The 26th North Texas Irish Festival, the first weekend in March, which next year will actually start on the evening of Friday, February 29th - known as Sadie Hawkins day in some countries! Among the headline guests are the Battlefield Band, Irish button accordion wizard David Munnelly, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Nollaig Casey and Arty McGlynn, the Brock McGuire Band, the Black Brothers, Celtic Spring, Seamus Kennedy, Ed Miller, Town Pants, Brother, and Needfire.
Special Announcement: The Irish supergroup Altan has been added to the lineup of this year's NTIF, performing a single show on Sunday! This is not to be missed.
NTIF is one of the oldest Irish festivals in the country and the largest run by volunteers. It is one of the most fun events to attend in the state, and one of the most fun and fulfilling to volunteer at. My volunteer application is in and accepted. I'll be working the information booth outside by the big stage Saturday night. I'll also be at the tent for the Clan Donald Society of Texas at aome point, so drop by and say howdy!
Smokey Wilson
Written by Rick Shannon
Saturday, 09 February 2008
Smokey Wilson is a Texas singer/songwriter who lives on his 4th generation ffamily ranch outside of Cuero, Texas. Smokey sponsors an annual Party in the Pasture at his ranch outside Cuero. This festival features acts like Tommy Elskis, Kevin Fowler, Highspeed Hayride, the Lavens, Ashlee Rose, Kim Carson, Smokey himself and others. There is camping space available. This is always a fun time.
Last year's Party was scheduled for May, and was rained out. Smokey just announced the tentative dates for the 2008 Party as the weekend of August 29th and 30th. Acts haven't been announced yet, but the lineup is always inpressive, so keep an eye here and on Smokey's site. This is one festival you want to remember.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 09 February 2008 )
Jack Motley
Written by Rick Shannon
Monday, 09 August 2004
Jack Motley is a singer-songwriter from Edna, Texas with a fun approach to music. As likeable a picker as ever met, he is always smiling and willing to make new friends.
I met Jack at the Courtyard Gallery in Cuero at their monthly pickers jam. Jack was the January host, so besides some of the local regular musicians there were a number of Jack's friends and family, some performing, some providing an audience. This monthy music event is lively and very enjoyable. The gallery is in an old building downtown with a courtyard in back where the music is hosted in nice weather. The gallery represents a number of talented artists and photographers.
I came away with Jack's CD In Treatment, which provided an entertaining drive back to Yoakum. I particularly liked the songs Fast Lane, I'm in Treatment, Port "A" Lodge, Draggin Things, and Dancing With My Wife.
Jack has a fine lineup of musicians backing him on the CD, including Gordon Barth on dobro, bass and mandolin, Ralph Giron on slap bass, snare, and bass, Leon Vines on slide guitar and lead guitar, Keyy Mulhollan on banjo, harmonica and snare, Donna Stjerna on fiddle and backing vocals, Greg Klyma on mandolin, Eric Gonzales on electric guitar, Jeff Abrams on flute, Duke Royal on lead guitar, Robert Gill on nose harp, Schott Motley on tamborine and backing vocals, Erin Condon on backing vocals, Robert Gill and Charlie Burger on backing vocas, and Buddy Motley on backing vocals.
News just in: Jack's surgery went well and he's expected to leave the hospital soon. Hopefully we'll be able to see him back onstage in the near future.
The Full Moon Barn Dances at Leeann Atherton's are one of the best ways to have fun anywhere. With acts as diverse as Papa Mali, Founders without Eyes, Peter Rowan, and Miss Leeann herself, these homestyle hoedowns - old fashioned hoot'n'anny sorta house concert, with pot luck, open mic, scheduled acts, and an area for the kids - are a great way to hear a lot of good music, get some dancin' done, and share food with a large friendly crowd.
The Barn Dances have a family feel to them, like you are a guest at a big family reunion, or a neighborhood pot-luck crossed with small music fest. The feelings are organic and down to earth. A lot of musicians and musician families. It's obvious a lot of these people know each other. Newcomers are welcome, and it's easy to get to know people.
Music is lively and easy to listen to. The dance floor is usually full. At the Dec. 30th Barn Dance Leeann mentioned a rebuilding of the dying dance floor as a goal in 2008. She has plans on expanding the Barn Dance to include a small indoor venue and a recording studio. These parties having been a resounding success, one can imagine a lot of music and creative projects coming from this South Austin barn.
OK, so I've been dragging around the house since Puppa crossed over, cursing at the silence and feeling plenty sorry for myself.The thing about being in a close-knit group of friends is they can feel it, too.At
every gathering held here at Rowan Central, Pup would gently work the
room with a toy in her mouth, convinced that everyone had come to visit
her!Ah yes, she was quite the gracious hostess!
Abrief Yule tale (and it's all true), written on Saturday, 12/22, the
morning before the Yule Bash here at Rowan Central:
OK, so this morning I'm cruising the aisles at Krogers, oozing with
Yule Happiness, yapping with FL on the cell (he can't make it this
evening on account of work - bummer!), and steering my shopping cart
(yes, we Yankees call it a "cart", not a "buggy") in all manner of
ways, when it occurs to me that the people I'm encountering are driving
their 'buggies' in the same manner they drove their cars in the parking
lot. I.e., insanely. The only person who looked me in the eye was the
person busy stocking cucumbers and whatnot, and the only reason he
stopped fondling vegetables was to ask me this: "Is that a devil's
cross you're wearing?" I looked down, realized he was talking about my
brand-new staurolite/fairy cross (Yay! - mayhaps this one won't go
missing), looked back at him, and said, with a straight face, "Must
have been the embedded garnets that gave it away, huh?" ::blank look::
For the rest of my shopping experience, I had a shadow. I go up one
aisle and he's stocking tea. Three aisles away, he's at the ham
section. I go to check out, waiting in an egregiously long line, get to
the cashier, and realize I've left my ID at home. No problem, Krogers
owns my first born son (folly on their part - Ha!), but as I'm leaving
the lady looks at the staurolite/fairy cross and says:
"Is that a devil's cross you're wearing?"
Sheesh already!!
~Rowan
PS: In retrospect I should have bought a new broom, too. Ahaha!
I registered rickshannon.com to have a truly personalized email address. Since I had the site registered, and hosted in order to setup the email, I decided to go ahead and setup a site.
I keep my blog, resume, portfolio and personal projects like my family history and genealogy on this site, and provide services to family and friends who register to use the tools on the site.
Please sign up as a member and help out. You get a blog and can use the forum and add items to the many listings. You can even have an email address if you need one - just let me know.
Jack Motley
