February Fiddle Frolic - Fundraiser for Children's Wish Foundation - 23 Feb 2013

For a great afternoon of fiddle, stepdance and song, come to February Fiddle Frolic this Saturday Feb 23rd from 2 to 4 p.m. at All Saints Westboro 347 Richmond Road.

The event is to raise money for the Children's Wish Foundation.

Triple Trouble, Gail Gavan, Kyle Felhaver , Kyle Burghout and other local singers will be sure to entertain.

Tickets at the door: Adults $10 Children $5

Celebration of Rideau Canal Workers Designation - 14 March 2013

Co-sponsored by Irish Society of National Capital Region and Ottawa and District Labour Council, join Kevin and friends for a night of poetry, songs about the Rideau Canal workers, speeches by dignitaries. Music with Kevin Dooley and Friends. All welcome!

Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 pm
Location: Kildare Room at St. Brigid's Centre
310 St. Patrick Street at Cumberland Street

More Information: communications@irishsocietyncr.com or 613-591-9194

Many thanks
Kevin Dooley
Canal Workers Commemorative Group


Related links:

http://www.rideauheritageroute.ca/en/aboutrideau/monumentsplaques.asp

http://www.irishsocietyncr.com/eventsUpcoming.html

Ar n-Oran Choir - in need of new members!

Comunn Gàidhlig Ottawa's internationally acclaimed Ar n-Òran Gaelic choir is issuing a call for new members immediately.

Ar n-Òran is a dynamic choir that sings traditional and contemporary tunes in Scottish Gaelic. In other words we like to embrace the past, put our own spin on tunes, as well as performing popular and original tunes.

What's involved:
* Practice every Wednesday evening in Bells Corners (West end of Ottawa, Ontario)
* NO previous knowledge of Gaelic is required. Pronounciation and tutoring will be provided.
* Previous choir experience is an asset but most important is a love of expressing yourself through group and possibly solo singing.
* Willingness to participate at fund-raising events to help support choir activities/travel
* Music/Lyrics/Pronounciation will be provided
* available to perform at six key events throughout the year, notably:

National Tartan Day on Parliament Hill (Sunday, April 7th, Ottawa ON),
An Ceol Earraidh (May, Ottawa, ON),
Mòd Chanada (June 7-9 Ottawa, ON),
Irish Oireachtas (28-30 June, Tamworth, ON),
US National Mòd (Sept, Ligonier, Pennsylvania),
Scotland Tonight (November 16th, Ottawa, ON),
Royal National Mòd (10-18 October 2014, Inverness, Scotland)

We are looking for all section parts, with a particular requirement at least two:
Basses
Tenors
Altos
Sopranos.

For more information, call or email either:
Fiona McDonald elessadil@msn.com 613-422-2997
or
Randy Waugh cogsci@rogers.com 613-286-1003

La Gaeilge - Saturday 9 March 2013

Learn Irish! Caint agus Comhra, under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Ottawa branch, invites you to a day of learning the Irish Language, just in time for St. Patrick's day.

Learn a few words, brush up existing ones, and have a little fun doing so.

Everyone welcome.

Our teachers are friendly and came from as far afield as Ireland, Montreal ,and Ottawa.University teachers all!

Blessed Sacrement Hall. March 9th. 8:00 till 4:00pm
Blessed Scarament is located at 194 Fourth Avenue in the Glebe, Ottawa.

Cost, $25. Which includes lunch and snacks.

Bring your willingness to learn and your sense of fun.

More information, toni144@gmail.com

Bob Haughian Band Making Music for Almonte Civitan Club - 'Relay for Life' - 9 Feb 2013

Live show and fund raiser – Saturday February 9th

Ottawa-valley musician Bob Haughian and his band have teamed up with the Almonte Civitan Club for an evening of fun and music benefiting the 'Relay for Life', 8PM Saturday, February 9th at JR's Downstairs Club, 385 Ottawa Street, Almonte.

Singer, songwriter Bob Haughian is gaining recognition in the international (and local!) folk/celtic music world. He defies any easy pigeonhole. By turns, he picks a mountain banjo to accompany a country ballad, sings a witty song about modern relationships, plucks a sweet Irish melody on guitar, swings a hot Maritime rock number, and then reaches deep for a soulful expression of values in a troubled Aboriginal world. He tops it all with a country fiddle tune -- all skillfully blended into a seamless flow. One fan said "Its music from the heart that hits you right between the eyes."

