Want to help promote my music? Or just want free Celtic MP3s? Comedy MP3s? Well, this is a great way to get free Celtic music AND promote my music.

MP3 Postcards is a service that allows you to download free MP3s and forward those songs to your friends so they can listen and tell their friends. We have several of these posted. Give a listen and send a postcard to your friends.

Cat MP3 Postcards from Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats

• "Wild Kitty"
• "Furagone's Wake"
• "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling", or
  
  
• Win a free copy of "Whiskers in the Jar" when you send "What Shall We Do With a Catnipped Kitty"
  

MP3 Postcards from the Brobdingnagian Bards:

• "Jedi Drinking Song"
• "Angel's Lament"
• "Lily the Pink"
  

I was back in the studio tonight for the Cat CD. This time, Cedric of the Bedlam Bards joined me to lay a couple fiddle tracks. We mixed down two songs "Molly Malone" and "Danny Boy". You can hear the updated "Danny Boy" on yesterday's post.

Saturday, back in the studio with my sister. I also hope to get a final mix of "Catnipped Kitty".

Molly Malone, Cat's Perspective/Planxty Hewlett

Don't forget to adopt the new cat CD. Because you can help alleviate the up front expense. Oy! It's pretty gonna be pretty heavy.

But hey, you will be the envy of ALL your friends AND get advanced copies before Anyone else! Can't turn that down, can ye? :)

Oh! And if ye wanna see some of this music live, demand it.

Well, here they are two rough cuts I recorded today for my upcoming Cat CD. I couldn't get a rough mix for "Molly Malone", but it sounds beautiful!

What Shall We Do With a Catnipped Kitty

Danny Boy

Let me know whatcha think?

My new song is now named. I had a tough time coming up with the name for this tune. The final name is "Of Twilight Shores and Heroes' Death".

Thank you for listening and voting for your favorite name. Give it another listen and I hope you enjoy it. I was excited it also climbed to #4 on the World Music charts of SoundClick too! Rockin!!!

Coming soon to the Renaissance Festival Podcast and the Ren Fest Podcast CD.

Posted on SoundClick.

Every week, I give away free music through my MarcSongs Podcast. You can download music to your heart's content. But today, I want to highlight Three Celtic MP3s from a few different CDs.

"Patriot Game"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Marc Gunn
From: Irish Drinking Songs: A Cat Lover's Companion
Read Lyrics: "Patriot Game" Lyrics

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
Donation: Make a Donation


"Star of the County Down"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Marc Gunn
From: A Tribute to Love
Read Lyrics: "Star of the County Down" Lyrics

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
Donation: Make a Donation


"The Foggy Dew"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Irish Stout
From:A Collection of Irish Pub Songs
Read Lyrics: "The Foggy Dew" Lyrics

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
Donation: Make a Donation

You can find more of my Celtic songs here.

I've been messing more and more with Soundclick. Yesterday, I compiled ALL of our songs in one station on SoundClick. So if you want a nice mix of music by me and the Brobdingnagian Bards, then give it a listen. There's enough here to keep you busy ALL DAY on Friday and then some!

Course if you like any of it and want to support the us, you can always buy our music.

Now playing: marcgunn's station - MarcSongs

Captain Black Jack Murphy posted a PSA for Talk Like A Pirate Day which celebrates it's annual event tomorrow, September 19th. Remember to celebrate by talking like a pirate. And listen to lots o'great piratey music like Tom Smith's anthem, "Talk Like A Pirate Day", Ceann's hit "The Worst Pirate Song", and anything from The Shantyman, The Pirates Royale, The Jolly Rogers, Pirate Comedy Show, Irish Stout, or you can just listen to past shows of the Renaissance Festival Podcast.

Download these great pirate podcasts from the Renaissance Festival Podcast:

Renaissance Festival Podcast #60, Sept 23-24, 2006
Talk Like A Pirate Day. Music from The Jolly Rogers, The Pyrates Royale, Gypsophilia, The Gutterpups, Pirate Shantyman and Bonnie Lass, Craig of Farrington, Moch Pryderi, Marooned, and Black Jack Murphy.

Renaissance Festival Podcast #53, Pirate Music and Feature on Pirates of the Caribbean: Deadman's Chest
Music from The Shantyman, The Jolly Rogers, Pirate Comedy Show, Bounding Main, Dogs in Doublets, Bedlam Bards, Flying Fish Sailors, Marooned, Mallory and McCall, The Bilge Pumps, Brobdingnagian Bards, Pandora Celtica, The Pyrates Royale, Axel the Sot, Rillian and the Doxie Chicks, Jim Hancock.

