Travel Ireland, Scotland and Beyond with Celtic Invasion Vacations

How was the first science fiction convention back? Podcasting during a summer with kids. New songs finished. Plus, an alternate look at live performances.

It's all on my monthly update, Celtfather Music & Travel, show #281.

0:26 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR JULY

JUL 9: Interstellar Ginger Beer & Exploration Co., Alabaster, AL @ 7-10 PM CT
JUL 10: Pepper Place Farmer's Market, Birmingham, AL @ 8:00 AM - 12 PM CT
JUL 15: Browncoats on Celtfather Live @ 8 PM ET. Get your tickets.
JUL 16-18: JordanCon, Atlanta, GA
JUL 30: Ironshield Brewing, Lawrenceville, GA @  7:00 – 10:00 PM.

THURS: Coffee with The Celtfather, YouTube (Season 9 returns on Aug 5, 2021) @ 12:00 PM EST

1:21 - PAST MONTH

2:36 - RANT: AN ALTERNATE LOOK AT LIVE PERFORMANCES

MONTHLY UPDATES

7:02 - PODCASTS

Mikey Mason has a podcast called MikeyTalks. I listened to it while I was driving to Magic City Con last week. Curse him! It was really good. He's such a good storyteller. I find it frustrating that I'm not better because I would really like to do a show like that. I just don't feel it would be as good. Ah well...

Summer break for the kids is making it difficult to plan ahead with podcasts. Pub Songs & Stories is coming out slower than I'd like. In June, I released...

The Harpers #232: Was the harp banned by Queen Elizabeth? Hear the origins of the song Soul of a Harper by Rie Sheridan Rose. Songwriting as a parent offers its own special joys, songs about the children we love. Plus, was it horrible, the night that Paddy Murphy died?

Next time, there are a couple stories by Carl Asch of Empty Hats and Adrian of Tartanic.

So far the Virtual Public House CD is not selling well. I'm not sure if that's an issue of promotion (or lack thereof) or the type of CD. So if you want to own a limited-edition CD, get it now. The album will be available for just a few more months. But it won't last the year.

I had some good episodes of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast in June. I'm particularly excited about the release of The Gothard Sisters' new CD, Dragonfly. I feature several tracks and will continue to.

The Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast and Celtfather Music & Travel were on hiatus.  I did release a couple Stories from the Road podcasts on Patreon though.

I'm also starting to think about the next In the 'Verse podcast. I need to get back to songwriting. That podcast will help.

9:34 - VIDEOS

Coffee with The Celtfather ended well. Those season finales seem to do pretty well. I started planning the themes for season 9 which will start on Thursday, August 5. I'm seriously considering signing back up to ReStream, which will once again allow me to broadcast on multiple platforms. Though, I will still stick primarily with YouTube. Maybe I'll just do one month.

The re-launch of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast YouTube channel is posing problematic. YouTube stopped allowing me to edit shows on their website. So I used a secondary website. And that's just too much work for someone who has not enough time. So I might discontinue that.

My Celtfather Live concert this month had a fairly light attendance. But it was a great group of Gunn Runners. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know there are so many people who support my music.

The next Celtfather Live is a FREE SHOW. It's scheduled for Thursday, July 15 at 8 pm ET.

11:17 - IN THE STUDIO

I finally finished up "By Amazing Grace", "Bright Side of Everything", "Favor of a Dance", "Kilty Pleasure", and "Breathing". So we much closer to finishing up Selcouth. I'm thinking of having a private listening party for Gunn Runners to help me decide which are the best tracks on the album. I'm also gonna do that with my family.

ALEP is postponed once again. So looks like Sam Gillogly and I have more time to finish our Dancing With Hobbits album. We still have quite a few tracks to release.

"Name On My Soul" by Kilted Kings was released as a single this month. Listens have not been great. But oh well... The full album is out on June 25 under the title Flower of Scotland.

13:14 - MERCH

Virtual Public House is still on sale. I haven't picked a date for it to be pulled. But I will give you at least a month's heads up.

You can download a free MP3 every month from this CD when you sign up to my mailing list.

I'm brainstorming more merch to sell at conventions in the next couple months. I'll let you know how that goes.

I re-released several Firefly related merch items in preparation for the next Celtfather Live show.

Meantime, subscribe to my mailing list, you get a discount code to save 15%.

14:19 - CELTIC TRAVEL

The Celtic Invasion of Scotland is officially open to past Invaders. I have a castle booked in near the just across the mountain from the banks of Loch Lomond for the first week of June 2022. I will open it up to non-invaders in August. Sign up to the mailing list at CelticInvasion.com if you want to be one of the first on the list.

15:13 - WEBSITES

I updated lyrics for the Irish Song Lyrics website, including:

• “Lily the Pink”
• “Jedi Drinking Song”
• “The Last Jedi Drinking Song”
• “Black Velvet Band”
• “Donald, Where’s Your Troosers/"
• "Drunken Sailor”
• “Rattlin’ Bog”
• “The Night Paddy Murphy Died”
• “Soul of a Harper”
• “Everybody Needs A Drinking Song”

15:40 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1128 is down from 1138
Celtic Music Magazine = 4068 is up from 4062

YouTube Subscribers = 5438 is up from 5411
Facebook Likes = 3802 is same
Instagram = 1882 is up from 1872
Spotify followers: 1797 is up 26 from 1771
# Number of listens on Spotify: 2652 is down from 2857

Latest Spotify Single Stats:
"Slainte Mhaith" released on April 18: 25 is up from 23
"Proudfoot Shuffle" released on Mar 18: 20 is down from 127 (last one)
"Hobbit Hornpipe" released Aug 26: 499 is down from 521
"The Hero of Christmas" released on Nov 17: 19 is down from 107 (last one)
"Cloghden More" released on April 30: 12
"Name On My Soul" released on June 4: 141

Latest Spotify Album Stats:
St Patrick's Day: 415 is down from 601 (last one)
Flower of Scotland released on June 25 (next month): 239

Most-popular songs on Spotify: "The Widow and the Devil" (1.7K), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (536), "Hobbit Hornpipe" (499),  "A Working in the Garden" (246), "Hero of Canton" (220), "Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster" (193), "Reavers Malcolm Reavers" (193), "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits" (156), "Name On My Soul" (133), "The Parting Glass" (109)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music: "Doctor of Gallifrey" (132), "Hero of Canton" (126), "The Widow and the Devil" (38), "Jedi Drinking Song Prequel" (17), "The Night That Paddy Murphy Died (12)

Top albums: Sci Fi Drinking Songs (258), As Long As I'm Flyin (220), Going for Brogue (139), Kilted For Her Pleasure (87), Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion (51)

Last year's playlists from this time last year:
Top Irish & Celtic Music: 592 is up from 582
Sci F'Irish Music: 13 is up from 12
Nagians Only: 22 is up from 21
Celtfather Experience: 29 is down 30
Hobbit Drinking Songs: 5 is down from 6
Firefly Drinking Songs: 130 is up from 127
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 74 is up from 71
Jedi Drinking Songs: 31 (same)

18:59 - PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 164 is up from 157
Patreon Monthly Income: $1249 is up from $1206

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts ,and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

#CFMonthly

Honoring the Celtic Green Thumb for Earth Day and Arbor Day

Today many of us have at least a few house plants for decoration indoors, or invest in a few pretty flower pots to set out on the porch. We sit on a bench under the shade of a big tree in the heat of the mid-day sun to take a break from mowing the lawn or playing with the kids. We may even tend to a little herb garden—or sew a few tomato plants and veggies in a small garden out back. Even so, it can be so easy to forget that in the not-too-distant past, trees and plants were both tied so much more strongly to all facets of day-to-day life—and in many different ways.

