your break and thank you for being such bright beacons in an ever darkening world. God' blessings and peace.

                                  Scott  

Our medical system

Hello everyone,

       It has been awhile since the last post and some things have changed. But this post will focus on one thing important in my recent life, the medical system.

     On the 26th I went to the emergency room at Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte Colorado. at about 5 that morning I awoke with an acute attack in the upper right abdomen and mid back. I had such an attack last year at the end of July but it trailed off after a couple of hours and I treated it with natural means. Not this time. I was admitted and kept under watch that day and night and into the next afternoon due to chest pains with it and other factors. Blood work showed an elevated white cell count and I had a low grade fever so the doctors decided to transfer me to where there was a surgeon. That would be the nearby San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center in Alamosa. I would have gone there first but just was wary based upon some rumors and other experiences from folks. So, the local ambulance loaded me up and off I went to Alamosa.

     I want to thank the doctors and staff of Rio Grande Hospital for their kindness and care during this initial part of diagnosis and treatment. Your caution proved to be the right thing and I thank you.

    So, I arrived on the evening of the 27th and was taken to the third floor surgical ward where I would remain overnight being tested and evaluated. I met the first of many on staff who were upbeat, professional, and caring. Both facilities knew up front that I had no insurance and no money as I told them. It mattered not and the focus was on diagnosis and treatment. The CT scan from Rio Grande and other tests were compared to what these folks had done and so I was visited by Surgeon Mike Liang. It was obvious that the gall bladder had to come out and so it was scheduled for in the morning.

   At 11 am on the 28th I went in for gall bladder removal. I was back in my room by 2. I would remain overnight and leave the next morning. The gall bladder was so bad it was infected with gangrene. So, we were looking at a serious event. The entire staff at SLVRMC was wonderful. That includes the folks in the business office who were very helpful in laying out what I needed to do to get this paid for in large part.

   I am now recovering and will start the process of getting help with payments either through medicaid or CICP, the state equivalent. Our system is not perfect, but it does work. Throughout this I met fine people whose goal was my health and comfort and nothing else. Yes, there are those who are bought and sold by drug companies. Yes, there are poor performers in the business. Yes, there are risks. Yet I received prompt and effective treatment regardless of my financial status. They were following their oath. I talked at times about the looming Obamacare debacle and found no one positive about it. In fact hospitals like the ones I used will likely close under the new regime. We hear all the time that folks under this system don't get treatment and we need government to fix it. The truth is the opposite. You WILL get treatment and government getting involved will make it much worse, not better.

      I have not been a fan of western medicine, but there are times that natural means simply are not going to work. Such was the case here. I am very grateful to all involved in my treatment and care and thank them for their efforts. I hope to NOT see you all again in that capacity any time soon, if you know what I mean! I paid into the system for many years so feel no guilt at having the system cover the bulk of my bills and I'll take care of the rest as best I can over time. I was impressed and would have no hesitation seeking treatment locally for most things should the need arise. BTW, while I was treated promptly, I have a friend in Australia under their socialized medicine who still has not had needed surgery after a heart attack in December. He is my age and thus keeps getting put down the list as care is rationed. I'll take our system over that any day! Were I in that system I could very well be dead right now. So now on with life and more usual challenges. Until next time, be well.

                                  Scott/Moscapoet  

An anniversary and persepctive

  Hello from the Rockies!

       April 15th brings a very special anniversary for me. It is the sixth anniversary of my first poem. Those words came to me in the middle of the night and were inspired by now former Celtic Woman artist, Lisa Kelly, singing Send Me A Song. It is called Celtic Woman Sing On. A few nights later after a vivid dream I wrote another. The flow picked up at a rapid pace and kept going all the way through 2011 at which time events took over and the pace slackened quite a bit. In recent months it began to pick up again in no small part thanks to the kindness of current Celtic Woman artist Lisa Lambe. The total now approaches 430, along with one novel, and eight songs.

