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March 24, 2018
The Kelly Girls pulled out all stops to make St Patrick’s Day 2018 the best on the books. The Girls played in libraries, pubs and concert halls throughout March and the audiences turned out in droves! Here at Moonlit Pond Records, we’re very proud of the band and their high energy show and fun-loving spirit. Let’s do it all again next year!
Check out their website for upcoming shows and festival appearances!
Posted on January 15, 2018by The BCMFest Blog
Another in a series of features about BCMFest 2018 that will be appearing in this blog right up until the festival (January 18-21), so as to better acquaint you with the events, activities and personalities that make up BCMFest, which is marking its 15th anniversary.
It’s all well and good to sit and listen to music, and you’ll get plenty of chances to do that at BCMFest. But Celtic music was made for sing-alongs, and you’ll have two special opportunities to raise your voice during Saturday Dayfest (January 20): First, with the Boston Harbor Bhoys at noon; and then at 4:45 p.m. with The Kelly Girls.
We asked Eddie Biggins of the Boston Harbor Bhoys and Kelly Girl Aisling Keating to talk about the art — and science — of getting audiences to sing along.
Q: Based on your long experience, do you think most people actually do like to sing — even if they say they can’t?
EDDIE: Yes! When we can get an audience singing, it really doesn’t matter how good you sound. It’s about the community of it, the participation. We think that on some level, most people like to sing.
AISLING: We absolutely believe that people want to sing along! Sometimes audiences tend be a bit shy, so we always find it most successful when we invite and entice them to join in. We like to teach the audience a chorus on an original tune that they might not be so familiar with, or just let them chime in on a song that is more familiar. Sharing music is a beautiful experience that creates an amazing connection between audience and performers and there is nothing more wonderful than when everyone lifts their voices to the rafters.
Q: If you have an audience that seems reluctant to join in, do you have any special techniques or shticks to get them singing?
AISLING: The best technique is simply to invite and encourage folks to join in! We love to have fun and connect with our audience. Us having fun, puts our audience at ease.
EDDIE: Sometimes shaming them into it works! Some people may be reluctant because they don’t know the words, so we encourage them to sing “la la la” if they don’t know it. And if an audience truly does not want to participate, well…you have to know when to give up, too. Sometimes they just prefer to listen.
Or, we can always launch into “Piano Man.” You can’t not sing along to that one!
Q: Obviously, with sing-alongs one tends to rely on songs that are likely to be familiar to most, but do you enjoy teaching songs that are maybe a little off the beaten track, too? What ones fall into that category?
EDDIE: It can be fun to teach something that the crowd might be less familiar with. We like to have the audience sing the “Day-I-Ay-I-Ay” parts of “The Galway Girl,” which is something they may not be used to. We seem to teach more hand clapping parts than singing parts (“Whiskey in the Jar,” “Wild Rover,” “Finnegan’s Wake”).
AISLING: We love to teach an audience a new song, particularly a band original.
Q: Off the top of your head, what are three songs you do that pretty much everybody will sing along to?
AISLING: We have songs old and new, original and traditional, that strike a balance with our audience feeling one minute they want to be quiet to listen to the story, the lyrics and harmonies, and then the next minute they want to sing and clap and join in! We perform original songs that have a hooky chorus like “Molly Kool” and audiences jump right in. And we sing some classic songs like ” Wild Mountain Thyme” or “Old Maid in the Garret” which always prompt a sing-along.
EDDIE: It depends on the audience. “The Wild Rover” is one that even non-Irish music crowds will seem to know. “Black Velvet Band” is another. When performing for seniors, we generally do a medley of old-time Irish-American songs specifically designed for singing along, including songs like “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” and “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral.” That gets everyone going.
And of course, there’s always “Piano Man,” but only if we have no other choice.
Schedules, ticket information and other details about BCMFest are available here.
January 02, 2016
Another in a series of features about BCMFest 2016 that will be appearing in this blog right up until the festival (January 8 and 9, if it’s not on your calendar yet), so as to better acquaint you with the events, activities and personalities that make up BCMFest.
If you go to a Celtic music festival with the hope — no, make that the expectation — of being able to join in a song or two, well, you should get yourself to The Attic at 1 p.m. during BCMFest’s Dayfest (January 9): That’s when The Kelly Girls and òran mór will lead a good hour’s worth of sing-along songs.
September 28. 2015
The 16th annual Southwest Folk Alliance Conference was held September 23rd to 27th in Austin, Texas, and artists, songwriters and presenters from far and wide gathered to celebrate music and friendship. Nancy was chosen as an Official Artist to showcase in the Alternates Round on Thursday evening, joining an esteemed line up of talent, and setting the tone to what would be a brilliant weekend of performances all around.