The Celtic culture is rich with references to trees and plants; especially as one looks back to more primitive times. Between holding certain trees sacred, using plants for medicine, and believing that spirits could be found in some of these forms, the natural world certainly loomed large for the Celtic people. It’s something they lived with closely, and honored in many different ways. Add to that the true, heartfelt love of the land that Celtic people embrace, and it makes sense that we’d want to highlight both Arbor Day and Earth Day this month for our listeners.

Earth Day takes place on April 22nd, and it’s really a good time to take a moment to think about our connection with the planet that we live on. With so many concerns having to do with the environment today, this is a topic that definitely could use some attention. Perhaps our Celtic ancestors, as primitive as things may have been back in the day, had the jump on us where this is concerned. After all, although all of our modern conveniences are quite lovely, they do tend to have the effect of separating us from the natural world in a way that lessens our connection with it. During the coronavirus crisis, many people found a little bit of that connection again in one way or another—be it through taking more walks outside, planning a garden from seed, or even just thinking more about the natural landscape and how it factors into this life we live.

Although connecting with nature is certainly not a concept the Celtic people have dibs on, it is definitely a quality that defines this group of people. There’s so much we can do—even small things—to better feel that bond with the environment and all the living things that share the world around us. Arbor Day, this year celebrated on April 30th, is the perfect time to take action in this regard. Planting a tree is one of the most immediate ways to give back to the earth, and it’s easy to do as well! I encourage you to take a few minutes toward the end of April if you can, and plant a tree!

Back in 2018 I did a podcast episode of Celtic music dedicated to Arbor Day, which you can find linked below. In 2020 I also put out a podcast centered around planting a tree. It would be great if even a few people took the time to don some head phones and get into the spirit of connecting with the land—just like the Celts did. Whether you jump back to these podcasts, or wait for some of the tracks that I’m including in the upcoming episode, head outside and spend some time listening to music and communing with the natural world. If you have a spot that would suit a tree, plant one—and if not, check into what native plants might work well in your landscape and zip a few into the ground. Not only will it feel good to do it, but you’ll be making the world a better place—and there’s no better way to do something like that then while playing Celtic music as you go. Don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already, and thanks so much for joining us here today. Be sure to check out our Earth Day podcast coming up on fill in the date here for some other great Celtic music to plant by!

Support Celtic culture and our amazing planet Earth through music. Subscribe at Celtfather.com.

New stories in the virtual public house. Limited-edition CDs. I'm a Rover, Seldom Sober video. Who recorded on what Selcouth song. And a new hobbit single.

It's all on my monthly update, Celtfather Music & Travel, show #279.

0:17  - PODCASTS

I've made so many changes to the Pub Songs Podcast over the years. I'm always wondering what do I want it to be? I think I finally have a format I'm excited about.

The new intro goes like this: "Welcome to the Pub Songs & Stories, the Virtual Public House where you hear the stories and inspiration behind the music."

The new format solves several issues I've had. First, it gives me a way to share my music in a fun capacity, performing "live" for my listeners, in much the same way Bing Crosby would've done on the Kraft Music Hall back in the day. I can sing new recordings of songs.

I can share my stories about songs too. These can be either what the song is about or just a story related to the song I'm singing in the show. This is by far the toughest thing about producing the show, coming up with engaging stories.

The new format also allows me to share stories and help other musicians.

I plan to feature two stories from two different artists in each episode, plus one of their songs from each. If I can get an acoustic original performance, all the better. But right now, I'm just sharing studio recordings.

My goal is to help promote them in a more personal setting, again, through stories. But even better, I realized that most musicians don't have my skill with podcasting. I see this new feature as a way for musicians to sort of have their own podcast.

Of course that also means I can promote to their fans as well. So it's a win-win as far as I can see... IF I can keep up with the stories.

You may also note that I'm not limiting this to Celtic musicians. Instead it's gonna be around my niche Celtic AND Geek music. The new description zooms in on musicians in general. If there's  a story to be told, I might consider it.

Oh! There's one more thing I am launching--limited-edition CDs.

I asked Mitchell to start mixing down all of my songs in Pub Songs & Stories. Every three months or so, we will release a CD featuring the best of all of those songs.

I'm also considering a possible USB which might include outtakes or song duplicates PLUS all of the podcast episodes.

Again, it's limited edition. So the CD won't be available for long. 3-6 months. I though this might be another nice to fund the podcast.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast had some killer St Patrick's Day shows this year. Episode #500 was over four hours long. I LOVED hearing all of the congrats that were sent in by artists. It was a big pick me up.

The March episode of Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast featured music. No big news there.  Hopefully, Andrew and I can stay on top of upcoming shows.

4:53 - VIDEOS

I think YouTube algorithms are finally understanding my channel. I'm not seeing greater subscribers yet. But the channel is mostly live shows (Coffee with The Celtfather) and I'm getting a decent number of folks watching those.

I posted a couple new video singles recently. One was recorded in 2018 for the Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Skye. It's my journey from Glasgow to Inverness by train. The music is for "I'm A Rover, Seldom Sober".  I have more video singles that are coming.

I also created several new Canvases for Spotify. I'm still thinking about what videos to use for which song. Slowly getting those uploaded.

The next Celtfather Live concert is scheduled for Thursday, April 15. This one is "For Mother Earth". I'm not sure what songs to include on that outside of "Heart of Fangorn". But whatever. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Tickets are different this time. All you have to do is spend $8 in my Mage Records store and you will get access to the show. And of course it's free to all Heroic Gunn Runners.

7:16 - IN THE STUDIO

I'm still getting tracks back from musicians for Selcouth are done. No big update just yet. But I have most of the tracks from Screeched Inn done for "Bright Side of Everything". I'm waiting on some background vocals.

Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer sent their tracks for "Favor of a Dance". They sound amazing.

I have an update I'm waiting on from Andrew McKee, The Irish Bard, for "By Amazing Grace".

The Muckers recorded their parts for "Kilty Pleasure" but I'm still waiting for the tracks.

Nathan Deese sent his recordings for "Breathing". And it's perfect!

Sam Gillogly and I released a new single on March 18 called "Proudfoot Shuffle". It's already getting a lot of streams on Spotify.

I also started rewriting "Happy Birthday From Ireland". I never play that song because it's rather vain based. It was a birthday song for me.

So now I'm editing the lyrics to make more about all of the children of Irish immigrants who are discovering their heritage.

9:08 - MERCH

Of course, I already mentioned the Pub Songs & Stories CD that'll come out probably next month.

I'm planning some package deals very soon. I don't remember which package deal is first. I think it's a comedy package... Keep any eye on the store and my mailing list for details.

Subscribe to my mailing list, you get a discount code to save 15%.