      As I sit here in a pleasant little cafe in Crestone I am once again inspired. I wrote a fresh poem brought on by the weather and events in the cafe. I'm reminded of a parable that Jesus taught about the three men given money (called Talents) and what they did with them. One made what he was given grow. Another made his fortune grow even more. The other stuck his in the ground and that is what he had when he was asked. But that parable is not about money, it is about life. It is about the gift we are given and what we do with it. Do we stick it in the ground and hoard it, afraid to risk it? Or do we take a chance and live life and give as we've been given? We don't get all we ask for. Life is a mix of blessing and challenge. But we cannot stop living it, sharing it, and building upon each precious day.

      In this world we have a few ruling elite who want to control every aspect of our lives and inflict upon us slavery. They do not believe in freedom of the individual but in group think. They create a variety of issues they use to divide people against each other. Divide and conquer. Gun rights, abortion, homosexuality, and other issues are used as wedges to divide. No matter what side of those issues you fall on you can clearly see they are being used to keep citizens from being unified and strong. They are meant to keep our eye off the ball about what the small ruling elite are working so hard to do. We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted.  Yet we each have lives to live and contributions to make based upon our unique gifts.

    In 2007 it became clear to me that my unique gift was the one of words, written and spoken. I had always known that to a degree but not to the extent I did in my 50th year. With God sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no, and at other times it is wait. I am not a man of any significant means. I have clawed and scratched to keep my head above water for years now. My own financial foolishness put me in that position yet it has always been about living life. The people, the moments, the inspirations simply transcend money. I simply cannot bury life and take no risk. At times the risk has paid off but not in financial ways but rather more important ones. Such is the case now or so it appears.

      In 2008 I met Kim in Australia and took a risk with the gift his daughter Olivia offered. It paid off in the creation of several songs. None of them have hit the mainstream and she has since changed her musical direction and associations to things more in line with her own peers. Yet the time spent and the things created are beautiful and those things will live on in some way for all time. The words over the years were inspired mainly by the artists of Celtic Woman and the journey they led me on to Ireland, and to other places and events I would have never experienced otherwise. I didn't travel this much when I worked in the airlines! Sure wish I still had those travel benefits as I'd have much less debt now! In any case, there have been moments so uplifting and others that felt like crushing darkness. Vain hopes and dreams and yet one must persevere through that and come out the other side stronger.

      In these years I have made a great many wonderful friends as a result of that Irish ensemble. Priceless memories, and treasured relationships that their upper management and middle men cannot take away. They too have made positive changes and that especially has come about the past year or so with the diminishing role of some road management and now the outright replacing of most of it. I credit a great part of that change to their now production manager, Bubba Dixon. EMI and Madstone have been dragged kicking and screaming into making changes whether they liked it or not. Those folks represent an old and dying industry model that must change or become extinct. They suck the life out of their artists by endless touring for which those artists receive scant compensation compared to the mediocre pop divas out there. Not a person on the road is truly paid what they are worth and I dare say the Madstone person now running the show probably is paid better than any of them. The 'business" of entertainment is filled with such vampires who care not a wit about artist or fan, only the bottom line. Yet at times they do listen or at least allow a bit more latitude. That is the case on this tour and the previous symphony tour. The barriers dropped and the fan family and artist family allowed to mingle as the artists saw fit and not as the powers that be dictated. It is healthy, it is normal, and it is positive, and I commend Celtic Woman management for allowing this to happen and the artists for embracing their avid fans in ways they are comfortable with. Some flies in the ointment are still there. The new meet & greet format is alright but happens far too close to show time. Good seats are not tied to the meetings as they should be and force folks who want both to buy extra tickets to get the good seats then sell off, if possible, the who knows what seats palmed off on PBS.  In my opinion you should buy your own seat and then simply pay PBS for a stand alone meet & greet and not the extra seat.So far I've had a mixed opinion of this experience. Wallingford and CT PBS was an off the charts winner. It was not cheap but had huge bang for the buck. Manchester was what I feared this would be, a rushed event certainly not worth the money on its own because there were too many people and not enough time. I like the before show thing as the artists want to get on the road and get rested and not get hung up with a formal meeting. That having been said, I had a wonderful post-show experience in Boston by the buses with band, choir, and front row artists that was carefully watched but not interfered with. Kudos go to tour manager Ken Craig and road manager Brett Miler for allowing that to happen in a natural way as dictated by the artists themselves. Every encounter was excellent. I'll see how much this remains in place later in the tour. The biggest issue this tour so far was the extreme short notice given regarding the recording of a live show in South Bend. I cannot say it was an intentional slap in the face at fans or simply a callous and careless attitude that reflects a typical focus on the bottom line with no respect to either artist or fan. But it was badly handled and I place full blame for it in the lap of Madstone. Many of us have known their thoughts about avid fans since a conversation overheard in NYC in 2009 between two of their principals. I'm not even certain the artists themselves had much more notice than we did! I get the impression, reading between the lines, that the China thing earlier this year blindsided the girls as well. When you are a salaried employee you do as the boss dictates when and where and the boss is under no obligation to give you any warning. While I dearly love Celtic Woman and its concept I find myself hoping the artists break away and follow a path more lucrative and freer for them. There is risk in that but I am here to tell them it is worth the risk.

