If you do, why not show your support?

You could do this by either making a donation or leaving a comment on our Petition Site.

Celtic Music Radio is a charity registered in Scotland, run entirely by unpaid volunteers.

We rely on your kindness to keep the station on air.

If you donate during Celtic Connections, we’ll add your name to our prize draw for a bundle of over 40 CDs!

Many thanks in anticipation!

Celtic Music Radio has the best playlist of any folk music station that I know of. The mix of contemporary and traditional Celtic and Celtic-infludenced genres has clearly been selected by knowlegeable curators with excellent taste. This exemplary quality is not available in any mainstream media, Celtic music may not be commercially lucrative for the mainstream, but is nevertheless culturally very important.

Charles Frink, Netherlands

The group, which meets at Airdrie Library, is led by Dhilin Kunderan.

After the group’s inception in January 2011, the Airdrie Library Songwriters Club’s progress has arguably exceeded all expectations. This tight knit unit of local talent have continued to grow in confidence. If you don’t believe me, tune in this Friday Night!

Performing for you will be: James Beekman, Lewis Hughes, Jim Connarty, Stewart Robertson, and Gerry Reilly.

Thank Folk It’s Friday with Ross Macfadyen goes to air on Friday’s at 8pm!

Join in the fun at Thank Folk It’s Friday’s Facebook Group.

The Fund has enabled Watercolour Music to work with a number of emerging musicians, providing a unique opportunity to work with a professional producer and to leave the studio with recordings they are proud to submit to record labels, radio stations and promoters.

Nick Turner, resident producer at the newly relocated Ardgour-based studio, said, “We’re really looking forward to providing young artists with the ultimate professional experience.  We want to allow them time and space to develop their writing and arranging skills, and to appreciate the journey they and their music can take from its inception to the finished article ”.

To reflect the scheme’s new focus on communities, Watercolour Music is casting its net right across the Highlands and Islands, and appealing for submissions from bands and musicians right across the region.

Submitting artists have to be under 25 years old, unsigned to any label or management and not have participated in any international showcase.

Contact: Nick Turner, Watercolour Music, Ardgour PH33 7AH
Email: nick@watercolourmusic.co.uk

Deadline for submissions: December 20th 2011

“Nick is a master at what he does. He quickly understands the music and what the band are looking for and seamlessly gets into the mindset of the band; it was as though he’d been producing us for years. It was a delight and our pleasure to work with such an experienced engineer and producer, not to forget the general banter and often hilarious tales of misfortune”. Kotchka

The Auld Toon Band is Graeme Liveston and Michael Toner plus Lucy Liveston and Janice Toner.

Michael Toner and Graeme Liveston are children of the 1960s folk revival scene and played in various bands before forming The Auld Toon Band in the 1980s which then included a teenage John McCusker.

The ex-teachers (dominies) are joined on the CD recording of their happy lot of songs by Janice Toner on keyboard, Lucy Liveston on fiddle and Grant Cassidy on drums and djembe.

Ross Macfadyen chats with the band about their history including a very young John McCusker being a past member.  The Auld Toon Band have an afinity with The Bully Inn, 2 Store Row, Quarter, Hamilton, Lanarkshire where the Quarter Acoustic Music Club meets every Tuesday night.

Information on The Auld Toon Band and how to purchase their CD here.

Album of the Week, Saturday 10.00am and 12 midnight and Monday at 6.00pm.

Ross Macfadyen talks to Ian about his new album and the songs within ‘Can’t keep still’ and his craft as a ‘songwriter’s songwriter’.

Ian Davison was given the title ‘The Songwriter’s Songwriter’ by a Edinburgh newspaper writer.  Ian lives in Mollinsburn, North Lanarkshire.

Ian is known mostly as a top songwriter with almost 300 songs in traditional and modern styles, half of them written in the 1990’s.  His songs are being sung in clubs and festivals all over the world and recorded by artists like Peggy Seeger, Archie Fisher, Adam MacNaughton, Ed Miller, Brian McNeill and Toni Wood.