9:33 - CELTIC TRAVEL

Want to join me on Celtic Invasion of Scotland

Sign up to the mailing list at CelticInvasion.com if you want to be one of the first on the list.

9:56 - WEBSITES

I updated lyrics for the Irish Song Lyrics website, including:

• “Men of New Basin Canal”
• "Beer, Beer, Beer"
• "The Leprechaun"
• “Kilty Pleasure”
• "Kilkelly, Ireland"
• “When the Dairy Farm Caught Fire”
• "Molly Malone"
• “St Patrick Never Drank”
• “Breathing”
• “Kilted For Her Pleasure”

10:23 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR MARCH

THURS: Coffee with The Celtfather, YouTube (Season 8) @ 12:00 PM EST

APR 15: "For Mother Earth" Celtfather Live on YouTube @ 8:00 - 9:30 PM ET. Tickets $8.
APR 17: Pepper Place Farmer's Market in Birmingham, AL @ 8:00 AM - 12 PM CT
APR 17: The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA @ TBA
APR 23-25: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX
APR 29: Brobdingnagian Bards Live on YouTube @ TBA

11:53 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1228 is up from 1219
Celtic Music Magazine = 4062 is up from 4026

YouTube Subscribers = 5337 is up from 5009
Facebook Likes = 3763 is up from 3746
Instagram = 1869 is up from 1867
Spotify followers: 1751 is up from 1737
# Number of listens on Spotify: 4962 is up from 3395

Latest Spotify Single Stats:
"Proudfoot Shuffle" released on Mar 18: 147
"Hobbit Hornpipe" released Aug 26: 569 is up from 458
"The Hero of Christmas" released on Nov 17: 111 is down from 119

Latest Spotify Album Stats:
St Patrick's Day: 2.2K is up from 1K

Most-popular songs on Spotify: "The Widow and the Devil" (2.5K), "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"  (1.6K), "The Leprechaun" (637), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (592), "Beer, Beer, Beer" (590), "Hobbit Hornpipe" (569), "Drunken Sailor" (543), "Lord of the Pounce" (438), "I'll Drink From Dusk Til Dawn" (407), "Nancy Whiskey" (386)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music: "Hero of Canton" (1787), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (599), "The Widow and the Devil" (150), "Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster" (99), "Sail the Sky" (98)

Top albums: As Long As I'm Flyin (2167), Sci Fi Drinking Songs (1117), St Patrick's Day Songs for Kids (608), Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion (515), Going for Brogue (505)

Last year's playlists from this time last year:
Top Irish & Celtic Music: 575 up from 564
Sci F'Irish Music: 12 (same)
Nagians Only: 21 (same)
Celtfather Experience: 29 is down 30
Hobbit Drinking Songs: 6 is up from 5
Firefly Drinking Songs: 126 is up from 122
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 62 is up from 61
Jedi Drinking Songs: 32 is up from 31

15:18 - PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 159 is up from 156
Patreon Monthly Income: $1215 is up from $1194

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts ,and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

#CFMonthly

When it comes to Celtic music there’s so much to choose from that it can be overwhelming to know where to start if you’re looking for something suitable for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Naturally much of this will depend on your individual taste. Some people prefer a raucous band of musicians on pipes, others love a great vocalist, while still others like nothing more than peaceful harp music. There’s so much variety!

Female-led bands or artists are one option that might be appealing for some. Whether you just want to support a female artist, or you love the sound of a Celtic song sung by a lady, there are numerous bands out there that showcase the ample talents of women in the Celtic music arena. Let’s take a closer look at just a few that you might want to check out this holiday…

Lissa Schneckenburger grew up with music and has been playing the fiddle since the age of six. She attended the New England Conservatory of Music and graduated with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation, so there is a lot of knowledge behind this lady’s arrangements and playing ability. Listeners looking for something heavy on the fiddle would enjoy exploring her musical offerings, including albums titled simply, “Dance” and “Song”.

Heather Dale is a contemporary Celtic music artist that is a singer, as well as an accomplished musician. She plays piano, hammered dulcimer, Irish flutes and whistles, and bodhran drum alongside her band members. Dale highlights original Celtic folk music, but adds an updated twist with the instrumentation. The theme of fantasy runs deep in much of her music, but she also offers an album (My Celtic Heart) that features traditional folk songs.

The Gothard Sisters are another interesting Celtic band, and they blend Celtic, folk, classical, world and northwest musical influences. These three sisters play together seamlessly, and offer a lovely selection of contemporary Celtic music that has wide appeal. Having over 10 years of experience playing with one another provides a great foundation for the band, and their songs feature everything from acoustic guitar, to mandolin, to djembe, to octave violin, and more.

It seems starting young on the fiddle may well be a recipe for success. Eileen Ivers began her studies at age eight, and went on to win nine All-Ireland fiddle championships. If the strings call to your heart, they are front and center in much of her work, and played just beautifully. Her latest album, “Scatter the Light” features some very good original music, but there’s plenty to explore on her other offerings as well.

• The Selkie Girls
• Screaming Orphans
• Lissa Schneckenburger
• Eileen Ivers
• Heather Dale
• Tami Curtis
• The Gothard Sisters

While this is just a small sampling of all the talent that is out there, these Celtic bands should give you a starting point if you’re looking to add to your St. Patrick’s Day selection of excellent music to accompany you this holiday. We hope you’ll continue to join us here where we’re on a mission to bring you the very best and brightest Celtic music artists – male and female – all throughout this coming year!

Please subscribe to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast so you don’t miss a thing.

Celebrate Celtic culture through music at CelticMusicPodcast.com.

Some people grab a bottle of $3.99 wine and are perfectly happy pouring themselves a glass or three--and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. However, others would rather pass on that glass in favor of sipping on something that tickles their more well-developed palate. Fine wines are often a bit of an acquired taste, and I’ll admit that I can’t tell the difference between a decent wine and an exceptional one. The detail in the “notes” of vanilla and oak, etc. have always been a bit lost on me. That said, I do know that I tend to like wines from certain regions, such as New Zealand and Chile. Everyone is a little different, right? It’s what makes the world go ‘round.

Although the comparison may not be direct, there is a similarity when it comes to Celtic music. Some people love any music that is in the spirit of the Celtic sound and are content to raise a glass on St. Patrick’s Day with any type of Irish-related music playing merrily away in the room.

Again—there’s nothing wrong with that. However, others may be a bit more particular about the musical style and instrumentation, focusing on the skill of the players or vocals, and the overall quality of the band or group. And some might have a preference for authentic Celtic bands that deliver music that blends stories and a sense of heritage into the mix.

Since the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is generally aimed more at those who are interested specifically in Celtic bands, what follows is a curated list of favorites that will all lend something special to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This won’t be the list you find on a typical roundup of tunes for the holiday—and that’s a good thing! Some of the groups or artists were chosen because they feature accomplished Celtic musicians or vocalists. Others earned a spot for their musical originality and authentic Celtic background. Many on this list have all those qualifications, and more.

The fact is, this isn’t a list that is geared toward those who are satisfied with the "$3.99 version", instead it’s for those who feel a connection to Celtic music at a level that runs a little deeper than just plain fun. People who truly love Irish music and are into the Celtic culture every day, not just on St. Patrick’s Day.