       That brings us to some other artists and ensembles of note now on avid fan radar screens and for good reason. Some fan friends of mine were surprised earlier this year about a fairly new group called Celtic Nights. It is a mix of male and female, and not of the major production type as Celtic Woman. It has less staging and other frills and is more a focus on the artists. Some like that, and some don't. The main draw is former CW choir girl Una. The three avid fans who attended the show in Austin were universally pleased with the show, the interactions, and the overall feel of the event. They will go back again and again and I will sure give them a try when they tour again. It shows the power of the Celtic Woman exposure well beyond the time with that group. It shows the artists have legs beyond it and a following built while with CW. Orlagh, Amy, Meav, Deirdre, Alex, and now Una have found that, and any group that adopts these folks and others taps into the CW fan base. Smart move and especially so since great seats are available at much lower prices and meetings are generally free. No one is profiting financially from meetings at shows like this.

       That takes me now to an ensemble that is increasingly a personal thing for me. They are called Naria, and they are Canadian. The principals hail from mixed places and all are versatile and gifted sopranos and classically trained. They are not heavily toured. They have lives. They are not heavily promoted as they are not tied to a major label. This is the creation and brainchild of Katya and she has brought on board this concept three other sterling professionals. Is it Celtic Woman? No. They bill it as classical with an edge. It indeed is edgy in many respects. Perhaps not something granny or a little girl would feel easy at. But it is a dynamic concept that has a broad base appeal in age groups from teens to mid adult ranges. They are clearly smart, motivated women. No EMI, no middle men to speak of, just a concept and personal desires and dreams. So why is it personal for me? Because they are willing to take a chance on a virtual nobody in the business like me with songs and lyrics. I could never obtain that from a label-controlled group like CW whether the artists wish it or not. Unless you are also tied to the label you're an outsider with little if any chance of gaining entry. What's in it for them? Again, bottom line thinking. I see a good future for Naria in the different things they can bring to an event. Strictly classical arias and evening gowns for a more cultured crowd? They can do that. Heart pumping, hard driving techno pop with sex appeal? They can do that. Perhaps by the grace of  God I'll establish a professional relationship in the long term, perhaps it will not be. Perhaps I'll get a single shot, or none at all. But I do thank them for the opportunity and do want to be there if or when they perform any of my creations. Few people get the chance. But few people risk and persevere and dream. Many give up. Many never try. They bury their coin in the ground. So, as I sit here in my mountain cafe I think back on a blessing God has given me and thank Him for the gift. Perhaps I'll be just another poet "discovered" long after he is gone. But one must live life, give, love, and risk. We just never know when it ends. Until next time.

                                                  Scott/moscapoet