SATURDAY 9/29/2007

Tomorrow the town of Westfield, Ma is hosting Colonial Harvest Day.. and the day is a FULL one.. It will feature live performances from Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads, Northern Lights and the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers. There will be hayrides, a scarecrow contest, food vendors , demonstrations of colonial crafts. Extraordinary crafts for sale
(including our musical instruments).. a community contra-dance, a play, and much much more.. ALL FREE..ALL FUN.. It's going to be a beautiful day so come on over and say HI if you do!

The BIG-E

The weather has made a huge difference this year for attendance at The BIG-E fair just down the road from us in West Springfield. The attendance on Saturday last weekend was close to 200,00 people in just one day! The traffic here in Agawam was gird-locked from 10:00AM until close to 8:00 in the evening.. Thank goodness we didn't plan a concert for last weekend! I would have been a wreck.. Our next concert will happen well after the BIG-E closes so traffic will not be an issue. Full Gael promises us a fun evening..with traditional Irish, and Scottish tunes and songs as well as stories pulled from Celtic Folklore about Halloween. They are a delightful group and I know everyone will enjoy them! One member of the group is a retired sea Captain having spent many years in the Coast Guard.. He will be sharing some songs from the Canadian Maritimes..Should be a fun night!
Hope all of you have a great day today!

A beautiful day today!

You can really feel "Fall" in the air. Here in Massachusetts we are enjoying a crisp clear day..the night was cool and great for sleeping. I was up half the night going over and over some things I was asked to write for J. J. Chaisson and two of his cousins. They have been invited to perform for international delegates at Celtic Colors on Cape Breton Island and they asked me to come up with an appropriate Biography for the group. They are calling themselves "The Chaisson Trio" ..and they will be combining their talents as instrumentalists and vocal performers.. The group will include J. J. , Tim and cousin Elmer Deagle. I am sure they will be wonderful. I did finally come up with a decent piece and sent it off to them.. Haven't heard back so I guess they liked it.. They are quite a crew. I have another Bodhran student and must get busy printing out her starting materials.. Hope everyone in enjoying a beautiful Monday!

FRIDAY

Gad where has this week gone? I should say where has this month gone? I cannot believe that we are heading very swiftly into October. I suppose I have to start planning for the holiday season very soon. With the US economy looking very gloomy shopping will be very planned and very thrifty this season. I love planning for the holiday time though.. I especially love THANKSGIVING.. we gather each year all the GREEN'S and assorted outlaws..Last year we seated almost 50 people here for the meal.. GAD I think I'd better start shopping NOW!

Is it really Thursday!!!

I have been very busy this week. I've been going over to my daughters house every morning to help her out by caring for little Morgan.. Now that isn't a hard job at all.. She is delightful, funny and charming. We have been having a great time collecting wolly-bear- caterpillars , building Gnome houses,Playing hop-scotch and pretending to be dogs...I find spending time with a three year old just about the best thing anyone can do! So I am off again heading over to Morgan's house for another fun filled day..

Colonial Harvest Day.. Westfield on Weekends

We will be a part of this event in our former "home town"..Westfield, Mass. On September 29, 2007 we will be here to show off our instruments and talk up the concert series. If you attend you will be able to see a large assortment of crafts, and entertainers such as one of our favorite fiddlers... ZOE DARROW and her band the Fiddleheads.. also the great blue grass band NORTHERN LIGHTS.. So if the spirit moves you head over to Westfield for a fun day..on the green and beyond...a link to the event can be found at the bottom of the page..NO I WILL NOT BE DRESSED LIKE A PILGRIM and I don't think Dan will be either...

FULL GAEL.. who are they...what will we see and hear...

Will O'Hare: Flute, Whistles, Bagpipes, Mandolins, Vocals

Will is well known in the southern New England Celtic music scene, having hosted "The Celtic Session" on WECS radio for many years. He has completed two Southern New England Folk Arts Apprenticeship projects with master flute player Skip Healy and most recently had the distinct pleasure of playing bagpipes with an Omani folk music ensemble at the Smithsonian Folk life Festival in Washington, D.C. In his day job, Will is an anthropology professor at Three Rivers Community College.

His earliest music influences stem from his college years playing bluegrass with a successful band in upstate New York called "Blue Savannah." After moving to CT in the mid 80s he began exploring Celtic music first on the mandolin and then whistles/flutes. A few years with the Mystic Highland Pipe band brought in Scottish themes and finally in the early 90s he, along with Gary Palmer and Matt Cook, created the first version of Full Gael.