Ian was a founder member of the Glasgow Folk Song Club, The Glasgow University Folk Club with Adam McNaughton and Rutherglen Folk Club. He also organised inter-schools song events and school song clubs around the Glasgow area at Rutherglen, Bellahouston and Knightswood.

CD Album of the Week featuring Ian Davison’s ‘Can’t keep still’ presented by Ross Macfadyen - Saturday 29 October 10.00am and 12 midnight (BST); Monday 31 October at 6.00pm (GMT).

This  is a new CD album from Kevin recorded with Mattias Perez from Sweden who plays guitars and mandola.

Fin Da Laand Ageen is an old Shetland expression meaning to arrive back home.

Says Kevin: “I decided to make an album of purely traditional Shetland tunes as I am finding the older I get it’s the music I am going back to more and more. I was delighted to have Mattias on the CD and also to have his wife Nina on fiddle join us for a track.”

The Fin Da Laand Ageen CD is available from Kevin’s website at the shop section here.

Kevin Henderson is one of the most exciting young fiddlers on the world stage and is in hot demand as he performs around the globe with five musical groups. He has been a member of Shetland group Fiddlers’ Bid since 1991; Boys of the Lough since 2002; Session A9 since 2004; Nordic trio, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc since 2009 and Shetland/Norway trio Aamos since 2009.

Kevin has been featured on 15 albums. He has appeared on television and radio programmes worldwide including the BBC and many appearances on Garrison Keillor’s ‘A Prairie Home Companion on National Public Radio in America and ofcourse Celtic Music Raduio 1530AM.

Kevin Henderson is a native of the Shetland Islands, home of one of the richest
fiddling traditions in the world.  Ross Macfadyen talks to Kevin about his music and his new CD.

CD Album of the Week, Saturdays 12 noon and 12 midnight and Monday 6.00pm.

Fiona and Stevie are two highly respected and experienced Scottish musicians who combine in a new duo to produce a top quality album, mostly their own compositions.

The album A Cruel Kindness has contemporary folk music on fiddle and  guitar/bouzouki with a touch of rock attitude.

They are currently members of Scottish based band Rallion but have also recorded and performed together with various ensembles from the Early Music of Whirligig, the modern Celtic sound of Canterach, the progressive rock of Abel Ganz and the traditional folk repertoire of Real Time.

A Cruel Kindness features Fiona Cuthill on fiddle; Stevie Lawrence plays guitar, bouzouki, bass, percussion, hurdy gurdy; Brendan McCreanor on uillean pipes, whistles; Fraser Speirs on harmonica; Rachel Hair on harp; Wendy Weatherby playing cello; Celine Donoghue on banjo and Greg Friel on backing vocals on track Lang Awa Ship.

The album has its official launch on Sunday 23 October at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s in the Square, 1 St Andrew’s Square, Glasgow. Tickets are just £10 from ticketsoup

Purchase a copy here.

CD Album of the Week, Saturdays 12 noon and 12 midnight and Monday 6.00pm.

On her tours around the world Joan has always tried to get a local artist on to the bill in the many different cities she performs in. In 2012 Joan will invite 52 local artists to perform on the bill with her in their home city in the UK.

Chris Wood is Joan’s Special guest on her 2012 UK tour but at each venue on this 52 date UK tour a local artist will perform for 15 minutes before Chris Wood. That’s 52 singer/songwriters who will not only get to perform on the night in their city but, we have lots of other exciting things planned so visit this website often to see what happens over the coming months.

There are four Scottish dates on Joan’s 2012 tour: 28th Oct at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall; 29th Oct at Perth’s Concert Hall; 30th October at the Music Hall in Aberdeen and 1st November 2012 at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh.