Renaissance Festival Podcast, The Pirate Show #3
Music from Crimson Pirates, The Corsairs, Pyrates Royale, and Poxy Boggards

Renaissance Festival Podcast, The Pirate Show #2
Music from Pyrates Royale, Crimson Pirates, The Corsairs, The Bilge Pumps, The Jolly Rogers, and The Shantyman

Renaissance Festival Podcast, The Pirate Show #1
Music from The Corsairs, Pyrates Royale, The Jolly Rogers, and The Poxy Boggards

While in the final stages of recording A Tribute to Love, I realized there was something missing--a wedding song.

I've never been married, but my band, the Brobdingnagian Bards, have performed at a number of weddings. One of our most popular wedding instrumentals is "Maids in the Meadow". It's from our popular wedding CD, A Celtic Renaissance Wedding. That song and a romantic interest of mine inspired this lovely wedding song. Because marriage should be done for love. And love comes from the heart.

"Marry for the Heart"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Marc Gunn
From: A Tribute to Love

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
Donation: Make a Donation
Subscribe: http://www.pubsong.com/PubSongsPodcast.rss

Listen: LoFi | Download | Email It | Chords | Donate
From: A Tribute to Love

words and music traditional

Near to Banbridge Town, in the County Down
One morning last July,
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen,
And she smiled as she passed me by;
Well, she looked so sweet from her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair;
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
To make sure I was really there.

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
And from Galway to Dublin town,
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I shook my head
And I looked with a feeling rare.
Then I said, says I, to a passer-by,
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
Well, he smiled at me, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of old Ireland's crown,
She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the Star of the County Down."

Well I've traveled a bit, but ne'er was hit
Since my roving career began;
Then fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I see in shawl or gown,
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the Star of the County Down.

At the harvest fair, I'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright, and my hat cocked right
For a smile from my nut-brown Rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, and no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust my plow turns brown,
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the Star of the County Down.

*from the Irish Songs Lyrics website*

One of my friends is having her birthday tomorrow. So I decided to go look up a couple o'birthday songs. One... is a messed up. To be nice. My friend Jack Murphy plans to record it for his next CD. And it's REALLY messed up....

But for those celebrating your birthdays, here's a short, clean version that I recorded:

Although I'm just now doing the CD Release for Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion, I am already working on my next CD, A Tribute to Love. The album is nearly complete. There are a few tweaks I want to make, but right now, you can listen and enjoy the album for free, right here.

Now playing: marcgunn's station - Marc Gunn - A Tribute to Love

Let me know what your favorite songs are on the album. Don't forge to Order your Copy the album.

While I may not be getting many podcasts and such done, I sure am recording a lot of music. Sunday, I was inspired to write a song and after watching Stardust I came up with the name Stardust Serenade".

It is a song based on the idea of seeking love across a wall and finding it in an unexpected fallen star. The three-song single is now on-sale in my music store.

Recently, I've been spending time at SoundClick.com. This is the website where we sell digital downloads of our music in a nice DRM-free manner. It was the replacement to MP3.com, and it seems to be growing as such. When I first found them, you could just host music there. But now, now you can buy albums and create your own custom internet radio station.

I put one such station for a new CD I'm working on. I admit it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to create. But it wasn't too difficult either. Though the thing I like best about it is since these stations are managed via SoundClick and the music is all licensed via SoundClick, you don't have to worry about the internet radio atrocities that were created by the music industry and SoundExchange. Just last month, Ren Radio closed due to those problems. And Highlander Radio is fighting to survive as well.

So if you are at work and want to your hear favorite songs by the Brobdingnagian Bards or Marc Gunn, start your own internet radio station and share it with your friends. There's a lot of great music on SoundClick as well. Enough to keep you entertained for weeks.

Do you ever do something that you kinda wish you hadn't done?

Worse. Have you ever had a recording of that thing you wish you hadn't done?

Worse still. Have you ever shared that recording of that thing you wish you hadn't done?

Personally, I somehow think that's the most foolish to do. I mean, why would anyone want to publicly humiliate themselves? Yet, for me... Okay, let me back track a moment and explain.

Last month, the Brobdingnagian Bards led a vacation tour of Ireland. It was awesome. Great sites. Great people on the tour. Our coach driver, Liam, said it best, "You're a like most tour groups. You're fun!"

Now me, I'm a podcaster and archivist. I like recording stuff shows I do and sharing them with others. It's what I do. But I also like to drink. And on occasion, I get kinda wild while drinking. So halfway through the tour while we were holed up in Lisdoonvarna, I and 20 friends went to a pub. I sang, drank, sang some more while everyone else sang, drank, and sang-a-long. It was great craic!

