MissionThis web site is devoted to reviewing celtic music CDs, UK folk music CDs, and folk music CDs and making these reviews available to the public. I maintain this web site to benefit both celtic and folk music singers and songwriters (so they might sell more CDs), the celtic and folk music buying public (so they might make informed buying decisions) and to give something back to the celtic and folk music communities. The AuthorMy name is Kevin. I’m a celtic and folk music aficionado. I avidly listen to celtic and folk music radio shows and CDs, regularly attend live local performances, and frequently follow and contribute to related Internet newsgroups. I have a journalism degree and have published many reviews of celtic and folk music CDs. I maintain this web site for the benefit of the performers (so they might sell more CDs) and the celtic music and folk music buying public (so they might make informed buying decisions). This is also my way of giving back to the music and performers I enjoy so much. I also write about a variety of other subjects. Some of my recent folk music publications include:
My Ireland travel article, "An Anecdotal Report Pedaling through Ireland, the Land of the Silent ‘H’," was published in The Mid-County Post on March 12, 2002. A film commentary, "A Kiss is Just a Kiss--Except When it’s Not," was published in the Monterey Bay Manifesto in September, 2002. The first production of one of my plays, "The Party," was held July 10-14, 2003 at The Fritz Theatre in San Diego, CA. I am now being more-than-ably assisted by veteran folk music writer Dai Woosnam. (The surname rhymes with ‘wood’ and not Fu Manchu; he says he has no Chinese blood in him!) Dai was born in Wales in 1947 and has written for various publications over the years. In 1993 (the year it was first published), he began writing a column called "The Tizer Test" for The Living Tradition. (This is Britain’s leading print magazine on the subject of British and Irish traditional music.) After that column, in later years he moved on to writing "DAIGRESSING," which became their flagship column. It was widely acknowledged to be the most thoughtful column on the UK Folk Scene. Unfortunately, his views proved too individualistic, and attempts were made to muzzle him. Not one to put his name to somebody else’s words, he resigned his column in March 2005. He now lives on the East Coast of England. Please see the complete list of Dai’s reviews and Dai’s review criteria. How to Submit a CD for ReviewI am involved with other writing projects at present (playwriting, blogging, high school and college basketball writing), and my time for writing CD reviews is extremely limited. As an alternative resource for getting your CD reviewed, please consider these other CD review sites: Here is how I currently decide which CDs I review: As quirky as it sounds, if I hear a song on one of the folk and celtic music radio programs I listen to that catches my ear/head/heart, I follow up by listening to music clips on the performer’s web site or other web sites where the CD is available. If my interest continues to be piqued, I then contact the performer and request a review copy of the CD. That’s it. Again, my time is too limted to do it in any other fashion. I wish it were otherwise. Legal Notices
How to Contact MeI can be reached through email. Please read the section titled "How to Submit a CD for Review" above before inquiring about CD submissions. Please report problems with this website to me as well. (Note: If, after you increase the text size in your browser, the top horizontal menu appears on two lines or some items on the page are not positioned correctly, click your browser’s Reload button to refresh the display.) Thank you. |