Jeanne Freeman--Fiddle, Vocals

Fiddler Jeanne Freeman is an accomplished traditional fiddler and also provides harmony vocals. Jeanne studied and has performed with Donegal fiddler P.V. O'Donnell (formerly of the traditional Irish band Barley Bree). Her playing is strongly influenced by Donegal players such as P.V. and the legendary Tommy Peoples, both of whom graced her home in a house concert one magical afternoon in 2003.

Jeanne also weaves threads of traditional American fiddling into her music, having worked as a fiddler in Colonial Williamsburg and on the historic waterfront in Portsmouth, Virginia. She continues to enjoy the organic quality of performing traditional music in historic settings. Jeanne has performed at the Greater Hartford Irish Festival, and plays regularly at Irish sessions around Connecticut. A mainstay is P.V. O'Donnell's wonderful Hartford City Steam session (which on various nights over the years has included musicians such as Tommy Peoples, Claudine Langille, Triona Ni Domhnaill, Dan and Bonnie Milner and many other wonderful traditional players). Jeanne considers herself blessed to have also played there regularly with Galway fiddler Eddie Burke, who in his youth in Ireland played with some of the great Irish ceili bands. Following Eddie's death in 2005, Jeanne wrote the Forward for an on-line tune book compiled by local players in his honor, available on our "links" page.



Gary Palmer--Guitar, Vocals

Gary Palmer (aka "the Captain") plays guitar, mandolin, and sings. As a youngster he studied accordion and trombone, but didn't find his musical niche until he bought an electric guitar and joined a garage band as a teenager. Gary began by experimenting with many different playing styles, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to John Denver. But it was in high school that he first heard the siren song of the sea and was accepted as a cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. His first real exposure to traditional music was listening to sea chanteys while climbing the rigging in America's Tall Ship, the Coast Guard Barque Eagle. Gary went on to a distinguished Coast Guard career as an officer, commanding several Coast Guard cutters and serving in a variety of assignments from Florida to Alaska. He rescued mariners in distress, busted drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, and stopped fish poachers in the North Atlantic. He also served ashore as a judge advocate and military judge, and in the White House as a liaison to the Office on National Drug Control Policy. He retired in 2004 after 30 years on active duty. When not playing music, his day job is teaching criminal justice to cadets at the Coast Guard Academy.

Throughout his successful Coast Guard career, his interest in traditional music (especially songs about life at sea) continued to grow. Will O'Hare introduced Gary to Celtic music, and after that he was he was hooked. He studied with accomplished Celtic guitarist Paul Oorts, and is especially influenced by the playing styles of guitarists John Doyle, Donnogh Hennessey, and Artie McGlynn. In addition to Full Gael, Gary has made several recordings of Celtic music with long-time Connecticut fiddler Bob Thurston. Gary is always on the lookout for new material relating to sailors and life at sea, and can spin a fine yarn telling the occasional sea story during performances

The Boston Kiltic's were GREAT!!!

Last Nights concert was amazing!

The Boston Kiltics were amazing.. Cliff as MC engaged the audience and was stellar on his guitar.. Nathan wowed everyone on the pipes in-spite of having a terrible cold! DOUG brought us all right to Cape Breton with his emotional play on the fiddle and Dedo was extraordinary on the piano..adding just the right touch to the mix! Thanks to the band and to all who showed up to support their efforts! Next month will feature "Full Gael" a Connecticut based band who will treat us to "A Celtic Halloween"

Saturday night is fast approaching

We are really excited and looking forward to the first concert in this season's series. We have had quite a bit of excellent news coverage..including a radio interview and a great article in a local publication. While the major paper in our area still continues to ignore the news pieces I send I say WHO NEEDS THEM.. we get the word out pretty well..and I'll just try again next time.. Below you will find the article which appears in the local newspaper The Reminder.. Enjoy..

"By Katelyn Gendron-List

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM Every year Meg and Dan Sullivan work diligently to put together a concert series that will promote Celtic heritage and put its culture into the forefront of local minds.

As caretakers of the Captain Charles Leonard House formally an inn built in 1805 the Sullivans received permission from the Board of Trustees to allow this beautifully restored historical setting to serve as the venue for this year's concert series.

"We feel very strongly that this type of traditional music needs to be saved and perpetuated through the years," Meg Sullivan said. "And if young people catch the bug it continues the tradition of the Celtic people."

Sullivan added that she and her husband look for a variety of bands throughout the Northeast and the Canadian Maritimes that play traditional Celtic or Folk tunes. As musicians themselves they have a vast knowledge of Celtic music, history and culture.

The 10-night performance series will kick off with the Boston Kiltics on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

According to Cliff McGann, a guitarist and singer in the Boston Kiltics, the band provides audiences with exposure to traditional music from Cape Breton, an island in Nova Scotia settled by Scottish immigrants in the 1700s.