1. We Banjo 3
2. Jiggy
3. The Selkie Girls
4. Screaming Orphans
5. Ockham's Razor
6. Barleyjuice
7. Lissa Schneckenburger
8. An Lar
9. Skeleton McKee
10. Runa
11. Stringer's Ridge
12. Eileen Ivers
13. Alexander James Adams
14. Heather Dale
15. Tami Curtis
16. Jesse Ferguson
17. W Ed Harris
18. Kilmaine Saints
19. Syr
20. The Gothard Sisters

No matter what kind of Celtic music palate you have developed over time, there’s something for you in this list. Have a listen, swirl it around, see what resonates, and get yourself ready for the holiday we all love so much. St. Patrick’s Day awaits—and it needs a playlist!

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast so you can dig deeper and learn more about what’s out there in Celtic music. It would be great to have you with us!

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Podcasts and streaming music give you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

I will share EIGHT great ways for you to have a spectacular St Patrick's Day today Celtfather Music & Travel.

The best thing about St Patrick's Day for me is that is a great time to celebrate Celtic culture. My passion lies in the music. I immersed myself in nothing but Irish and Scottish music for over a decade. I took that knowledge to create newsletters, blogs, videos, and eventually podcasts that celebrate Celtic culture through music.

St Patrick's Day is also my favorite time of year. It makes sense. I play Celtic music, and have done so since the 90s. I host the largest podcast of Celtic music in the world. Oh! And if that's not enough, it's also my birthday. I guess you could say I know a little something about St Patrick's Day.

So let's get started.

The cream of the Celtic music crop is the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Since 2005, this show has shared the music of the Celts from around the world. It's a like your favorite Celtic radio program, except you can download it to you computer or phone. You can listen to it ANYWHERE at ANY TIME. And just like those most of those weekly Celtic radio shows, it's 100% free.

It also focuses on the smaller Celtic bands. The ones that you might not hear on your favorite Celtic radio program. That's because most of these bands don't have record labels. They're doing it themselves. And they might be performing in YOUR community. You might not even know about them yet.

But they are fantastic. The music ranges from traditional reels and jigs to pub songs to Celtic rock and fusion. It's a HUGE amalgamation of incredible music. And it's available for free on nearly all of your favorite podcatchers. And you can even download a free app to listen to the show on your phone.

You can subscribe and find out more at CelticMusicPodcast.com

This is a good time to mention the St Patrick's Day Podcast. That was a short-run show that was released by the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast many years ago. The goal was to provide you with a St Patrick's Day playlist of amazing Celtic music by some of the best indie Celtic bands online. There's not a lot of talking. It's mostly about the music.

You can find that at stpatricksdayparty.net

And some St Patrick's Day gifts here.

Next on the list is the Pub Songs & Stories podcast. I started this show in 2005. It's gone through many renditions over the years, but right now, it is the virtual public house for Celtic and geek culture. I sing songs live in each show. I also chat about Celtic and Geek things that inspire me. I also share stories about my songs, both traditional and original.

That's the thing that I love about the show. I love story telling. Pub Stories are stories from primarily Celtic musicians about their songs. It's stories from the road. The things that inspired them to write songs or share music. It's the stories that make you fall in love with Celtic music in the first place.

Since I also host the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, I have direct access to hundreds of Celtic musicians. I'm adding new stories from these amazing bands in every show. It's fantastic!

Again, you will find this podcast available EVERYWHERE online. Subscribe to the podcast for free at pubsong.com

If you want to find other Celtic podcasts and stay on top of what's new, the Celtic Music Magazine is a great resource. I started publishing the weekly newsletter in 2000. It's still going today.

You can still get 34 free Celtic MP3s when you subscribe. And every St Patrick's Day I share 17 more free Celtic MP3s from some of the bands featured on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

But the best part is every podcast that features Celtic music or culture is featured in the newsletter. It's a great way to find new podcasts of Celtic culture.

Sign up so you don't miss at BestCelticMusic.net

If you just love Celtic music and want some of the best of the best, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast hosts the Celtic Top 20 every year. This is where you vote for your favorite songs of each episode of the podcast. At the end of the year, I compile your votes and create a Best Of episode. You can listen to it on the website.

However, my goal is to promote indie Celtic musicians. So I also made a playlist of all of these amazing Celtic bands on the Spotify. It's called Top Irish & Celtic Music playlist on Spotify.

You'll hear MOST of the bands who won in the Celtic Top 20. Admittedly, some are no longer available. But the vast majority are. And it's a powerhouse playlist with hundreds of listeners. Follow it and enjoy!

That alone will probably give you countless hours of Celtic musical entertainment. But before I let you go, I want to share one more really cool thing.

Every year, I take a small group of people on the adventure of a lifetime. It's called Celtic Invasion Vacations. We go to the Celtic nations and locations. We stay in one area and get to know the region through it's culture, history and legends.

I have numerous videos that highlight these amazing places. We've been to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany so far. You can watch these incredible Celtic Travel videos for free on YouTube. Plus, you get to hear some of my music in each of those travel videos.

Finally, I am a performing musician. I've been live streaming video concerts since 2014. Every Thursday at noon eastern, I host Coffee with The Celtfather. These are short, themed concerts where I play for your tips and CD sales. With St Patrick's Day just around the corner, these shows are St Patrick's Day themed.

And if you want a longer, even more fun shows, then you want to join my Celtfather Live concert series. These are usually Thursday night concerts. I play for over an hour on a theme. And again, during St Patrick's Day, that theme is Irish and Celtic songs. These concerts, however, are paid events. You can get tickets on my websites.

There ye go. Eight amazing ways to celebrate Celtic culture through music this, and every St Patrick's Day.

Oh! Before I finish, you often hear St Patrick's Day as mentioned as St Paddy's Day. Well, Paddy is the shortened version Padraig in the Irish language. Patty of course is the shortened version of Patricia. So if you want to say Happy St Paddy's Day, that's fine but mind the spelling.

You can learn 11 St Patrick's Day facts in the Pub Songs & Stories podcast.

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Podcasts and streaming music give you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

Greetings Gunn Runner

How can you celebrate St Patrick's Day in 2021 with podcasts, videos, blogs and perhaps even live concerts. Enjoy St Patrick's Day stories. A new Dancing with Hobbits single. Learn about the Brobdingnagian Bards' next single. Save on a St Patrick's Day CD special. And get ready for my birthday.

It's all on my monthly update, Celtfather Music & Travel, show #275.

0:26  - PODCASTS

I am on fire with podcasting. I finally have systems that allow me to complete episodes and plan future ones in a timely fashion. So I'm ahead on all of my podcasts.

I have nearly completed all the March episodes of the Pub Songs Podcast. I also have a new primary feature for that shows. I'm sharing stories from musicians. I love it because it's something solid. It gets other musicians involved. And again it's evergreen.

The first March episode features two stories. One is from na Skylark. The second is from Stout Pounders. The St Patrick's Day show is most like a St Patrick's Day concert. I'm singing a bunch of songs that you requested in that episode.

If you'd like to help out with future shows, there's One thing that would be amazing. Make a song request. You can suggest either a song I know or one I don't. Maybe I'll learn it. I'd like to learn some new songs for the podcast. To keep it interesting.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast has several St Patrick's Day episodes. My 17 for St Patrick's Day show comes out on March 4. All of the songs in that episode will be available for free download three days before St Patrick's Day.

