Feel Good Friday

This week's selection finds us with Gerry O'Beirne. I've had the pleasure of seeing Gerry at festivals and at a MAMA concert. He is a fabulous musician and even more fabulous songwriter. He played with EJ Jones and Rosie Shipley in The Willow Band, with Patrick Street and in smaller groups as well. He also produced CDs for the Poor Clares and Clandestine. If you want to learn more about Gerry, visit his website.

This is Gerry at a house concert, performing his beautiful song, "Holy Ground".

Bagpipe-A-Rama

My pick for Feel Good Friday is this selection from Teribus, a pipe and drum ensemble that is quite unlike the usual marching pipe and drum groups. Teribus, from what I understand, is rather fluid in its make-up, but in this instance is E.J. Jones, Richard Kean, and Kevin Hartnell on drums. E.J. and Richard are two of the best pipers I've heard. Both have played with the traditional pipe and drum bands and have won numerous prizes at those competitions. E.J. has played with numerous bands over the years, including Clandestine, The Rogues, Jiggernaut and The Willow Band. I've seen Richard with Jiggernaut and Poor Man's Fortune, but also know that he has played with Needfire and a medieval band whose name escapes me. Kevin Hartnell is with The Rogues. There's a whole backstory about bands named Clandestine intertwined with The Rogues, but you'll have to research it on your own.

Dead Irish Blues in Memphis

I just found out that the Dead Irish Blues have 2 shows in Memphis this week and are making the circuit with shows at Fenian's in Jackson, MS and Enoch's in Monroe, LA. I have not heard them personally, but Memphis music legend and puppeteer Jimmy Crosthwait is performing with them during their Memphis run. Check out their website for more information. Looks like a fun show, especially with Jimmy adding his two cents and washboard.

Feel Good Friday!

Let's Rock!

After reviewing some videos of a SixMileBridge concert that was to become their live album, I find that they were all a little too long for this forum. I still highly recommend checking out that footage.

I settled on this clip of Jiggernaut that was a quasi-reunion at NTIF this past March. It features Wolf Loescher signing his song "Amazing Grace (Again)". Anyone who has ever been to a Highland Games or a Pipe Band Competition will appreciate this song.



Jiggernaut was founded as a sort of Celtic rock supergroup. Killer vocals by Deanna Smith-Scotland, great musicians, originals and traditional songs with a rock sensibility. Jiggernaut is one group that the Cracker & I don't miss while at NTIF!