Past couple days, I went back and listened to those recordings. Youch! Sure there was some FUN stuff early on in the evening while I was still sober. But that NC-17 version of "Scarborough Faire"...? I don't think that should be heard. Nor should my foul mouth throughout the end of that show. And the "I Need to Pee" song was just, well, bad.

So it raises that interesting dilemna that I'm trying to figure out. Should I accidentally lose *ahem* delete, those files? Or hold on to them with the fear I'll be blackmailed in later years. Or should I go ahead and find the good material and just release that. I'm leaning more towards that. Why soil my mediocre name with material that was questionable at best... not to mention the performance of that last hour just, well, stunk.

I know, I know. Those on the tour are like "I WANT IT!" And those who weren't and read this are saying, "GIVE IT TO ME!" But I just don't know...

I mean, if someone else recorded it and wanted to listen to it at their leisure, that's one thing that doesn't really bother me. But when I have the power to protect my image, a sensible person would say, "Yes! Protect it!" But then when have I ever been sensible?

Anyway, when I finally decide, I'll post those live shows here with my others.

"Soul of a Harper" was a song written by my friend, and fantasy author, Rie Sheridan. She wrote it for me several years ago. I liked the lyrics so much I named my first CD after the song--Soul of a Harper. And then a couple years later, Andrew and I recorded the song for Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales.

A few weeks ago, Andrew and I had finished a show. I wanted to play in a session. So we walked through Lisdoonvarna, Ireland and found the Roadside Tavern. No music was happening that night. So I asked if they would mind if 20+ people came in and sang Irish songs. They were all over it.

So gathered in the back room, and I started playing music. And EVERYONE started singing along. It was a beautiful thing. Then when someone requested "Soul of a Harper", I smiled internally, because I thought of Rie who wrote this song for me. And here I was in Ireland AND a score of people KNOW the LYRICS and were singing HER SONG!

I haven't finished messing with the rest of the music that I recorded that night, but today, I made a quick mix of this song with me and everyone singing along. My vocals weren't in the best shape that night, but it's a beautiful thing to hear.

I hope you enjoy it!
Yes, it's now in my Myspace Profile.

Slainte!
-Marc

Yay! I finished it. Just under the wire too.

Today, I finished recording my newest song called, "She Said Her Name Was Saffron". If you missed the entry, the song was written about Saffron, the beautiful and dangerous woman from Firefly's "Our Mrs. Reynolds". Awesome episode! SerenityStuff.com was holding a contest for a song about Saffron and so I wrote the song while in Ireland and fortunately, sang it enough to remember it after I lost my notebook.

The song is now done. You can listen to the MP3 on SoundClick now.

As I was recording the song last night, I thought that maybe since Firefly is a Space Western, maybe I should sing the song with a country accent. Ultimately, I decided I preferred the more ethereal version with my own voice. But for comparison...

She Said Her Name Was Saffron
Listen: LoFi Original version
Listen: LoFi Country version

Buy It! Three Movie and TV Songs for Geeks Like Me

She Said Her Name Was Saffron
words Marc Gunn, music traditional (tune "May Morning Dew")

I met her on the Outer Rim.
She was a beauty. There's no denial.
We danced around the fire that night.
In the morning, I awoke all smiles.
But when my boat hit atmo,
And she said that we were married.
Twas then I vowed I'd never again
Leave quick when I should tarry.

She said her name was Saffron,
A prize for work done well.
I know we'd done some good works,
But this time we must've excelled.
For her smile it made my legs week
And her breasts they made me weeze
Oh if I was a different man,
Then I'd show her the Real me.

That night I found her in my bunk
Lying naked in my bed.
She gave me the Goodnight Kiss
And I thought that I was dead.
We'd all be but for Inyara...
Oh, I wonder how she knew?
But what I really wish is I could've seen
The kiss between those two.

But that's not the point of this song, right now,
From this lesson I learned too well.
If you take strange women into your bed
You may end up in the Special Hell.
Either pin her down or set her free
Just don't let your plan go South.
If that doesn't work, then follow Jayne's advice,
"Never kiss them on the mouth."

Yesterday, I wrote a new song. I called it "Silhouette of Love" at the time. I wrote it after leaving Zilker Park, here in Austin. I spent a good forty-five minutes practicing in the heat of the day and wanted some traveling music. I started playing a melody.

It was simple, beautiful, and touching. And as I walked I had an image in my mind. And it's funny. Just about everyone who heard the tune recognized what I was not verbalizing. When I started playing, the song was to be called "Pottery Girl", but this is what came out. It was not just a "Silhouette of Love", but a "Silhouette of Longing Love." The song was inspired by an ex with whom I split on poor terms.