To be considered for a 15 minute set at one of the venues, send Joan two mp3′s. One should be an original song and the other should be a cover version performed on piano or guitar. Email your songs to: localtalent.ja_2012@yahoo.com

The four Scottish selections will also be offered a live session on Celtic Music Radio!

Closing date is 25th November 2011. Best of luck, and tell Joan Celtic Music Radio sent you!

Further details at www.joanarmatrading.com

The programme will include artists:

Outside Track, Moya Brennan, David Kincaid, Fidl, Brendan Hendry Band, Altan, Fiach, and Qristina & Quinn Bachand.

Lake Effect

Lake Effect is WUWM’s locally-produced magazine programme. It covers a lot of ground, focusing on your neighbours and local Milwaukee issues. From discussing politics and the economy to spotlighting Wisconsin authors and musicians, Lake Effect goes beyond the headlines.

Milwaukee Irish Fest

What originated as the seed of an idea for an event to celebrate and promote Irish heritage, Irish Festivals Inc. has emerged into a thriving organisation that celebrates the music, culture and history of Ireland during its four-day festival as well as several outreach initiatives throughout the year.

In the early 1980s, members of Milwaukee’s Irish community gathered to discuss opportunities to promote their Gaelic heritage in a city known for its German roots. The idea of a festival, a three-day event to promote Irish culture through music, dance, cultural exhibits, drama and sports, was born. The festival wasn’t just an opportunity to feature national Irish acts but also an impetus to showcase local groups that celebrate the rich traditions of Irish music.

Each year, Irish Fest presents new themes, new performers, cultural exhibits and special events at its annual festival.

Through the continued popularity of the festival, Irish Fest has developed its own entertainment group. The Irish Fest Choir is a group of more than 25 young adults performing traditional Irish and Irish American songs. The group recently performed with the Omagh Youth Choir in the United States and Ireland. The groups have embraced this collaboration and Irish Fest has welcomed the Omagh choir as part of the 2001, 2003 and 2008 festivals.

Known as a family-friendly festival, it’s been said that Irish Fest truly is a taste of Ireland. In addition to promoting and preserving the Irish heritage, the organisation also regards itself as a community contributor through several outreach efforts. The festival has developed an award-winning recycling programme encouraging festival guests and vendors to maintain the beauty of the Milwaukee’s lakefront. These efforts have truly earned the festival the right to be named “The Green Festival.”

While the festival only lasts four days each year, the commitment to promote and preserve Irish culture throughout the year has earned Milwaukee Irish Fest national and worldwide acclaim.

Join Bonnie North on Saturday 24 September on Celtic Music Radio from 2.00pm – 6.00pm for Milwaukee Public Radio’s round up of Milwaukee Irish Fest.

We will be heading over to East Kilbride Arts centre for The Warrior Ancestry of David Livingstone featuring music and songs from Lanarkshire singer/guitarist Dave Gibb plus Duncan Brown and Stephen Grant.

Switching between characters, Duncan Brown, the highly acclaimed writer of the book ‘My Hero, My Soldier Laddie’ presents a dramatic account of the fascinating Warrior Ancestry of Dr. David Livingstone.

The concert was recorded on Saturday 13 August starting at the East Kilbride Arts Centre, as the last concert booked by the late Jim McKenna. Stephen Grant does a grand job of taking Jim’s parts in the presentation.

Music for the night was written by Dave Gibb and Jim McKenna, with the “book” written by Duncan Brown.

David Livingstone was born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire on 19 March 1813 and died aged 60 on 1 May 1873 near Lake Bangweulu, North Western Rhodesia.

Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and one of the greatest European explorers of Africa, whose opening up the interior of the continent contributed to the ‘Scramble for Africa’.

The Warrior Ancestry of David Livingstone can be heard from 8pm on Friday 9th Sept and 2am on Saturday 10th Sept and via our Catch Up facility. The programme also features a live session from East Kilbride band, Luckenbooth.