Then my BIG St Pat's show is also the 500th episode of the podcast. It was supposed to JUST be a 3-hour special. But when I remembered that my graphic artist, Miranda Nelson, had asked musicians to submit audio feedback. It became quite a bit longer. In fact, it's still being edited as I record this. Because there were over 60 songs in that show. That should be nearly 5 hours long... in one podcast.

Yeah. I think this will officially be my longest podcast episode yet.

Thankfully, I have Mitchell editing it. [Sorry Mitchell.] And I have a plan for recording and releasing it.

Pro tip for anyone creating podcasts... or anything. Create a system to complete your projects. It helps!

Finally, I created a system for releasing Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast episodes on a more regular basis. Andrew's been swamped. But I got him to record a February show. And I'm recording a simple music show for March. After that, I hope to stay on top of monthly episodes.

The show will come out in the middle of each month.

4:04 - VIDEOS

I started creating Canvases for Spotify. Basically, artists can share a 3-8 second video that plays on loop when you listen to a song on Spotify. I'd love to add that to as many of my songs as I can. I just need to figure out what kind of videos to add to each song. I haven't figured out WHAT to add yet. But there are a few that now have them.

I just realized last week that Coffee with The Celtfather is doing exceptionally well. There are about 20 people watching the show every week. That's much higher than the 5-10 that used to. Facebook was really hit and miss and unreliable. So this is fantastic. My viewership is growing.

I planned out themes for the rest of the season. Theming shows seems to help attendance. But boy it is tough coming up with themes. If you have any cool show titles, let me know.

The next Celtfather Live concert is scheduled for Thursday, March 11. It is a St Patrick's Day show.

I am theming my Celtfather Live shows once again. So for this show, I will play fun Celtic songs for St Patrick's Day. Then I will take your song requests. And I'll play for another 30-60 minutes depending on how many requests I get.

So if you have any song requests, let me know.

This show is a ticketed event. Tickets are $8. You can get them in my MageRecords.com store. Spend $15 or more in the store, you'll also get access.

And of course, if you are a Heroic member of the Gunn Runners Club, pledging $10+ per month, you will get free access.

I haven't released any new video singles as I mentioned last month. But I am planning the next Travel Music Video. Stay tuned.

6:40 - IN THE STUDIO

All of my tracks for Selcouth are done. Songs are sent to guest musicians. Now I am waiting on the final tracks so we can finish mixing the album. It's looking very good that I'll have the album done by April or May for Patrons. So I should have an official release by Gen Con or possibly Dragon Con. I also hope to release a bunch of singles in the lead up the official release.

A new single from Dancing With Hobbits with Sam Gillogly will come out the day after St Patrick's Day. That's March 18. The track is called "Proudfoot Shuffle". I need to figure out what my next single will be.

I'm also hoping to have a Brobdingnagian Bards single... or two, released in the coming months. We have a couple instrumental track we recorded for the release of I Will Not Sing Along. Andrew also recorded on my song "By Amazing Grace". So I plan to release that as a single at some point too.

8:03 - MERCH

St Patrick's Day CDs are not selling phenomenally well. It's not selling bad. I mean, it IS SELLING. But I see it was a good idea not to do a serious reprint of that album. I'm hopeful that I'll sell out the copies I have before March 17.

You can now buy the album in my MageRecords.com store on Bandcamp. They are $20. And you can still get the 4 CD Celtic Collection for just $40. These offers good from now until March 17, St Patrick's Day.

Subscribe to my mailing list, you get a discount code to save 15%.

I am putting together some new special offers for the coming months. Details.

The Firefly Celtic Heartstring was really well received. I made a couple more. But again, I can't say they're selling spectacularly. About as well as I expected though. You can find them and my other Celtic Heartstrings in my store.

9:26 - CELTIC TRAVEL

I finally canceled my castle booking in Scotland. The Celtic Invasion of Scotland is officially delayed until next  year.

Sign up at CelticInvasion.com if you want to be one of the first on the list.

9:42 - WEBSITES

I updated lyrics for the Irish Song Lyrics website, including:

10:15 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR MARCH

THURS: Coffee with The Celtfather, YouTube (Season 8) @ 12:00 PM EST

MAR 11: "St Patrick's Day Party" Celtfather Live on YouTube @ 8:00 - 9 PM EDT. Tickets $8.
MAR 13: Ironshield Brewing in Lawrenceville, GA @  7:00 – 10:00 PM.
MAR 17: The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA @ 4:30-7:00 PM

11:23 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1219 is up from 1201
Celtic Music Magazine = 4026 is down from 4030

YouTube Subscribers = 5009 is up from 4961
Facebook Likes = 3746 is down from 3752 for the second month in a row
Instagram = 1867 is down from 1869
Spotify followers: 1737 is up from 1712
# Number of listens on Spotify: 3395 is down from 3929 BIG ST PATS SPIKE

Latest Spotify Single Stats:
"Hobbit Hornpipe" released Aug 26: 458 is up from 441
"Tough Times" released Oct 21: 35 is up from 14
"The Hero of Christmas" released on Nov 17: 119 is down from 178

Latest Spotify Album Stats:
Browncoat Christmas: 136 is down from 200 (last month)
St Patrick's Day: 1K is down from 1.7K

Most-popular songs on Spotify: "The Widow and the Devil" (1.7K), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (523), "Hobbit Hornpipe" (458), "Danny Boy" (400), "A-Working in the Garden" (368)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music: "Hero of Canton" (1269), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (446), "The Widow and the Devil" (107), "A Drop of Nelson's Blood" (93), "Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster" (63)

Top albums: As Long As I'm Flyin (1526), Sci Fi Drinking Songs (839), Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion (420), Kilted For Her Pleasure (296), Going for Brogue (284)

Fun Christmas Songs for Kids & Families = 1983 is down from 1991 (Last until next season)

Last year's playlists from this time last year:
Top Irish & Celtic Music: 564 is up from 556
Sci F'Irish Music: 12 (same)
Nagians Only: 21 (same)
Celtfather Experience: 29 is down 30
Hobbit Drinking Songs: 6 is up from 5
Firefly Drinking Songs: 122 (same)
Christmas Drinking Songs: 39 (same, last of Season)
Joyful Celtic Christmas Music: 108 is down from 109 (last of the season)
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 61 is up from 59
Jedi Drinking Songs: 31 (same)

16:27 - PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 156 is down from 158
Patreon Monthly Income: $1194 is up from $1184

I ran Special Offer last month. I got a couple new subscribers. But I can't say it was a rousing success.

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

#CFMonthly

Greetings Gunn Runner

St Patrick's Day is re-released and it's back on CD for a limited time. Selcouth moves closer to completion. A little bit of kindness goes a long way. And Get a sticker and access this month's Celtfather Live by joining the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon.

It's all on Celtfather Monthly for February 2021, show #274

0:22  - PODCASTS

The Pub Songs Podcast started with some strong evergreen episodes. The first highlighted the re-release of my St Patrick's Day CD. More about that in a bit. Then there was an interview with Bruno Maia of Tuatha De Danann. I shared my recording of "Johnny Jump" and then shared Tuatha De Danann's Celtic rock version. I love that recording.