As I lay in bed time tonight, I thought it was kind of ironic. Part of the reason for breakup was that I was unable to put her first. I thought too much about me. That's what I find ironic. This song is not about "Pottery Girl", it's about me. It's about my own longing for love and the shadows that linger over it. I guess I still haven't learned.

Well, whatever the reason for the song, I think it is a touching reminder that love comes in all shapes and sizes. It's not always happy and blissful. Sometimes you don't get the girl and ride off into the sunset. Sometimes you're left longing and hoping for that Ever After.

"Silhouette of Longing Love"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Marc Gunn
From: A Tribute to Love

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
Donation: Make a Donation
Subscribe: http://www.pubsong.com/PubSongsPodcast.rss

Visit MP3 Store: Buy Irish MP3s
Want to see Marc Gunn perform?

Released under a Creative Commons Noncommercial ShareAlike License.

I've been in my apartment way too much recently. So today, I made a break for it. I went down to ZIlker Park, brought my autoharp and played music. It was a beautiful warm, sunny day. Families and kids were out in full force, and how I would've loved to go swimming in the Barton Springs Pool, but it's not until July that I have my follow-up Lasik appointment.

I forgot to bring a bottle of water, so after about 45 minutes, I packed up the autoharp, walked along and played. I came up with a lovely melody or rather soundscape on the way to Flipnotics. So when I finally drove home, I recorded it. Now I'm just trying to figure out what effects to put on it. I was thinking of putting it on my A Tribute to Love CD.

I'm tentatively calling it "Silhoutte of Love". Let me know what you think.

Listen here (LoFi)!

Every year for St. Patrick's Day, I compile a new list of St Patrick's Day MP3 downloads that are 100% free and legal. This year, I decided to present them in a new format. This year, all the files are compiled like a gigantic digital compilation CD. I ZIP the files up and you just need to download one file.

And if you were ever wondering what Song Henge is like. Well, now you have a better idea. Every month, I compile MP3 submissions into one of these ZIP files and send it out to hundreds of subscribers. Oh! And remember, at the end of the month, I'm switching to an annual fee. So you still have time to take advantage of the lifetime subscription fee for under twenty dollars.

Download "17 Celtic Music Downloads
for St. Patrick's Day" (73 MB)

(p.s. these MP3s will only be up for a month, so download them soon)

Burn Irish Music with Song Henge
100% Legal Burn Music CDs & MP3s for Free!

17 Free Irish & Celtic Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day

1. "Seven Drunken Nights" by Brobdingnagian Bards
   Scottish and Irish folk songs combined with the Lord of the Rings music and a wee bit o'Celtic fun. The Brobdingnagian Bards are The Original Celtic Renaissance music duo from Austin, Texas. Their unique brand of folk music on the autoharp, recorder, and mandolin has made them one of the most-popular Celtic music groups online where they give away thousands of free Celtic MP3 downloads daily. The Brobdingnagian Bards perform coast-to-coast, and in a given month might be at a Lord of the Rings Oscar Party, a Celtic festival, or a Science Fiction Conventions. However, they are an absolute favorite at Renaissance Faires where they add high-energy and wit to make every show a memorable experience.
   
   Buy CD: "The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs"
   
   


2. "Lord of the Pounce" by Marc Gunn
   This was the fourth release off my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. It parodies "Lord of the Dance" and tells exciting tail of how cats were there since the beginning.
   
   Cats. Irish music. Drinking songs. Nowhere else but from the bright imagination of Marc Gunn would those three elements be so neatly integrated. Yet Gunn, sometimes called "the hardest working man in Celtic music" around his hometown in Austin, is an accomplished musician and entrepreneur who not long ago headlined at the Oscar party for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
   
   Buy CD: "Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers"
   
   


3. "The Polka Set" by Wild Clover Band
   Don't let the fact that The Wild Clover Band is based in Nebraska throw you from the fact that they play amazing music. Their CD was an instant favorite of mine when I got it last year. That was one of the reasons I decided to include them as the first track on my newly released Victims of Irish Music compilation CD.
   
   Because of this fusion of styles, The Wild Clover Band advertises themselves as "Irish Music and More." Playing in a local pub, the group began primarily as an instrumental group focusing on Irish and American fiddle tunes. They have now evolved into a group that specializes in Irish dance tunes, pub songs, and ballads and has played festivals, community concerts, pubs, and private functions throughout the state of Nebraska, as well as Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota.
   
   Buy CD: "Behind the Blarney"
   
   


4. "Princess Royale" by Thomas "Doc" Grauzer
   "Doc" Grauzer is a harper and storyteller in the Irish tradition. He is fascinated with the traditional harp music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. When performing live he throws in historical background, folklore or weird stories between the tunes.
   
