MP3 Free New Music

Every year for St. Patrick's Day, I compile a new list of St Patrick's Day MP3 downloads that are 100% free and legal. This year, I decided to present them in a new format. This year, all the files are compiled like a gigantic digital compilation CD. I ZIP the files up and you just need to download one file.

And if you were ever wondering what Song Henge is like. Well, now you have a better idea. Every month, I compile MP3 submissions into one of these ZIP files and send it out to hundreds of subscribers. Oh! And remember, at the end of the month, I'm switching to an annual fee. So you still have time to take advantage of the lifetime subscription fee for under twenty dollars.



17 Free Irish & Celtic Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day

1. "Seven Drunken Nights" by Brobdingnagian Bards
   Scottish and Irish folk songs combined with the Lord of the Rings music and a wee bit o'Celtic fun. The Brobdingnagian Bards are The Original Celtic Renaissance music duo from Austin, Texas. Their unique brand of folk music on the autoharp, recorder, and mandolin has made them one of the most-popular Celtic music groups online where they give away thousands of free Celtic MP3 downloads daily. The Brobdingnagian Bards perform coast-to-coast, and in a given month might be at a Lord of the Rings Oscar Party, a Celtic festival, or a Science Fiction Conventions. However, they are an absolute favorite at Renaissance Faires where they add high-energy and wit to make every show a memorable experience.
   
   Buy CD: "The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs"
   
   


2. "Lord of the Pounce" by Marc Gunn
   This was the fourth release off my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. It parodies "Lord of the Dance" and tells exciting tail of how cats were there since the beginning.
   
   Cats. Irish music. Drinking songs. Nowhere else but from the bright imagination of Marc Gunn would those three elements be so neatly integrated. Yet Gunn, sometimes called "the hardest working man in Celtic music" around his hometown in Austin, is an accomplished musician and entrepreneur who not long ago headlined at the Oscar party for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
   
   Buy CD: "Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers"
   
   


3. "The Polka Set" by Wild Clover Band
   Don't let the fact that The Wild Clover Band is based in Nebraska throw you from the fact that they play amazing music. Their CD was an instant favorite of mine when I got it last year. That was one of the reasons I decided to include them as the first track on my newly released Victims of Irish Music compilation CD.
   
   Because of this fusion of styles, The Wild Clover Band advertises themselves as "Irish Music and More." Playing in a local pub, the group began primarily as an instrumental group focusing on Irish and American fiddle tunes. They have now evolved into a group that specializes in Irish dance tunes, pub songs, and ballads and has played festivals, community concerts, pubs, and private functions throughout the state of Nebraska, as well as Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and South Dakota.
   
   Buy CD: "Behind the Blarney"
   
   


4. "Princess Royale" by Thomas "Doc" Grauzer
   "Doc" Grauzer is a harper and storyteller in the Irish tradition. He is fascinated with the traditional harp music of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. When performing live he throws in historical background, folklore or weird stories between the tunes.
   
   I first met Doc performing at Mother's Cafe in Austin where he has played three times a week for eight years! The sad tragedy is that Mother's recently had a fire. So for the first time in eight years there is no harp music there. So please help out an amazing Irish harper. Pick up a copy of this beautiful CD.
   
   Buy CD: "Infernal Harp Racket"
   
   


5. "Rakes of Mallow" from Men of Thunda
   Thundaing out of Kentucky, this group takes two of the earliest instruments known to man--the drums and the bagpipes--and pays tribute to an ancient form of Celtic musical entertainment.
   
   What makes Men of Thunda different from military pipe bands is that Men of Thunda is strictly a band of entertainers. They do not enter in competitions. What they do, however, is strive to bring fun to their audience through their music, composed of spirited renditions of traditional Highland bagpipe melodies accompanied by tribal drumbeats.
   It is a raucous good time for anyone who loves the pipes.
   
   


6. "Elevator" from Booze Brothers
   What emerges when you mix Irish music with punk rock? Shaken or stirred, the result is The Booze Brothers. Their sound is unlike other Celtic punk bands: more traditional than Flogging Molly and more rock than the Young Dubliners. Having heard a lot of Celtic rock groups, I always look for something exceptional and different. This band fits the bill!
   
   Buy CD: "Elevator"
   
   


7. "Alice's Reels " from The Tea Merchants
   The Tea Merchants were formed a few years ago by Chris, Charlie, and Rob as a method by which to procure grocery money and a free evening tab at the bar. They are my favorite band to watch here in Austin. And this year, they were honored as the second Celtic band in Austin (after the Brobdingnagian Bards) to win an Austin Music Award. In a town touted as the Live Music Capitol of the World, that is no easy task. A BIG congrats to these brilliant musicians and for the release of their brand new CD.
   