I also did a Robert Burns Day episode. That one features Scottish kilt-loving songs. I have an interview with Devo Spice. He's a huge Doctor Who fan who wrote the song "Doctor of Gallifrey". He shares a little Whovian facts.

I love these interviews. And I want to do more. But I realize that it might be easier if I only plan to do one episode per month. And then the second one is mostly music.

I'm not saying that's how it will be. But the first episode of February is a Top 5 Irish Drinking Songs episode. So stay tuned for that.

Over the past few years, I themed new episodes of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.  A couple years ago it was Celtic women. Last years was the love of planet earth and nature.

I feel my themes go on the wayside though. I released a two hour episode at the start of this year where I announced a repeat of the Planet Earth theme. It was sort of a do over year for the podcast since last year's theme was replaced by the pandemic. Then we had an insurrection.

It was then I realized I already established the theme for 2021 a few months ago when I said I was voting for Joe Biden. I voted for kindness back in the White House. And kindness for America.

Well, if there's one thing I can hope and pray for our nation, it's that we can bring kindness back to our country. Less name calling. Less anger. More forgiveness.

Kindness is what you can expect to see more from me through everything I do this year.

I'm keeping that as my mantra as I peruse Facebook. If it's not kind, I try not to share it or like it or whatever. I want to see a return to Kindness.

2:40 - VIDEOS

The new Coffee with The Celtfather is back. As usual, it's a free to watch show. I'm trying to have at least one show with my "hit songs" so newbies might be interested in watching too. So far shows are getting decent attendance. But I'll keep it up.

Of course, if you enjoy the show, tips are always gratefully appreciated.

The next Celtfather Live concert is scheduled for Thursday, February 18. I'm trying to decide how to theme this show. If you have any theme requests, let me know ASAP.

That show is still a ticketed evening event. Tickets are $8. You can get them in my MageRecords.com store. Spend $15 or more in the store, you'll also get access. And of course, if you are a member of the Gunn Runners Club, you will get free access.

I was struck at the end of last month with the question. Is it worth my time and effort to release video singles every week?

I looked at the numbers and realized the answer is no.

It's not the best strategy. Yes. If I record a stellar performance of a song during a Coffee show, then sure, it's probably a great idea to release a single like "Hallelujah" back in November. But I think that's the exception to the rule.

So I'm starting to think about how to edit a solid music video highlighting my music instead. It's a little tougher to do. But oh well...

4:38 - IN THE STUDIO

I finally had a good sit down to look at my recording schedule. What do I have left to do to finish Selcouth?

One of the big things is deciding what instruments I want on a recording.

I finally heard back from Nathan Deese. He's gonna start working on "Breathing". I think he will be perfect for this song.

"Favor of a Dance" was sent to Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. But it sounds promising. Though I might've suggested an extra difficult way of recording. The song reminds me of West Side Story with The Jets and The Sharks doing a dance off battle. That's sort of what I want for this song. Again, I might be asking too much.

"Kilty Pleasure" feels like it needs to be a rocked up. Since the beginning, it had a sort of Pogues feel to me. So when Jeff Shaw of The Muckers showed up at my Tucker Brewing Company gig this month, I decided to ask them. I'm patiently waiting to see what they come with.

After chatting with The Muckers, I decided to work next on "Bright Side of Everything". That has a pop sort of to it. The first band that came to mind was Screeched Inn out of Canada. They are a Celtic rock band. But they have a super friendly sound. I sent the tracks to them. They started working on it immediately. And it's going right in the direction I hoped it would.

Meanwhile, I finished recording and mixing "Battle of Aughrim/Star of Munster".

I also recorded the autoharp tracks for "Just A Hero". This is the last song that I NEED on the album. And there are only two more songs that I HOPE to have on the album. If I can nail those vocals, I'll be on the final steps of finishing this. And if I can make it happen, I might get another guest musician for that song.

Finally, St Patrick's Day was officially re-released at the beginning of the month. So far things are looking good. But there are some downsides.

First, I screwed up and accidentally listed one song as Explicit. CD Baby said they can fix that. But it's gonna take a while. Will it be fixed by St Patrick's Day? I don't know.

I also wish I waited to release the album in February.

That's because the album is doing great on Spotify. Spotify is releasing new tracks to the release radar every week, I think. You'll see in the stats. Several songs already have a couple hundred new plays. Including "Purple Flower". I love that song, but didn't expect it to go anywhere because of the title. So color me impressed.

I'm hoping it'll get some more visibility especially since I don't have any new tracks scheduled for release yet. So here's hoping it kicks butt by March 17.

8:18 - MERCH

Gunn Runners asked that I release a physical copy of St Patrick's Day on CD. You can now buy that in my MageRecords.com store on Bandcamp. That's selling for $20.

Or you can get a 4 CD Celtic Collection for just $40. These offers good from now until March 17, St Patrick's.

I should also point out that St Patrick's Day is a seasonal release. That means, it won't be available again until next year.

If you're subscribe to my mailing list, you get a discount code to save 15%.

I don't remember what inspired it. But I just sat Inara down to do some art. I didn't feel like painting or drawing. I thought I should do the art I enjoy. So I went and grabbed the items I need to make Celtic Heartstrings.

I sat down and thought, "What should I make a butterfly? A dragonfly? Hm. A firefly?"

So I did a quick search to see what a firefly would like like. Of course, I immediately thought of the TV show too and lo and behold, I saw a beautiful picture of the ship and decided to try and make one using my techniques. I finished. And I gotta say, the final pendant is pretty cool looking.

Seems others liked it as well. I'm gonna make a few and then we shall see if this will be come a regular part of my Celtic Heartstring products.

10:00 - CELTIC TRAVEL

The Celtic Invasion of Scotland is officially delayed until next year.

Sign up at CelticInvasion.com if you want to be one of the first on the list.

11:15 - WEBSITES

I updated lyrics for the Irish Song Lyrics website, including:

• "Kilkelly, Ireland"
• "Johnny Jump Up"
• "Rocky Road to Dublin"
• "A Man’s A Man For A' That"
• "Skye Boat Song"
• "A Man Who Wears A Kilt Every Day"
• "Wild Mountain Thyme"

11:50 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY

THURS: Coffee with The Celtfather, YouTube (Season 8) @ 12:00 PM EST

FEB 12-14: Boskone 58, Boston, MA (online event)
FEB 18: Celtfather Live on YouTube @ 8:00 - 9 PM EDT. Tickets $8.

MAR 11: Celtfather Live on YouTube @ 8:00 - 9 PM EDT. Tickets $8.
MAR 13: Ironshield Brewing in Lawrenceville, GA @  7:00 – 10:00 PM.
MAR 14: Tucker Brewing Company in Tucker, GA @ 3:30-6:30 PM  Pending
MAR 17: The Lost Druid Brewery in Avondale Estates, GA @ 4:30-7:00 PM. Birthday Party!