   I first met Doc performing at Mother's Cafe in Austin where he has played three times a week for eight years! The sad tragedy is that Mother's recently had a fire. So for the first time in eight years there is no harp music there. So please help out an amazing Irish harper. Pick up a copy of this beautiful CD.
   
   Buy CD: "Infernal Harp Racket"
   
   


5. "Rakes of Mallow" from Men of Thunda
   Thundaing out of Kentucky, this group takes two of the earliest instruments known to man--the drums and the bagpipes--and pays tribute to an ancient form of Celtic musical entertainment.
   
   What makes Men of Thunda different from military pipe bands is that Men of Thunda is strictly a band of entertainers. They do not enter in competitions. What they do, however, is strive to bring fun to their audience through their music, composed of spirited renditions of traditional Highland bagpipe melodies accompanied by tribal drumbeats.
   It is a raucous good time for anyone who loves the pipes.
   
   


6. "Elevator" from Booze Brothers
   What emerges when you mix Irish music with punk rock? Shaken or stirred, the result is The Booze Brothers. Their sound is unlike other Celtic punk bands: more traditional than Flogging Molly and more rock than the Young Dubliners. Having heard a lot of Celtic rock groups, I always look for something exceptional and different. This band fits the bill!
   
   Buy CD: "Elevator"
   
   


7. "Alice's Reels " from The Tea Merchants
   The Tea Merchants were formed a few years ago by Chris, Charlie, and Rob as a method by which to procure grocery money and a free evening tab at the bar. They are my favorite band to watch here in Austin. And this year, they were honored as the second Celtic band in Austin (after the Brobdingnagian Bards) to win an Austin Music Award. In a town touted as the Live Music Capitol of the World, that is no easy task. A BIG congrats to these brilliant musicians and for the release of their brand new CD.
   
   Buy CD: "One Lump Or Two?" (coming soon)
   
   


8. "Scottish Ballade" by Christiane Cargill
   I always appreciate bands who go for an "intimate" sound. When I saw that description on Christiane's site, I had to explore further. An accomplished and agile pianist with a gift for melodies and a fluid, soulful voice, she begged to take piano and organ lessons at the tender age of 3, while her legs were still too short to reach the pedals. Later, she was classically trained only to be drawn to the music of Ireland and Scotland, with a gorgeous result.
   
   Buy CD: "Metamorphosis" (coming soon)
   
   


9. "The Skylark" from Culann's Hounds
   I'm always looking for larger than life music for my magazine and podcast. Culann's House is one of those bands. And the name is fitting to as they were named after one of the great warriors of Irish legend. They're masters of the San Francisco Celtic scene and while they describe their style as a punk-Irish-hoedown. The music goes way beyond that with a solid traditional sound that connects with the listener like most music doesn't.
   
   Buy CD: "The Year of the Dog"
   
   


10. "Bonnie Ship the Diamond" by Irish Stout
    This duo combines the Irish with piratey raucous Irish songs straight from the pub. They're taking the internet by storm with their free podcast, called Your Weekly Irish Stout, featuring free Irish songs every week. So go out and pirate their music. This entry sponsored by the letter Rrrrrr!
    
    Buy CD: A Collection of Irish Pub Songs
    
    


11. "The Willows/Three Ashes" from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer
    Since the days when Muckle Flugga tore up the charts on MP3.com, I've been a fan of this talented Celtic duo. Currently taking the folk world by storm, Vicki is one of the best pipers in the business, able to seamlessly veer from soulful airs to driving, up-tempo tunes to set every foot tapping, and this is all aided by Jonny's brilliantly inventive, subtle yet strong guitar work.
    
    Although best-known for their instrumental skills, the duo have also added a healthy number of songs to their act, and have rightly established themselves as one of the best young duos around on the folk scene today!
    
    Buy CD: "Scatter Pipes"
    
    


12. "Maid on the Shore" from Ceili Moss
    Ceili Moss can be best described as "acoustic folk-rock with a Celtic-Pan-European edge that is not afraid of coloring a bit outside of the lines..." But if a band's description doesn't reel you in, then perhaps a personal testimony. I've been hearing people rave about this band for years. Sadly, it's only now that I actually found time to listen. And wow! Beautiful arrangements. I'll be listening to more of them in the future.
    
    Buy CD: "On the Shore"
    
    


13. "Madam I'm A Darlin'" by Queen's Gambit
    Based out of Oklahoma, Queen's Gambit not only performs in costume and in character, but also plays Celtic traditional folk music with a side of Renaissance Dance. Their style is appealing to people of all ages, and their on-site banter that flows during performances really brings their performances to life. But for me, it's a joy to see this fun band grow musically as they have done since I first met them many long years ago.
    
