Celtic Pub Night at Killarney's - Wednesday, December 11

Killarney's Irish Pub and Restaurant hosts the last  "Celtic Pub Night"of 2002.  It's a great time to gather with others in the Scottish and Irish community to share news, swap stories and have a pint.  Musicians are special guests, kilts are part of the acceptable dress code and everyone is welcome.  Join us this Wednesday, December 11 at Killarney's from 7 P.M. until whenever...more details at 205-595-4088.

The Full Moon Ensemble - Fond Memories and Farewells - by Robert "Scooter" Muse

As we wind down this year we have one show left. Our annual FME Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 14^th, 7:30 P.M., at Bradshaw High School in Florence, Alabama. Usually its an all Christmas show but this year it will be a little different and also very special because of a couple of things.  First, let me say that 2002 has been another wonderful year for the FME! Over the last 7 years we have had the great fortune to play the most special music in the world in some great venues from Philadelphia to Seattle, Canada to Miami, as well as Scotland, and also record 4 CDs - gained international airplay, and made hundreds of lifelong friends!  Now, it is sad to say that with increasingly difficult individual schedules as well as a couple of relocations for the upcoming year, when 2002 comes to close, so will the FME  as you know it. The Holiday Concert on December 14 will be our last show with the present FME lineup and we intend to go out with a bang! The Full Moon Ensemble Farewell Concert on December 14^th will be a treat for all of us because we will be joined by former FME members Annette Harman-Lee on the Pedal Harp and Annette Labrecque on Keyboards and Accordion. In addition, drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Doug Stokes who was in Scotland with us will also lend his wonderful talents to the show! Please come out and be with us for this last hurrah. Tickets are on sale at Ryan Piano Company in downtown Florence. Will we get back together? You would not believe how many folks are asking that question and we sincerely thank them for their interest in us. Who knows? Never say never - maybe occasionally, under some special circumstances – but for now the change seems to be inevitable.  But moving on -- as those of us here in Alabama already know, we have great Celtic band called Henri’s Notions – So, for 2003, FME vocalist and keyboard player Allison King and guitarist Scooter Muse will be playing a limited number of dates to fulfill some obligations as The Full Moon Ensemble with three of the Notions; Jil Chambless, Michael Bowman and Randy Palmer. We will also be joined by Doug Stokes on percussion for a huge 6 piece sound! Once again, from The Full Moon Ensemble, thanks to you all for 7 great years!  More on FME at www.great-music.net/fullmoon . (submitted by Robert Muse)

The Celtic Alabama Christmas List - Shop Celtic Alabama First

The Alabama Celtic Association sends a single additional mailing during the holiday season each year - The Celtic Alabama Christmas List.  The holiday season is a great time to support Celtic Alabama vendors, craftsmen and artists when shopping for gift items.  If you did not receive the Celtic Alabama Christmas List via e-mail, please let us know and we will send you the outstanding list of gift ideas for everyone on your list! 

BOOK SALE! - ACA Fundraiser with Unicorn Limited/Scotpress - Unicorn Limited is moving its retail book business to Alabama in March of 2003.  As part of the effort to reduce inventory before the move - Unicorn Limited is offering a HUGE list of Scottish/Viking/Irish/Celtic titles (books and newsprint booklets) for only $2 each.  Furthermore, they will donate $1 from every book to ACA - if you mention you found this Book Sale through the Celtic Alabama News.  Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to add to your Celtic Library AND support your local Celtic non-profit!  Click HERE to review the Books on Sale.  Be sure to mention ACA when placing your order. For a complete Book Sale list via-e-mail - send request to: pgsmith@charter.net . To order:  304-379-8803 or e-mail mcleod@scotpress.com . Visit them at www.scotpress.com .

Gerry O'Beirne Enchants Fans in Montgomery - review by Gwen Orel

It's hard to imagine an inaugural concert for the Celtic Music Society of Montgomery  going any better than the Gerry O'Beirne house concert went on October 25th.  Held at the lovely home of Jay Taffet, the house was full but in the end everybody was able to sit.  Gerry charmed the crowd with his good-natured humor and wealth of stories, and completely bowled us over with his music. Gerry opened with a song entitled "Music for Jen Hamel." Jen is with the recently disbanded group Clandestine (Gerry produced a few albums for both Clandestine and Jen Hamel. EJ Jones, also a member of Clandestine, has put out a solo album, produced by Gerry and we hope to have EJ in Montgomery in late spring or early summer of 2003). Gerry played many songs from his album, "Half Moon Bay," including "Holy Ground"-- a song that has also been recorded by Cathie Ryan and Mary Black-- which he says he discovered was about the Mexican revolution, sometime after he wrote it.  He sang "Western Highway" (also recorded by Maura O'Connell with Nanci Griffith), a song he performed last year on The Prairie Home Companion which was subsequently chosen as a highlight of that show.  I've loved "Shades of Gloria" for a long time, but had forgotten until his introduction that it was inspired by another Irish musician, Micho Russell.  Gerry's words are so evocative without being literal that it's possible to become completely caught up in the music without intellectually understanding the context. Gerry also played a new tune for us—a haunting song about the Australian outlaw, Ned Kelly, and another about Australian immigrants.  Another song about Australia, an old Patrick Street song, was "In the Land of the Patagerang," with a very catchy and fun chorus.  Among the high points was Gerry's version of "Sloop John B" on the ukulele, with the house concert audience singing the chorus. Gerry sang "Danny Boy," after telling us of Ireland's occasional search for a new "national tantrum," and had us join in when the first verse comes round again.  There were many wonderful culinary treats prepared by Lori, our membership chair and publications manager-- and veteran of cooking school (and a few cookies by me)-- and people were having such a good time buying CDs, eating, drinking, and chatting, that the break between sets was a long one.  "You're all madly social," Gerry said when he began again.  Eleanor Lucas' teenage son Luke was so impressed with Gerry and his playing and personality-- Luke is an aspiring guitarist-- that he published a brief review on his personal web site.  Read it at www.lukelucas.com . The love in the room was palpable.  Those of you who were there-- thanks for your terrific energy and your responsiveness.  It was a memorable musical evening. (submitted by Gwen Orel)