“End Of The Line” Is Just The Beginning!

Nancy Beaudette met Louisa Branscomb at a festival a few years back, and they’ve been friends and co-writers ever since. We are thrilled to tell you their song “End Of The Line” is included on Louisa’s new CD release, “Gonna Love Anyway”.

Bluegrass fans will surely know the song, “Steel Rails”, recorded by Alison Krauss in 1990 which was a billboard success and went on to earn her a grammy. That song was written by Louisa and helped to propel her songwriting career to what it is today – she has either won or has been  nominated for the industries most prestigious bluegrass awards.

This album features a new version of “Steel Rails” and a phenomenal group of singers and instrumentalists, like Tina Adair, Dale Ann Bradley, Alison Brown, and many more, all performing their versions of Branscomb’s songs. Two-time Grammy winner Becky Buller takes the lead vocals on “End of the Line”.

Co-producer Missy Raines helped select the songs for the album and explains, “We took a designer approach to thinking of who we felt best matched each song.”

There is a wonderful theme of ‘trains’ that rolls through this project. In Louisa’s own words, “Trains know where they are going. They are going to take every bend, it’s just the way it is. They go through it all– the mountains, deserts, seaboard cities, deserted farms, hobo camps. They carry people to their dreams, their homes, and their deaths. They are courageous in their power and in their giving in. Even with all that iron and steel and fire, they accept. They surrender to the track, to what lies ahead.They are hope, wisdom, and courage.”           

We sincerely hope you’ll get yourself a copy of “Gonna Love Anyway”, and especially have a listen to “End of the Line”, appropriately placed as the last cut on the album, but certainly not the least among this superb song collection.

Louisa Branscomb, Becky Buller, Missy Raines & Russell Moore.

SongC.R.A.F.T. – BOOK RELEASE MAY 30 on Amazon

This book is focused on the ‘craft’ of songwriting and the care and nurturing of your ‘creative being’. Intended for both novice and experienced songwriters, “SongC.R.A.F.T. – Writing In Your Authentic Voice” is an invitation to dig deep into your personal memories and experiences and write in your most vulnerable, courageous voice.

  • Nurture your creative process
  • Learn to find ideas from personal experiences
  • Write fabulous and meaningful songs
  • Find out why having a special creative room is important
  • Recognize and avoid common mistakes
  • How to find an audience to perform your song to
  • Leave the critic behind and write your best work

Award-winning songwriters and authors, Nancy Beaudette and Laura Zucker, will guide you through a series of exercises and reflections which will help you write a song lyric by the end of the book. Nancy and Laura have been using the “SongC.R.A.F.T.” method throughout their professional careers, and teach this process to writers across the country.

Forward by Berklee College of Music Songwriting Professor – Susan Cattaneo.

The Author’s have created a special website with additional video content and blog. Visit www.mysongcraft.com for more details.

Kerrville New Folk Finalist

The Kerrville Folk Festival is held at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and is celebrated by a community who considers itself family, returning year after year since 1972.  During the 18-day Festival, as many as 30,000 guests come from all over the world to experience the magic we simply call “Kerrville”.  Even so, each evening’s performances are attended by 800 to 3,000 guests, making everyone’s experience feel intimate.

The highlight for performing songwriters is their annual Grassy Hill New Folk Competition and this year Nancy Beaudette is among the thirty-two finalists. Sixteen of the finalists will perform at the New Folk Concert on Saturday, May 25, and the other sixteen on Sunday, May 26. This is the 48th year for New Folk and these concerts are always one of the highlights of the Kerrville Folk Festival. 

Best of luck to all the finalists! You are all already winners!

Daffodils Video Release!

May 11, 2018

Moonlit Pond is delighted to present The Kelly Girl’s original song and first official video, “Daffodils”, inspired by the poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud” by William Wordsworth. Band members Aisling Keating and Nancy Beaudette collaborated on the writing of this song, adapting the poem to an upbeat melody and adding a very happy jig! The song is included on their CD, “May You Always”, available online at iTunes, Spotify.

We hope you find fields of joy every day of the year.

Click here to watch the video!

The Kelly Girl’s Debut CD – “May You Always”

December 4, 2017

From the first few bars at the very first rehearsal, The Kelly Girls knew a recording project would be in their future. 2017 is the year they made it happen. After months of arranging, recording, and mixing, the CD is complete!

Its unofficial release happened this past Friday night during their Celtic Christmas Show at the Bull Run Restaurant to an enthusiastic and celebratory audience. The reviews are just starting to come in, and the word on the street is beyond our wildest expectations!