    Buy CD: "Off the Board"
    
    


14. "Mrs. McGrath" by HOMELAND
    Since 1999, HOMELAND has been rockin' the stage with their own style of music that is a conglomeration of new rock and old Celtic style, creating some "tricked out traditional" tunes since their origination. HOMELAND is one of those bands that will keep you on your feet, and keep your toes tappping.
    
    Buy CD: "We Never Got This Far Alone"
    
    


15. "Time Ticks Away" by Jigger
    Take a rowdy mandolin and guitar player who doesn't like sleeves on any of his shirts, combine that with a singer-songwriter obsessed with the themes of time, love, boats and drinking; slot in a wailing fiddle player who can't stay still; then add three part harmonies, a dash of larrikin humour and you get Jigger--an energetic three-piece who play spirited acoustic music. The music is lively with a hint of bluegrass and cool groove.
    
    Buy CD: "Time Ticks Away" EP
    
    


16. "Downtown Baghdad Blues" by Black 47
    They are a band that is best described as an unblinkingly political and thoroughly Irish form of rock 'n roll. Their songs cover a range of topics from the Northern Ireland conflict to civil rights and unrest in contemporary New York. But what sets the band apart is that their music can be humorous, informative and always rockin'. They are by far one of my favorite Celtic bands of all time!
    
    Buy CD: "Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes"
    
    


17. "Ar Sorserez (La Sorciere)/Muneira" by Rowan
    Rowan's music not only takes the listener through a spiritual journey through time, but also transcends genres. From the 17th Century English Faire to an 18th Century Jacobite uprising to the American Civil War to the 20th Century Belfast, their music calls forth what human beings share down through the ages and across borders. With a balanced mix of ballads and jigs, this band's music reflects their roots in the deep spiritual resonance of the Celtic lands, they acknowledge, praise, and validate all folk music from all lands in all periods. It will take you on a journey through time and leave you wanting more.
    
    Buy CD: "Tales Through Time"
    
    
    And just because I got carried away, here's one more bonus MP3...
    
    
18. "Lark in the Morning" by Maidens IV
    With the heartbeat of the bodhran, the spirit of the violin and viola, and the soft tunings of the guitar, Maidens IV is bringing a youthful vigor and class to Celtic and Folk sounds. These four sisters, Havilah, Heather, Abigail and Tabitha Justice have been performing classical and baroque music wih their nine siblings. With a new sound of their own, they formed Maidens IV, bringing a new sound and genre to the mix as they stoke the fire of the Celtic and Folk scene. I always loved this song and they execute it beautifully!
    
    Buy CD: "Four Aflame"
    

Well, I hope you have a brilliant St. Patrick's Day. Drink responsibly and Slainte!

Oh! And don't forget some of these MP3s are time sensitive. They are exclusive to this magazine for ONE MONTH ONLY!

---

Marc Gunn is an Irish and Scottish folk singer with a strange affinity for Celtic ballads, drinking songs and cats. He is the lead singer for the Brobdingnagian Bards. He is also Celtic music podcaster and promoters as well as publisher of Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.

Reposted from the Celtic MP3s Music Magazines St. Patrick's Day Music Article.

I was digging through a bunch of recordings I made while I was in Virginia over Christmas. I listened to one that I called "The Hobbit Journey Home" and WOW! It is breath-taking! My mom started talking right when the song ended, but I think I was able to edit that out.

The song definitely seems to capture that journey quality of tragic heroes. I'm really pleased with the final recording.

"The Hobbit Journey Home"
Listen: LoFi
Recorded by Marc Gunn
From: A Tribute to Love

Download MP3: 128 kbps
Buy MP3 for 99¢: 192 kbps
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I decided this song would make a nice addition to my CD A Tribute to LOVE!--love of home. Especially since at present, we have no plans of recording another Lord of the Rings CD. I mean, yes, I still would love to do a Hobbit Drinking Songs album. But I haven't made any more plans than that. And I still need to my hobbit birthday song on a CD. I mean I already have a website saying celebrating Bilbo's birthday and song! So why not add it to a CD. Hmm...

I am loving the studio right now. Andrew and I had SUCH a productive day working on "Ye Jacobites By Name". He also sent me a mix of the Robert Burns song, "Green Grow the Rashes". It is from our upcoming CD, Real Men Wear Kilts.

Hope ye like!

Listen: "Green Grow the Rashes"

Green Grow the Rashes Lyrics
by Robert Burns

There's nought but care on ev'ry han',
In ev'ry hour that passes, O;
What signifies the life o' man,
An' 'twere na for the lasses, O.