The recent release of Bob's second album – 'Home' follows regular airplay of his first album across Canada and the USA. This second release from the Ottawa Valley singer/songwriter continues with an eclectic blend of rocking Celtic-country with a twist of folk, jazz, and bluegrass. Soul-searching lyrics supported by gripping melodies define Bob's style. "Celtic, Country, Folk with a twist of Canadian ruggedness, make Bob's music a great blend of enjoyment that my listeners enjoy on a regular basis" says Dave Wertman of 'Celtic Dew', WSLR Radio, Sarasota, Florida.

Tom Franks of FolkWords magazine in England says "...expansive Celtic-influenced country-folk-rock fusion with a soupcon of jazzy-blues added for good measure. If you like folk with a distinct rocky edge added to a miscellany of influences then this is for you. Me, I loved it."

The members of Bob Haughian's band are comprised of an elite and versatile group of Ottawa Valley musicians with varied roots in folk, rock, jazz, classical and world music. They paint exciting musical canvasses with fiddle, accordion, percussion, keyboard, harmonica and, of course some rocking, country-celtic guitars. The band includes Doug Slone (keyboards, accordion, fiddle and crazy-bong), Ardi Balca (bass and buffalo drum), Mark Nyvlt (guitars and banjo), Robert Libbey (guitar, harmonica and turtle shell rattles), Cyndi Kennedy (vocals, percussion and native chants) and Darrell Medaglia (drums and train whistle). Further bios available at http://www.bobhaughian.com

About the Almonte Civitan Club and 'Relay for Life'
Serving the community of Almonte since 1972, the Almonte Civitan Club is dedicated to improving the Mississippi Mills area by helping others. Civitan members are involved in a variety of service projects to help the community. With a variety of fund-raising projects, they are able to contribute monetary donations to those individuals, groups, events and projects requiring help.

Relay for Life is the national, signature event of the Canadian Cancer Society. It is a 12-hour, overnight, non-competitive event that involves teams of ten people who take turns walking, running or strolling around a track. It truly is a moving event and one you cannot miss out on!

The fun starts at about 8pm at JR's 'Downstairs Pub' in Carleton Place, 385 Ottawa Street, Almonte. Come early and enjoy some great grub at JR's.
Opening act: Shane Ryan Roberts

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Bob Haughian Band Website: http://www.bobhaughian.com

SHOW: JR's Restaurant – 'Downstairs Pub' fundraiser, Saturday February 9th, 8PM., 385 Ottawa Street, Almonte. Contact JR's for reservations (613) 256-2035. $5 cover. Proceeds to "Relay for Life".

Media Contact: Bob Haughian 613-864-4039 bobhaughianband@rogers.com

Album Availability:
'Home' is available on iTunes, CD Monkey, and locally at All three CD Warehouse locations and at the show.

Celtic Wall Hanging raffle for Ar-nÒran

From Ellen MacIsaac, founder and director of the Ottawa Celtic Choir...

Our sister choir, Ar-nÒran, are raising money to travel this summer to compete in the Royal National Mòd in Scotland. They are holding a raffle for a lovely Celtic wall hanging. Tickets are 1 for $4 or 3 for $10 and can be had by contacting commungaidhligottawa@rogers.com

There's a photo of the wall-hanging posted on their website.

If you could please spread the word in your various circles, they would very much appreciate it.

I should also note, Ar-nÒran will be performing with the Ottawa Celtic Choir on March 24th at St. Luke's Anglican Church on Somerset. It should be good fun!

Thanks,
Ellen

BOOK: The Road From Castlebarnagh, by Paddy O'Brien

A note from local musician Frank Cassidy...

Paddy O Brien has recently published a book on growing up and plying traditional music in Ireland which is being very well reviewed and is available on Amazon.ca. The book is called The Road From Castlebarnagh, great stories and references to many of the great players etc. Highly recommended.

The official book description reads:

The Road from Castlebarnagh covers the many adventures of Paddy O'Brien, Irish traditional musician, composer and collector, as a boy growing up more than half a century ago in the midlands of Ireland. Paddy grew up in a small thatched house without running water or electricity, near the town of Daingean in County Offaly. It was a time when the social life of the Irish countryside often took place around the fireplace, where stories were told and music was played. In his book he writes of the many colourful characters who shaped his perception of Irish life and culture. Showing Paddy's flair for storytelling, The Road from Castlebarnagh is the story of how a young musician absorbed his surroundings while developing his own distinctive musical style.

(thanks for the tip, Frank!)