Available for sale at www.thekellygirls.com

“Wow! Wow! Wow! Made me cry, gave me chills, and had me dancing around the kitchen while I made cookies. And that’s before it was even over! Highly recommended.” – P. Kenneally

The album has thirteen songs, seven of which are Kelly Girl originals! “Molly Kool”, written by Nancy Beaudette, honours the first North American woman to receive her Master Mariner papers back in 1939. “Last Rose of Summer” was penned by Christine Hatch and is a touching ballad about a mother’s legacy. “Barney’s Shenanigans” and “Barney Get Home” are jigs inspired by the antics of Aisling Keating’s cat! Melinda Kerwin’s beautiful melody “Another Goodnight” along with Nancy’s lyric, lament the heartache of young lovers going their separate ways. The title track, “May You Always”, performed by Chris and written by Nancy, invokes blessings and good wishes for a happy life.

Every song on the CD was thoughtfully arranged and produced with our audience in mind. We sincerely hope you enjoy the collection of songs we present on “May You Always”.

Global Peace Song Finalist

Music has the power to speak directly to the heart. It can inspire enlightened awareness and lovingly empower us to see and treat each other as brother and sister. When our souls know such liberation, war as we know it will end and peace on earth will prevail.

The Global Peace Song Awards serves as a search for our world’s most enlightened musicians and songs that can guide the way to peace on earth.

Moonlit Pond Records is pleased to announce that “Peace Date”, co-written by Nancy Beaudette & Nur Felix, is a Finalist in this year’s competition.

The OFFICIAL WINNERs will be announced on SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 – UN International Day of Peace.

Cattaneo & Beaudette Collaboration

June 20, 2017

Nancy Beaudette met Susan Cattaneo in Austin a couple of years ago, a fate which would result in collaboration and friendship. “We’ve co-authored a number of songs to date, but perhaps the most precious was our first, ‘Fade To Blue'”, says Nancy.

We’re thrilled to let you know that Susan included the song on her ‘double-album’ project, “The Heart and The Hammer” which was released this month. Nancy both sings and plays guitar on the track with Susan.

From the first cut to the last, this is an exceptional CD. The songwriting is flawless and Susan’s voice is superb. We hope you’ll add this to your music collection.

“No matter what happens around me, there is an incredible amount of joy in making music with people I love. And that’s what this album is all about: sharing all those different musical experiences and collaborations with you.” – Susan Cattaneo

Visit www.susancattaneo.com to learn more!

 

“Company of Stones” Video Release

May 12, 2017

“Company of Stones” was inspired by Nancy’s familial roots, both French and Irish. “My ancestors have given me such a great gift and I feel honoured to carry on their legacy. I recently had my DNA tested and it’s pretty much spot on with my assumption that I’m a happy mix of UK/Ireland and Western Europe – presumably France. Their struggles and successes are part of me for better or for worse.” Company of Stones was recognized in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest along with other songs from her collection “South Branch Road”. Buy the CD on Nancy’s website or download on iTunes today.

“Peace Date” Video Release

April 21, 2017

“Peace Date” was inspired by an experience I had walking down the street in Cape Town, South Africa this past January. I saw a street vendor singing and smiling, obviously so happy that I had to engage him. I asked what he was singing about and he pointed to the sky saying, “We are light in the darkness.” Nur and I took it from there. Nur Felix is an incredible songwriter/artist from Cape Town and I was honoured to co-write this song with him. Help us spread the message around the world.

You can also buy the MP3 – and when you do, every single penny raised will go towards helping Nur finish recording his CD. Follow this link to donate: http://moonlitpond.com/peace-date/

Event Filled Weekend For The Kelly Girls

August 9, 2016

The Kelly Girls - Williamstown2015 copyStarting with an outdoor concert on Friday, August 12th, on the green in Shirley Center, MA, The Kelly Girls will be part of the Summer Concert Series sponsored by the Shirley Charitable Foundation.  Bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets, or purchase snacks from venders.

On Saturday, August 13th, head on over to the Bolton Fair in Lancaster, MA. The Girls will take the stage in the Pavilion Tent from 2pm to 4pm. There are tons of fun things to do at the Fair, so come early and stay late!

We’ll be packing up quick and jumping in our vehicles for a private gig in Vermont directly after playing at the Fair. Busy gig weekend, but The Kelly Girls would have it no other way.

Do you have a private affair that needs some celtic entertainment? Let us know!!