APR 23-25: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX
MAY 1-2: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX

13:41 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1201 is up from 1191
Celtic Music Magazine = 4030 is up from 4027

YouTube Subscribers = 4961 is up from 4907
Facebook Likes = 3752 is down from 3755
Instagram = 1869 is up from 1858
Spotify followers: 1712 is up from 1684
# Number of listens on Spotify: 3929 is down from 7838

Latest Spotify Single Stats:
"Hobbit Hornpipe" released Aug 26: 441 is up from 373
"Tough Times" released Oct 21: 14 is down from 69
"The Hero of Christmas" released on Nov 17: 178 is down from 1454

"Firefly Jingle Bells" on Dec 1: 9 is down from 81
"Grandma Got Devoured by Reavers" on Dec 1: 8  is down from 69
"12 Days of Firefly Christmas" on Dec 1: 5 is down from 93

Latest Spotify Album Stats:
Browncoat Christmas: 200
St Patrick's Day: 1.7K

Most-popular songs on Spotify: The Widow and the Devil (1.5K), Hobbit Hornpipe (441), Doctor of Gallifrey (429), Christmas in the Shire (330), A-Working in the Garden (305), Danny Boy (252), "Slainte Mhaith Christmas" (249), Nancy Whiskey (240), Drunken Sailor (192), A Drop of Nelson's Blood (191), Purple Flower (189), Hero of Canton (188), Rising of the  Moon (185)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music: "Hero of Canton" (690), "Doctor of Gallifrey" (442), "The Widow and the Devil" (89), "As Long As I'm Flyin'" (70), A Drop of Nelson's Blood (61)

Top albums: As Long As I'm Flyin, Sci Fi Drinking Songs, Going for Brogue, Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion, Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits

Fun Christmas Songs for Kids & Families = 1991 is up from 1927

Last year's playlists from this time last year:
Top Irish & Celtic Music: 556 is up from 547
Sci F'Irish Music: 12 (same)
Nagians Only: 21 (same)
Celtfather Experience: 29 is down 30
Hobbit Drinking Songs: 5 is up from 4
Firefly Drinking Songs: 122 (same)
Christmas Drinking Songs: 39 is up from 36
Joyful Celtic Christmas Music: 109 is up from 89
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 59 (same)
Jedi Drinking Songs: 31 is down from 32

18:16 - PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 158 is up from 155
Patreon Monthly Income: $1184 is down from $1202

I just posted a Special Offer on Patreon. Everyone who signs up to my Patreon and is a member on February 15 will get access to my next Celtfather Live concert on the 18th. Plus a Marc Gunn sticker.

Oh! And you can now get an annual membership through Patreon. You'll also save 15% off your membership when you sign up that way.

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

20:25 - RANT

There's a meme from the presidential debates. Obama and Biden are sitting together. Obama asks Biden, "Did you take the high ground like I told you?" Biden replies, "I told him to shut up."

I would like to say that I took the high ground these past four years. I did not either.

Trump will go down in history as the most divisive president ever. No one has polarized America so much as Trump. That's one of his worst legacies. He intentionally pit Americans against Americans. That division has weakened us as a nation. So of course, I am happy that he is no longer the leader of our great country. He dragged us down.

But now that he's gone. I see the high ground again. And I confess, I am ashamed.

I allowed his petulant behavior to drag me down to his level. As it has with so many Americans.

Yes. There will always be division. Especially with competing media sources telling us different extreme ideas.

But I am ashamed that I allowed myself to become angry and nasty. I have no excuse  for that.

One of the many reasons I voted for Biden was to bring kindness back into the White House. Back into our nation. Sure, Biden is far from perfect. But he's kind. Or at least he's kinder than Trump could ever be.

We need a kind president. Because that sets the tone of the nation. Kindness, generosity. Those are the way you build up a community of people.

I  still get Facebook posts of people lambasting the president or his supporters. But I know from talking to some that most are not bad people. Most just support a conservative ideal.

I remember when I talked to conservatives in the run up to 2016. EVERY SINGLE ONE said their #1 issue was to reduce the national debt. It was not about the racist agenda Trump later pushed and used to divide us. Most called themselves fiscally conservative but socially liberal.

These are people who just have a different opinions of the federal government. They believe in the same inalienable rights of our Constitution. The only difference is they don't want the government spending so much money on social services.

That is not my enemy.

I disagree with the role of the federal government. But that's a difference of opinion.

What's more important is that we are kind to one another.

I keep seeing a call for unity. I agree with it. I believe we need to take a step back and be kind to one another. Because it is very likely we are not seeing eye-to-eye because we are all just blinded by anger.

The best way to beat anger and hate is by kindness and forgiveness.

And if there's one thing I learned about forgiveness is that it does have to be unconditional. It also heals. It's magical.

It doesn't mean we forget. It means we recognize our own negative contribution to the situation. We correct it. Then we ask forgiveness for our part, and we heal.

Because never in the history of ever were there two different competing perspectives where one is right and the other is wrong. They both always screwed up.

And that's the only way we can move forward.

Not spouting conspiracy theories. Or blaming someone else for our own failures.

But by recognizing our own fault in the situation. Because that's when we realize things aren't all as bad as they seem.

We are able to see the high ground. Through the lies, through the anger and through the hatred.

On the side is a world of kindness and healing.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

#CFMonthly

Greetings Gunn Runner

It's time to take a look back at the past year, to decide what worked and what didn't. What is useful and what isn't?

Before we get to all that, we're gonna do a review of December.

It's all on Celtfather Monthly, show #273

0:14 - PODCASTS

December is always the toughest month for podcasting for me. That's because in addition to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, I have the Celtic Christmas Podcast and I have to create the Best Celtic Music of the Year episode. I can't do that until all of the votes in the Celtic Top 20 are in. So December is a little bit different.

There was only one regular episode of the podcast this year. That came out on the first Thursday of the month. The second episode was a Patron Request show. that was a good and long show.

This year's Christmas episode highlighted Celtic women playing Christmas music. It was a two hour special, thanks to a Patreon milestone we hit. Fantastic show whether you enjoy Christmas music or not.

Meanwhile, I finished up the final two episodes of the Celtic Christmas Podcast. It was a pretty good year, though a bit labor intensive. Again, that's in large part to all of the other podcasts and work I need to do. I'm probably gonna cut back on shows. But we shall see. I'm gonna set some new milestones next year to see if I do more or less episodes. If you love the podcast, look for those in October.

I did enjoy releasing the Hang the Holly episodes of the Celtic Christmas Podcast. Stay tuned. I will publicly release them to the feed in the months to come.

Planning for the Pub Songs Podcast is getting better. It's amazing how much easier things become when you create a solid plan and plan ahead. There's still a little uncertainty. But I find myself already planning the January episodes. I even recorded one of those already. So I know what's coming. If I can keep that up and fine tune it, this may become favorite podcast.

What I don't know yet is what listeners think. The show gets a really good number of downloads. But is it something that gets people excited? Something that makes you want to share it?

I'm reading another book on Bing Crosby. He ran the Kraft Music Hall for over a decade. That was one of the most-popular radio programs of the 30s and 40s. I often liken podcasting to the early days of radio. So I'm looking for ideas.

While I can offer music that I feel like you will enjoy, I don't have the comedic skills of Bing. Certainly not as a solo podcaster and I don't have the easy ability to add co-host. Hm. I don't know. Maybe I could work out something with Andrew. Honestly, I'd love the Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast to become something more. I just haven't figured out how. And sadly, Andrew and I had trouble the past couple o'months recording a podcast at all.