   Buy CD: "One Lump Or Two?" (coming soon)
   
   


8. "Scottish Ballade" by Christiane Cargill
   I always appreciate bands who go for an "intimate" sound. When I saw that description on Christiane's site, I had to explore further. An accomplished and agile pianist with a gift for melodies and a fluid, soulful voice, she begged to take piano and organ lessons at the tender age of 3, while her legs were still too short to reach the pedals. Later, she was classically trained only to be drawn to the music of Ireland and Scotland, with a gorgeous result.
   
   Buy CD: "Metamorphosis" (coming soon)
   
   


9. "The Skylark" from Culann's Hounds
   I'm always looking for larger than life music for my magazine and podcast. Culann's House is one of those bands. And the name is fitting to as they were named after one of the great warriors of Irish legend. They're masters of the San Francisco Celtic scene and while they describe their style as a punk-Irish-hoedown. The music goes way beyond that with a solid traditional sound that connects with the listener like most music doesn't.
   
   Buy CD: "The Year of the Dog"
   
   


10. "Bonnie Ship the Diamond" by Irish Stout
    This duo combines the Irish with piratey raucous Irish songs straight from the pub. They're taking the internet by storm with their free podcast, called Your Weekly Irish Stout, featuring free Irish songs every week. So go out and pirate their music. This entry sponsored by the letter Rrrrrr!
    
    Buy CD: A Collection of Irish Pub Songs
    
    


11. "The Willows/Three Ashes" from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer
    Since the days when Muckle Flugga tore up the charts on MP3.com, I've been a fan of this talented Celtic duo. Currently taking the folk world by storm, Vicki is one of the best pipers in the business, able to seamlessly veer from soulful airs to driving, up-tempo tunes to set every foot tapping, and this is all aided by Jonny's brilliantly inventive, subtle yet strong guitar work.
    
    Although best-known for their instrumental skills, the duo have also added a healthy number of songs to their act, and have rightly established themselves as one of the best young duos around on the folk scene today!
    
    Buy CD: "Scatter Pipes"
    
    


12. "Maid on the Shore" from Ceili Moss
    Ceili Moss can be best described as "acoustic folk-rock with a Celtic-Pan-European edge that is not afraid of coloring a bit outside of the lines..." But if a band's description doesn't reel you in, then perhaps a personal testimony. I've been hearing people rave about this band for years. Sadly, it's only now that I actually found time to listen. And wow! Beautiful arrangements. I'll be listening to more of them in the future.
    
    Buy CD: "On the Shore"
    
    


13. "Madam I'm A Darlin'" by Queen's Gambit
    Based out of Oklahoma, Queen's Gambit not only performs in costume and in character, but also plays Celtic traditional folk music with a side of Renaissance Dance. Their style is appealing to people of all ages, and their on-site banter that flows during performances really brings their performances to life. But for me, it's a joy to see this fun band grow musically as they have done since I first met them many long years ago.
    
    Buy CD: "Off the Board"
    
    


14. "Mrs. McGrath" by HOMELAND
    Since 1999, HOMELAND has been rockin' the stage with their own style of music that is a conglomeration of new rock and old Celtic style, creating some "tricked out traditional" tunes since their origination. HOMELAND is one of those bands that will keep you on your feet, and keep your toes tappping.
    
    Buy CD: "We Never Got This Far Alone"
    
    


15. "Time Ticks Away" by Jigger
    Take a rowdy mandolin and guitar player who doesn't like sleeves on any of his shirts, combine that with a singer-songwriter obsessed with the themes of time, love, boats and drinking; slot in a wailing fiddle player who can't stay still; then add three part harmonies, a dash of larrikin humour and you get Jigger--an energetic three-piece who play spirited acoustic music. The music is lively with a hint of bluegrass and cool groove.
    
    Buy CD: "Time Ticks Away" EP
    
    


16. "Downtown Baghdad Blues" by Black 47
    They are a band that is best described as an unblinkingly political and thoroughly Irish form of rock 'n roll. Their songs cover a range of topics from the Northern Ireland conflict to civil rights and unrest in contemporary New York. But what sets the band apart is that their music can be humorous, informative and always rockin'. They are by far one of my favorite Celtic bands of all time!
    