"It's always fun to play in front of people and to educate them about Cape Breton music," McGann said. "We try to entertain, educate and plant a seed for people to look into their own cultures, that they're not disappearing put evolving."

The band members, McGann added, play the bagpipes, guitar and pin whistle while singing in Gaelic. They will periodically stop to teach the audience members some Gaelic. This way they may sing along and understand the meanings behind the songs, which are stories about life.

"We're psyched to kick it off and set the bar high for other people," McGann said.

The second night of the concert series on Oct. 20, will feature the band Full Gael, which will present "A Celtic Halloween."

According to Will O'Hare, a Full Gael band member, the three-member band will play music from the Canadian Maritimes and traditional Irish music. He added that they will also play reflective music of the Celtic Halloween traditions.

O'Hare said the band will mix slow airs with traditional dance music using only acoustic instruments. He will tell stories about the banshee, jack-o-lanterns, and other Irish and Scottish folklore.

Following Full Gael will be local musician Jeff Snow on Nov. 10.

Snow stated that he is eager to play this concert as there is not enough exposure to Celtic music in Western Massachusetts.

Snow said that he will be playing traditional and acoustic instruments, such as the autoharp and the bodhran, a Celtic drum. He added that he likes to play music that is not part of mainstream Celtic melodies. Snow said he likes to throw in a surprise or two, as well as telling the history behind each tune he plays.

The intimate venue, seating about 75 people, he added will surely add to the education and reflection of Celtic culture within the audience.

On Dec. 8, Matt and Shannon Heaton will close out the year with a performance of original Irish tunes.

The concert series will continue with six more performances starting in January 2008.

Tickets for each show are $14 per person in advance and $18 at the door. For more information about other performances or for ticket reservations call 789-9267."

A taste of Mattoon St Art Festival 2007

Our booth, Sophie playing the harp, Dan draws a crowd to hear his dulcimer, lovely ladies stroll the street, and "rocking" gentlemen entertain the crowd. It was a lovely weekend..Be sure to scroll down for more pictures...

The Butterfly and The Kitten.. Sweet little girls...

MATTOON ST FESTIVAL 2007.. A great time..

New information about Saturday's show

We are happy to announce that multi instrumentalist Dedo Norris will be joining the group on Saturday night on piano. Dedo is very well known in this part of New England as a member of many bands. She will add a great touch to the Cape Breton Evening... Can't wait...

The Boston Kiltics... Saturday September 15, 2007

This is going to be a great night of music.. The three young men pictured above are talented, fun loving "BOSTON" lads with deep roots into the music of Cape Breton. Fiddle, guitar, pipes.. stories.. laughter... All for $14.. reserved.. Hope to see a great turn out for this FIRST CONCERT!

DULCIMERS gone WILD

These are a few of the many instruments we will be showing at Mattoon St this weekend...Aren't they beautiful!

Saturday and Sunday look like they will be perfect!

As the festival draws near weather is always a concern but it looks like it will be great weather. Aside from the arts and crafts festival there will be entertainment, house and garden tours and wonderful food available. Hope to see some of our friends and family in attendance..

DON'T FORGET.. This weekend..

If you visit this web site..http://www.mattoonfestival.org/...you will see that in addition to the Festival there are house tours, garden tours and a variety of entertainment.. Be sure to visit US as well!!

BIRTHDAY PARTY TODAY

Getting things ready.. cleaning the house and cooking.. The girly- girls will be here to help me "decorate" the cake.. and hopefully they will be in good humors.. Last night they had a "sleep-over" at Gramma Elaine's house. Sooooo I hope they will be rested and happy. It is another beautiful day here in Massachusetts. Something funny is happening across the street from our house today that should "spark some interesting scenes" Last night Dan called me to take a look outside.. Across the street there is a rather "run down" rental property that is "lived in" by a large number of rough looking young men. They have parked a cargo type truck on the front lawn of their house and painted on the side is the following.... WHITE TRASH BASH...SEPT 2, 2007...EVERYONE WELCOME......HUMMMMMM now I wonder what kind of a party that will be... Should be good for a few laughs anyway. I'll try and have a photo of the truck to post here later. Have a relaxing LABOR DAY..

Today is a beautiful day in Massachusetts

We are busy today finishing up the last two drums we are exhibiting at the Art Festival next week. They are beauties.. Amazing 18" rims with all the lovely details Dan is famous for...
Also have to get the last few things for tomorrows BIRTHDAY PARTY, clean the house,and prepare the Lasagna..and birthday cake... THEN I hope to be able to sit back and relax a bit. It has been a very busy week here in Agawam...But it's going to get busier. Now the house will begin its FALL and winter season with lots of use which means more cleaning and set ups for us.. BUT it keeps us going! Next year with luck we will be harvesting our garden and preparing for winter in a whole new way...