I do love me some Celtic and Celtic rock music!

[Michael Weatherhead]

I love it so much, that I've downloaded over 1,700 tunes, on my Spotify playlist. For those with Spotify, i call it "Mike's Mega Celtic Mix." Check it out. Also, I live in Southeastern AZ. Many of us have Scottish/Irish ancestors, buy they celebrate Cinco de Mayo here, NOT St. Paddy's day, or Burn's supper. I have petitioned the manager of our local center for the arts, to bring in some groups/performers of the celtic persuasion. He admitted that he's afraid to try it...doesn't know how it would go over. Has anyone out there had performances by these musicians (besides renaissance fairs, etc), and if so, was there good support, in non-celtic parts of our country?

Also, I'm s cub scout leader. Each July, we have a huge parade, bbq, entertainment, fireworks, to commemorate the pioneers entering the Salt Lake valley (on July 24th 1847). Anyway, I would love to have a pipe band, or even a piper or two, come march with our cub and boy scouts, in our local parade (I live in Safford Arizona, not far from Tucson). Any pipers out there, who would be willing to help with this, please contact me. We have several flags we could fly. US, Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout troop, Saltire, Rampant Lion, Erin-go-Bragh, and an Ireland flag, could all be carried by us, with piper/pipers, in the parade. (Of course, I would wear my kilt, etc with my scout shirt). Thanks.

[WalesLax]

I couldn't find your mix. I am always looking for Celtic music beyond just the traditional. That said, I generally run to operas or pipe music, so your mix could be a great option for me.

Any my help finding it would be great!

Rob

[Roadkill]

I looked as well. We might have to be Facebook friends to share it.

I too love Rock music with Celtic influences. Dropkick Murphys are one of my favorites. Black Tartan Clan, Fiddler's Green, Real McKenzies, Re Hot hili Pipers, are great.

Off Kilter used to play at Epcot at Walt Disney World and they are a lot of fun. Last time I checked they were not on Spotify though.

[Michael Weatherhead]

That's a shame, about the music. I've found it before, on my daughter's computer (she doesn't live at home, has her own computer, and spotify account). Anyway, I never knew there was so much good celtic-imfluenced music out there. What is frustrating about Spotify, sometimes, is that I'll download music, by a certain group. Then, when I look again, it's gone...Spotify has taken it from me, for no apparent reason. This happened with two groups, off the top of my head.. One is the Rovers. Another is the Lions Rampant. Celtic rock groups. Also, I once had every album from Highlander Celtic Rock Band (from Australia). Now, only one of their albums shows up. Same with the Fighting Jamesons. Also, for a long time, you couldn't get anything from the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Beatles (still can't get them). The only way to find Beatles music on spotify, is to look up the individuals. Paul McCartney, for example. You can get a whole bunch of his, and Wings' music (nicluding Mull of Kintyre). But, only a couple of lesser-known Beatles tunes.

I hope you can find my playlist. I've spent HOURS, downloading it. I think it's a great mix. My wife, who could care less about this music, even plays it at work, on St. Patricks day. Anyway, good luck.

[Taskr]

Great Big Sea. Natalie MacMaster. Rankin Family. Ashley MacIssac

[Michael Weatherhead]

By the way, Roadkill, I have all those groups you mentioned (Fiddlers Green, Dropkick Murphys, Black Tartan Clan etc), AND so many more. I have over 1700 tunes. Many are newer, clean sounding traditional. Many of the rock variety.. I typically don't have much older stuff (Clancy bros, Tommy Makem, etc). No disrespect to them. I do have the Chieftains, however, performing songs with the Rolling Stones, Roger Daltry (the Who), and Ricky Skaggs, and on their own. But so many newer groups do such a nice job with the music, and the recordings are clean and crisp. And I really enjoy the fusion of rock (what I grew up with), and Celtic (spent two years in Scotland). I think they go together nicely.

[Michael Weatherhead]

I keep remembering things. I actually knew Scottish singer Dennis Clancy. I visited his home, and those of his sons, many times. They lived in Dundee. He, and his family and I were members of the same church. When he passed away, there was standing room only, in the church, with people outside, who couldn't fit inside. There were famous people, from all over Britain, in attendance. He was a good, humble, kind man. His sons were very musically gifted. One was a professor of music, at the local University. The other played many instruments, and at the time, performed with a local rock band.

[MinusHD]

You may be interested in The Killdares from Dallas and Blaggards from Houston.

Also, while maybe not squarely in the "Celtic Rock" vein, Foy Vance is from Northern Ireland, sounds great, I believe his songwriting is exceptional for modern music. He has a blues tune that has been covered by Ed Sheeran and was featured on the series finale of Sons of Anarchy, the motorcycle/action/drama television show. So again, not necessarily "Celtic" music, but you can hear Celtic influences in much of his writing.

[Michael Weatherhead]

Yup, I like the Killdares, and Blaggards, too. Theyre on my playlist. If there's a celtic rock group out there, that I don't have, it's only because they're not on Spotify, or the internet (that pretty much covers it). Just found Foy Vance, on Spotify. Gonna check him out. I'm gonna keep after our local fine arts center, and push to get some groups here, for a performance. I've also contacted all the Arizona bagpipe bands I can find, to see if they'd be willing to walk/play in our big annual pioneer day parade, in July. I've only heard back from one, so far (Mesa Caledonian). I'll keep trying. SW Arizona needs a good dose our OUR ancestor's culture.

[Michael Weatherhead]

Sorry, I meant SE Arizona, NOT SW Arizona.