Green grow the rashes, O;
Green grow the rashes, O;
The sweetest hours that e'er I spend,
Are spent amang the lasses, O.

The warly race may riches chase,
An' riches still may fly them, O;
An' tho' at last they catch them fast,
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O.

But gie me a canny hour at e'en,
My arms about my Dearie, O;
An' warly cares an' warly men,
May a' gae tapsalteerie, O!

For you sae douse, ye sneer at this,
Ye're nought but senseless asses, O;
The wisest Man the warl' e'er saw,
He dearly lov'd the lasses, O.

Auld Nature swears, the lovely Dears
Her noblest work she classes, O;
Her prentice han' she try'd on man,
An' then she made the lasses, O.

A few Scots translations: warly: worldly, canny: quiet, tapsalteerie: topsy-turvy, douce: respectable

I started learning "Heart and Soul" on the autoharp. And since it wasn't until college that I realized there were lyrics to the tune, I've always been enamoried with the idea of learning the vocal version so I am. But as I practiced and everytime I sang it, I could hear the voice of Jimmy Durante. And my imitation wasn't too bad. So I've spent the last couple o'days trying to capture me singing like Jimmy Durante singing "Heart and Soul" on the autoharp.

The toughest part is the playing the solo on the autoharp. I have a good recording of me sounding like him, but the solo isn't quite there. So if I can get it soon, I'm gonna stick with the performance I have which sounds pretty cool. Not quite there, but pretty decent.

It's kinda funny imitating people. I'm not really good at imitating people themselves. But I'm good at imitating imitators.

For instance, Jimmy Durante. I had no idea who he was until yesterday. But I've known his voice all my life. Ralph the Mouth from Happy Days used to do his "Ha cha cha". Spike from Tom and Jerry used his voice, as did Doggie Daddie from Hanna-Barbera. And he was the narrator in the Rankin-Bass animated TV special, Frosty the Snowman.

You also may've heard his version of "Time Goes By" and "Make Someone Happy" from the movie Sleepless in Seattle. And "You Made Me Love You" from You've Got Mail. Seems like there's another Meg Ryan movie that had Jimmy Durante singing too, but I can't remember what.

Anyway, when I get a final recording, I'll play it on my Pub Songs Podcast.

In the summer of 2001, the Brobdingnagian Bards were doing fairly well on the Celtic MP3 charts on the late great MP3.com. That summer, I started the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine, a weekly electronic newsletter dedicated to promoting Celtic music.

Visit the
Celtic MP3s Music Magazine

Actually, the magazine was a blatent attempt to promote the Brobdingnagian Bards. But as I started publishing the magazine, I recognized more and more great Celtic music groups. I made some friends. Eventually, I changed the format from a newsletter to shamelessly plug my band into a valuable service for the Celtic community, the ONLY ezine for Celtic music.

In fact, it is still the only ezine dedicated to Celtic music. There are occasional ones who try to sell you music, but I realized that Free Celtic MP3s were a brilliant way to sell CDs. So instead of teasing people with clips, give them music they can listen to over and over again. Bands will build fans and sell CDs. And you know what? It works!

The Celtic MP3s Music Magazine has evolved over the years due to time constraints with the Brobdingnagian Bards. The magazine is now released once a month, however, it features more than the two downloads that were in the earlier version of the magazine.

Thanks the magazine, I've also developed Song Henge, the online archive of free and legal Celtic music downloads from past MP3 features. The project continues to grow with amazing success.

If you enjoy Celtic music, drop by the website and subscribe.

Slainte!

Last night, there was a brilliant Texas thunderstorm. The Texas rain poured down. The sounds of water splashing on my porch and pouring off the roof were just too much. I had to record it using my new MP3 recorder. The Edirol Portable MP3 Recorder is great for capturing the full magnitude of the falling rain. So I came away with a great MP3 recording of the Texas thunderstorm and rain.

Download: Texas Thunderstorm MP3

Listen, download, and enjoy!

One of my latest promotional ideas is recording Station IDs for podcasts who play us via the Podsafe Music Network.

In today's batch, I had a podcaster from Greece. The problem is the show, VryPannet Radio, is in Greece. Sure he's playing us singing in English, but what good is an English version of "Hi. This is Marc Gunn of the..." So I asked him how to say it in Greek.

I just hope I didn't say anything bad. ;)

So wanna hear? :)

Listen Now!

Every year for St. Patrick's Day, I compile a new list of St Patrick's Day MP3 downloads that are 100% free and legal. That is, afterall, what the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine is all about. Though I may run out of time for publishing the magazine on a regular schedule, this is one thing I think is fun to do. So here it is once again.