6:27 - VIDEOS

Coffee with The Celtfather came to a wonderful conclusion. We had a bunch of viewers watching the final episode of the season. Season 8 returns on Thursday, January 7 at noon eastern.

I'll have to let you know about Celtfather Live. I'm cataloging this BEFORE that show. So I'm not sure about the success. I'll let you know next month. But you can also catch the next Celtfather Live on January 21. All Heroic Gunn Runners will get access to that show.

The video single release plan is working great. I have enough videos to release them weekly. I put out "Slainte Mhaith Christmas", "Let's Have a Celtic Christmas", "Kilty Pleasure", and "Hero of Christmas".

8:06 - IN THE STUDIO

Oh, the studio. I did not spend much time recording, at least at the beginning of the month. I did write a new tune that I'm gonna try and record, maybe add a guest musician to as well. In fact, it might turn into a hobbit tune with Sam Gillogly. We shall see...

I did decide to finish "Wherever I May Roam" though. That song just needed completion. It sounds great. Is it everything I dream it should be? I don't know. But I'm not sure where to go with it. Or how to revamp.

The Browncoat Christmas EP I released with Mikey Mason is getting more play than some singles. But it doesn't look to be added to a bunch of Firefly or Christmas playlists. It's just getting light play as of recording this.

9:32 - MERCH

I have some new merch packages that I will probably launch in January. If you're into some discounted CDs, keep an eye open.

And if you're subscribe to my mailing list, you get a discount code to save 15%.

- CELTIC TRAVEL

Hooray for a vaccine! I know it's still rolling out. And I will happily get the vaccine as soon as it is available to me. May be I can finally back to planning the Celtic Invasion of Scotland.

Sign up at CelticInvasion.com if you want to be one of the first on the list.

9:53 - WEBSITES

I updated lyrics for the Irish Song Lyrics website, including:

• “Rosin the Bow”
• “The Smial or the Tree”
• “Hero of Christmas”
• "Kilkelly, Ireland"
• "Johnny Jump Up"
• "Rocky Road to Dublin"

10:06 - SHOWS PLANNED FOR JANUARY

THURS: Coffee with The Celtfather, YouTube (Season 7) @ 12:00 PM EST
Season 8 will start on January 7.

JAN 15: Tucker Brewing Company in Tucker, GA @ 4:30 - 7:30 PM ET
JAN 21: Celtfather Live on YouTube @ 8:00 - 9 PM EDT. Tickets $8.
JAN 23: Ironshield Brewing in Lawrenceville, GA @  7:00 – 10:00 PM.

10:52 - STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1191 is down from 1194
Celtic Music Magazine = 4027 is up from 4021

YouTube Subscribers = 4907 is up 16 from 4891
Facebook Likes = 3755 is up from 3752
Instagram = 1858 is up from 1856
Spotify followers: 1684 is up from 1670
# Number of listens on Spotify: 7838 is up from 3265

Latest Spotify Single Stats:
"Hobbit Hornpipe" released Aug 26: 373 is down from 447

"October Waltz" released Oct 14: 13 is down from 103
"Tough Times" released Oct 21: 69 is down from 163
"The Hero of Christmas" released on Nov 17: 1454 is up from 148

"Firefly Jingle Bells" on Dec 1: 81
"Grandma Got Devoured by Reavers" on Dec 1: 69
"12 Days of Firefly Christmas" on Dec 1: 93

Most-popular songs on Spotify: "Christmas in the Shire" (3K), "Slainte Mhaith Christmas" (2.9K), "Frosty the Irish Snowman" (2.6K), The Widow and the Devil (1.5K), Hero of Christmas (1.5K)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music: "Doctor of Gallifrey" (377), "Hero of Canton" (303), "The Widow and the Devil" (117), "Christmas in Scotland" (97) "Jedi Drinking Song Prequel" (77)

Fun Christmas Songs for Kids & Families = 1927 is up from 1762

Last year's playlists from this time last year:
Top Irish & Celtic Music: 547 is up from 426
Sci F'Irish Music: 12
Nagians Only: 21
Celtfather Experience: 30
Hobbit Drinking Songs: 4
Firefly Drinking Songs: 122 is up from 101
Christmas Drinking Songs: 36 is up from 29
Joyful Celtic Christmas Music: 89  is up from 83
Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 59
Jedi Drinking Songs: 32

14:30 - PATREON

Patreon Subscribers: 155 is down from 158
Patreon Monthly Income: $1202 is down from $1221

Thanks as always for supporting my music. Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music. Digital sales keep my business running. Tips and CD sales allow me to tour. Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts and other merch. And Patreon funds my songwriting!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts.

15:18 - GOALS FOR 2021

I'm gonna break down last year's successes and then share plans for 2021.

• Promote one "Hit" song every month. (in videos, podcasts, blogs, on social, mp3 giveaway, in emails). Pick 12 songs.
• Give away original recording of hit song. Once a month. Mingulay Boat Song. Wild Mountain Thyme.
• Promote one Coffee event per month FOR NEWBIES. The show AFTER Celtfather Live
• Encourage and seek a cover of an original song once a month.
• Take photos for promo purposes. Build up Instagram.

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music at Celtfather.com!

#CFMonthly

Welcome Behind the Music on The Celtfather podcast. I’m gonna chat about my album of hobbit drinking songs called Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits.

The show is generously brought to you by my  Patrons in the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon. You can help me write new hobbit music. Join the Club for just $5 per month.

Then subscribe to my Pub Songs Podcast at Pubsong.net.

I love hobbits. It was the 1977 animated movie of The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien that started it all for me. Shortly after watching it, I started playing Dungeons & Dragons. My favorite characters were hobbits.

I finally gave my love of hobbits the attention they deserved in 2011 when I released Don’t Go Drinking with Hobbits.

The concept?

What kind of songs might you have heard while walking thru the shire?

To help me create the songs for the album, I turned to my friend and lyricist, Rie Sheridan Rose. She wrote a song for me a decade earlier called “Soul of a Harper”. I loved it so much I asked her to write a Firefly song ("Browncoats Keep Flyin'") for a soundtrack project I hoped to be a part of. I loved that song too. So in 2010, I asked her to help me round out an album of hobbit songs.

What kind of songs should be on a hobbit album?

Well, hobbits are down to earth, practical people. So folk songs made sense.

I spent the prior 11 years singing Irish, Scottish and Renaissance festival folk songs. So I started with the idea of adapting certain styles to this hobbit project.

I wanted drinking songs. I wanted a gardening song. I wanted a song like “The Parting Glass” and a list song. I also wanted a song about food and pipe weed but neither of those made the final cut. I mixed those with new recordings of songs I had already written, including a couple from the 2004 Brobdingnagian Bards album, Memories of Middle Earth.

The next step was finding musicians for the album. This felt like a community project. So I posted on Facebook and reached out to my community. I asked for volunteers. I was swamped with singers and musicians of all types. Some like Sam Gillogly and Daniel Briggs became a regular part of my recording team to this day.

The result was 20 tracks of hobbit fun. It’s gone on to be one of my most-popular albums, and one that I’m super proud of. I even lead a 300 person sing along at Dragon Con every year.

And it all came to be because of the success of the title track. But that’s the subject of another podcast about the true story behind "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits".

You can find out more me Marc Gunn and my hobbit albums by visiting HobbitSongs.com.