An Nuacht: January 2013 (Part 1)

"Traveling Light" Lyric Video In November, this song had its first public performance at the Morristown IAW&A Salon. In December, I recorded it. It's this month's free download. Now, for anyone who has trouble understanding my thick New York brogue-- or for any Human 2.0, no longer able to listen to music unaccompanied by a visual-- I give you the lyric video. Comments and "thumbs-up" clicks welcome.

The Irony-Driven Life: A Downside It has come to my attention that, because of my historically bad attitude and habitual sarcasm, some took as a gag last month's headline about Chance of a Start being named one of the best Irish albums of 2012. It's real, my friends. Oh, yes, it's real. As is the news that the album was also added to (ooo, can I say "inducted into"? that would be so cool) the Irish Traditional Music Archives in Dublin. Yes, genius: The Dublin in Ireland. (Oops, more sarcasm.)

Slàinte Mhòr Agad! Once again, I'll be dusting off mae wee bray and rolling my rrr's as I provide music for Spain 92's Robert Burns Night on January 27, with my traditional co-conspirators Tommy Burns and Mark Stewart. As I write this, there are only a handful of tickets left, so hie thee off the fence and on wi' yer kilt.

Rowdy, with a Chance of Shamrocks Mike Farragher is the music columnist for New York's Irish Voice, who (full disclosure) first wrote favorably about Chance of a Start, and then put it on the "Best of 2012" list. So it should come as no surprise that we've become good friends and fellow laborers in the vineyards of Irish-American culture. Mike has organized a series of "Rock and Read" book signings, in which readings from his new book (50 Shades o' Green; see below) will alternate with live music from select performers. So far, I'll be joining him at the Clinton Book Shop in Clinton NJ on the evening of March 15; expecting to announce more dates, too.

Craic'd Rear View I recently noticed that, despite having been around for 18+ years and online for almost 10, Four to the Bar's live album, Craic on the Road, had never been reviewed on Amazon. Scandalous. When word hit the Four to the Bar Facebook page, however, two hardy souls, Maureen and James P. McHugh, jumped immediately into action. Check out their reviews here, and please add your own!

RIP, Ray Kelly As many of you have no doubt heard by now, Ray Kelly, singer/guitarist for the Mickey Finns, recently passed away, apparently as the result of an on-the-job accident. I didn't know Ray personally, but I know his work, both with the Mickey Finns and his prior band, the Prodigals. He was clearly an artist of substance and by all accounts a great guy as well. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted for his son's education.

* Thanks as always for being on my mailing list; I know how much email we all get, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to stay in touch like this. Till February, slán agat. P.S.: I get to missing you when it's only once or twice a month. Let's keep in touch in the meantime: Like me on Facebook Follow me on Twitter Circle me on Google+ Subscribe to me (and my radical ideas) on YouTube

Keep reading for:

• New Video
• New Music
• New Radio Shows
• Events
• Recommendations
• House Concerts

New Video

Traveling Light: The Lyric Video See all those words you keep missing, and enjoy some pretty amazing Creative Commons photography.

More at my YouTube channel: youtube.PatrickClifford.com

New Music

Traveling Light: Keep a candle lit for me, in your window, in your prayers, in the night....

More at my Bandcamp page: bandcamp.PatrickClifford.com

New Radio Shows

	Celtic Sunday Brunch on WDVR-FM, January 6, 2013 (Set 1): Kathleen Conneely, Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band, Burning Bridget Cleary, A Band of Rogues... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch on WDVR-FM, January 6, 2013 (Set 2): Susan McKeown, Sarah McQuaid, Saw Doctors, Carlos Nunez, Old Blind Dogs... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch on WDVR-FM, January 6, 2013 (Set 3): Bill Whelan, Christy Moore, Shilelagh Law, Scythian, Mike Farragher... Read more
	Celtic Sunday Brunch on WDVR-FM, January 6, 2013 (Set 4): Frank Patterson, The Canny Brothers Band, Mike Scott and Carlos Nunez, Outside Track... Read more

More at my blog, Smart Like Tractor: blog.patrickclifford.com/radio-shows/

Events

Current info on all scheduled events is always available, as a list: events.PatrickClifford.com (Facebook users only, it seems) and as a calendar: calendar.PatrickClifford.com

	Burns Supper at Spain 92: Poetry, pageantry, music, and (of course) haggis. Sunday, January 27, 1:00-5:30pm: Full info...
	Irish American Writers & Artists NJ Salon. This is a new partnership forged between the IAW&A and the Irish American Cultural Institute of Morristown. The Salon sessions allow writers, artists, and playwrights to express themselves in front of a safe and nurturing community. Thursday, January 31, 7:00pm: Full info...
	Celtic Sunday Brunch is a two-hour radio program that broadcasts every Sunday from 11am to 1pm US ET (GMT -4), on the air at 89.7 FM and streaming live at wdvrfm.org. I host the first show of every month (and the fifth, when the calendar falls that way). I keep Facebook and Twitter open during the show; feel free to send thoughts and requests! Next shows: Sunday, February 3, 11am: Full info... Sunday, March 3, 11am: Full info...

Seisiuns

I do my best to attend these, but you'll have a great time regardless.

Frenchtown NJ: Second and Fourth Sundays at the River Blue Cafe, 1pm to 4pm.

Lambertville NJ: First and Third Wednesdays at Mitchell's Cafe, 8:30pm to 11pm+

Remember: Cancellations happen—please check in before heading out!

Recommendations

• This Is Your Brain on Shamrocks 2: 50 Shades o' Green: I haven't finished reading it yet, but so far it's edgier than its predecessor. And funny-- oh, funny-- not to mention still painfully true to (Irish-American) life.
• The Narrowbacks, Live at Ulysses Folk House: I took the video; they raised the roof. Win-win. These guys are supposed to be in the studio, finishing their long-anticipated first full-length album. But they may need some prodding; like them on Facebook and help me pester them till it's done.
• Shenandoah, by Tom Waits and Keith Richards: Where to begin? I don't know, so I won't. Just: Magic. Over and out.

House Concerts

St. Patrick's Day is on its way, and my calendar is ping-ping-ping filling up. Know what I'd love? To bring a band of merry men and/or women to your home for a private party or concert. Contact me ASAP!

CDs and Downloads

All of my recordings, new and old, solo and collaborations, are available for purchase at all performances or online. Remember: Members of my mailing list get a 20% discount on everything I have for sale online at Bandcamp. Join the mailing list to find out how.

	CHANCE OF A START: http://www.ChanceOfAStart.com
	AMERICAN WAKE: http://www.AmericanWake.com
	NEAT LITTLE STILL (Bootlegs; an album-in-progress)*: http://www.NeatLittleStill.com
	SÉ GO DÓ (fundraiser for HMA)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/s-go-d
	LO, ABOVE THE EARTH (Christmas Songs; an album-in-progress)*: http://patrickclifford.bandcamp.com/album/lo-above-the-earth
	ANOTHER SON (by Four to the Bar): http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/4tothebar
	CRAIC ON THE ROAD* (by Four to the Bar): http://4tothebar.bandcamp.com/album/craic-on-the-road

* Digital only

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Image source(s): http://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonflood/3250937393/, and as noted in metadata.
Except where noted, all images are licensed via Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

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