17 Free Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day

1. "Jedi Drinking Song" by Brobdingnagian Bards
   Everyone loves a good drinking song, right? Well, here's one that every Irish person or geek can get behind.
   
   The Brobdingnagian Bards are The Original Celtic Renaissance. They combine traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs with Lord of the Rings music, original songs, and filk for an eclectic mix that is as at home in an Irish pub as it is in a gathering of Irish Americans. They were called "The Godfathers of Celtic MP3s" with good reason--over six million of their MP3s have been downloaded making them one of the most-popular Celtic groups online.
   
   Buy CD: Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales
   
   
2. "The Holy Ground" by Marc Gunn
   Sure, I thought about featuring "Wild Kitty" or "Furagone's Wake" from my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD, but I sooo wanted to feature the "Jedi Drinking Song" from my band and I thought at least one Irish song to start off was a good idea.
   
   The song was recorded for my Irish Song Lyrics website. I am slowly trying to record more and more songs with The Bards and solo to have a site where people can go to learn Irish songs like I learn them, by ear.
   
   Buy CD: Irish Whiskey Pub Songs
   
   
3. "Foggy Dew" by Boston Blackthorne
   Boston Blackthorne is a group that is rooted in the Irish ballad tradition of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem with contemporary twists and original arrangements. They feature lush three-part harmonies and original songs. Blackthorn's repertoire also includes classic instrumental jigs and reels played on fiddle, bouzouki, tenor and 5 string banjo, 6 and 12 string guitars, electric bass and bodhran.
   
   Buy CD: Better Late Than Never
   
   
4. "Molly Malone" by Paddyrasta
   Paddyrasta are a multi-cultural celtic-reggae band fusing traditional and contemporary celtic tunes with a distinctly rootsy Jamaican reggae groove.The band have built up a huge following in their adopted home of Aberdeen, Scotland and have just released their debut album – Listen To Your Heart.
   
   
5. "Amazing Grace/Scotland the Brave/Black Bear Hornpipe" by Wicked Tinkers
   The emotion and power of the Great Highland Bagpipe and various ethnic drums dueling with an Australian aboriginal instrument, the Digeridoo, and the Bronze-Age Irish Horn - a sound lost for over three millennium - explode into tribal sounds of the Scottish Highlands, Ireland and the many lands graced by the Gaelic people. Does this seem too good to be true? Then engage with the mesmerizing music and humorous exploits of the WICKED TINKERS and you won't stop dancing.
   
   Buy CD: Banger for Breakfast

See the rest of the 17 Free Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day at the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.

Need some St. Patrick's Day songs you can count on to set just the right mood as you kick back and enjoy the holiday? Then this is the perfect CD for you, packed with everything you need for a good 'ol Irish celebration in 19 tracks. Put on the drinking songs and ballads and general fun will be had as you listen to the Brobdingnagian Bards do their thing!

The Brobdingnagian Bards excel in entertaining. The simple, yet skilled musical arrangements for each tune give the songs the Celtic Renaissance flavor that they are famous for. Just two men, Marc Gunn and Andrew Mckee make up this band, and they play, and play off of each other well. (Oh, and just in case you weren't sure, it is brAHb'ding-näg-EE-en Bards.)

As anyone who has heard the Bards already knows, the singing is always energetic, and it leaves no doubt that these gentlemen just love what they do. This is a CD that can and should be played from start to finish, and even be set on repeat without it getting tiresome!

This duo provides that special kind of music that encourages camaraderie and sets things up for a good, social atmosphere. You'll feel like you are out with a couple of friends that have a lot of talent when you play this CD. A St. Patrick's Day, two green thumbs up from this listener!


Buy the Album: "Songs of Ireland (St Patrick's Day Music)"

Get your

Free St Patrick's Day MP3 Downloads
Now

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in the arts. She has written for Dance Teacher Magazine, Classical Singer and Dance Spirit among others, and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her at www.freelance-zone.com.

This weekend I started to release my Celtic music Premium Section of the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. I had a stupid name, when the one name that stuck from last week's request for feedback came to me--SONG HENGE! That name came from the brilliant writer and comedian C. Wayne Owens aka Seymoure. Thanks!

And this week in the magazine I unveiled SONG HENGE to my readers. So far so good. I'm still hoping to get some feedback from subscribers, but nada yet.


After I released the site, I haven't felt much like doing things. So Monday afternoon, Kristen and I went out in a canoe on Lake Austin where I promptly dumped us both into the lake... on purpose... yeah, no really. It was totally Not an accident