Even though the Thursday night jamming went into the wee hours of the morning, the Elm Room was filled on Friday morning for Nancy’s workshop, “Envisioning The Life You Want”. Its focus was on creating a five year plan, creating the change necessary to achieve goals all the while being mindful of the unique gift each and everyone of us brings to the world. Lively discussion ensued and even a few touching tears were shed by attendees.
Moonlit Pond Records sincerely commends and thanks the SWRFA team for producing a top notch, heart rousing, awe inspiring conference! We’ll be back!
The Kelly Girls have got their green on and are ready to raise the thermostat with winter-weary New Englanders! Irish heritage in the great State of Massachusetts runs deep and proud, and though celebrated all year round, none can compare to the blarney bashes around St Paddy’s Day. Come raise a glass with TKG’s at one of these fine events:
Visit www.thekellygirls.com for more information
October 5, 2012
WDVX in Knoxville is a listener supported radio station housed in the downtown Visitors Center. They play everything from Bluegrass to Celtic and Folk and even throw in a little roots music from other parts of the world offering listeners a variety of specialty shows featuring music you can’t hear anywhere else.
One of the Specialty shows is hosted by Karen E. Reynolds, called “Writer’s Block“. Airing only independent performing songwriters, Karen combines interviews with in studio performances and airing cuts from the artist’s CDs. She created this forum to bring attention to original artists that deserve to be listened to, yet don’t have the benefit of a major label. Nancy Beaudette was her featured guest on September 26th.
WDVX also provides local and regional musicians an outlet for their talents, including the “Blue Plate Special Show” which airs weekdays at noon and on Saturdays WDVX and broadcasts live performances from our studios in downtown Knoxville. Nancy Beaudette was the featured artist at the “Blue Plate Special” on October 2nd.
September 18, 2012
Yes really. And why not? Iceland may not be on the top of most Artist’s tour list, but it is certainly topping vacation destinations of late. Grindavik is home of the now famous Blue Lagoon Spa, awe inspiring scenic landscape, and majestic coastline. Bryggjan’s Cafe is located in this harbour village and is the town’s hot spot for night life. Nancy had the privilege of touting her Canadiana roots with local residents in September. Icelanders and Canadians have long held a special bond – most evident by the warm reception and hospitality extended to Nancy throughout her visit.
June 14, 2012
The Bluebird Café turned 30 last week, and an extended celebration ensued with special daily performances from some of music’s biggest artists and songwriters. Beginning Monday, June 4, 2012, numerous homecoming shows, special concerts, guest appearances and events took place at the Cafe, including performances by Kathy Mattea, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill and numerous hit writers.
Nancy Beaudette was featured in the Sunday Writer’s Night show which highlighted ‘Bluebird Favorites’ including Liz Hengber and Mark Irwin with special guest Tony Arata (writer of Garth Brooks hit “The Dance”).
The Bluebird Café was originally opened in June of 1982 by Amy Kurland as a restaurant in a small strip center in the Nashville suburb of Green Hills. On a fateful night in 1987, a new artist named Garth Brooks performed at The Bluebird and an executive from Capitol Records happened to be in the audience. The executive took Garth into the kitchen and asked him to come by the label the next day to offer him a deal. Years later, Garth says, “The Bluebird is the beginning and the mecca, the end.” In 2004 Dreamworks Records’ executive Scott Borchetta saw 15-year-old Taylor Swift perform for the first time and invited her to be a part of his new venture – a label to be called Big Machine Label Group.
Over 65,000 people now visit The Bluebird Café annually. It has changed little in appearance, character and purpose over the last 30 years. The small stage still offers the opportunity for budding singers and songwriters to be heard. The Bluebird Café is guaranteed to always provide musical “moments,” and in most cases, only 100 lucky listeners will be in the room to let the rest of the world know what it missed.
April 25, 2012
ANNOUNCEMENT: Nancy Beaudette will be part of an impressive line up of women’s artists performing at this year’s music festival in Kents Store, Virginia. Amidst 96 wooded acres, CampOut offers facilities and opportunities for groups and individuals to relax and unwind. This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever with performers like The Martine Locke Band and Jamie Anderson – another artist with Canadian ties!
Nancy will also offer a workshop during the festival: “Run Fly Soar” is a motivational program that encourages participants to make the changes in their lives that will enable them to live their dreams. It will take place on Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Nancy will take the stage Saturday at 11:40 a.m.