    Buy CD: "Elvis Murphy's Green Suede Shoes"
    
    


17. "Ar Sorserez (La Sorciere)/Muneira" by Rowan
    Rowan's music not only takes the listener through a spiritual journey through time, but also transcends genres. From the 17th Century English Faire to an 18th Century Jacobite uprising to the American Civil War to the 20th Century Belfast, their music calls forth what human beings share down through the ages and across borders. With a balanced mix of ballads and jigs, this band's music reflects their roots in the deep spiritual resonance of the Celtic lands, they acknowledge, praise, and validate all folk music from all lands in all periods. It will take you on a journey through time and leave you wanting more.
    
    Buy CD: "Tales Through Time"
    
    
    And just because I got carried away, here's one more bonus MP3...
    
    
18. "Lark in the Morning" by Maidens IV
    With the heartbeat of the bodhran, the spirit of the violin and viola, and the soft tunings of the guitar, Maidens IV is bringing a youthful vigor and class to Celtic and Folk sounds. These four sisters, Havilah, Heather, Abigail and Tabitha Justice have been performing classical and baroque music wih their nine siblings. With a new sound of their own, they formed Maidens IV, bringing a new sound and genre to the mix as they stoke the fire of the Celtic and Folk scene. I always loved this song and they execute it beautifully!
    
    Buy CD: "Four Aflame"
    

Well, I hope you have a brilliant St. Patrick's Day. Drink responsibly and Slainte!

Oh! And don't forget some of these MP3s are time sensitive. They are exclusive to this magazine for ONE MONTH ONLY!

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Marc Gunn is an Irish and Scottish folk singer with a strange affinity for Celtic ballads, drinking songs and cats. He is the lead singer for the Brobdingnagian Bards. He is also Celtic music podcaster and promoters as well as publisher of Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.

Reposted from the Celtic MP3s Music Magazines St. Patrick's Day Music Article.

MP3 downloads that are 100% free and legal. That is, afterall, what the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine is all about. Though I may run out of time for publishing the magazine on a regular schedule, this is one thing I think is fun to do. So here it is once again.

17 Free Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day

1. "Jedi Drinking Song" by Brobdingnagian Bards
   Everyone loves a good drinking song, right? Well, here's one that every Irish person or geek can get behind.
   
   The Brobdingnagian Bards are The Original Celtic Renaissance. They combine traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs with Lord of the Rings music, original songs, and filk for an eclectic mix that is as at home in an Irish pub as it is in a gathering of Irish Americans. They were called "The Godfathers of Celtic MP3s" with good reason--over six million of their MP3s have been downloaded making them one of the most-popular Celtic groups online.
   
   Buy CD: Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales
   
   
2. "The Holy Ground" by Marc Gunn
   Sure, I thought about featuring "Wild Kitty" or "Furagone's Wake" from my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD, but I sooo wanted to feature the "Jedi Drinking Song" from my band and I thought at least one Irish song to start off was a good idea.
   
   The song was recorded for my Irish Song Lyrics website. I am slowly trying to record more and more songs with The Bards and solo to have a site where people can go to learn Irish songs like I learn them, by ear.
   
   Buy CD: Irish Whiskey Pub Songs
   
   
3. "All for Me Grog" by Leperkhanz
   The LeperKhanz are bringing a new sound to Irish music, much heavier and deeper than most new Irish bands dare to go, they have a clear rock sound, and yet have mastered traditional Irish music, both vocally and on the Violin. Like Insane pirates on steroids or Angus Young jamming with the Chieftains, they tear huge hunks of history out and throw it in your face, loud and in a fun way.
   
   Buy CD: Tiocfaidh Ar La
   
   
4. "Rocky Road to Dublin/Tam Lin" by Irish Experience
   Driving Celtic and Appalachian music played by electrifying fiddler, rock guitarist, downright doghouse bassist, and master drummer. A "Blarney Phoenix", that rises up on Saint Patrick's Eve to bring bountiful cheer to all the little people at heart?
   
   Buy CD: Irish Experience
   
   
5. "Rakes Medley" by Green Tea
   Green Tea performs a collection of High-Energy Irish Dance Music with a strong infusion of Celtic World-Beat and contemporary improvisation. Such is the distinctiveness of Green Tea's sound (the traditional blended with the new), that Green Tea's world-beat sound can sometimes defy categorization. In any case, Green Tea will knock your socks off! And that includes socks of all ages: college students, children, and parents may be found dancing on the same eclectic dance floor when Green Tea plays. Even grandma and grandpa enjoy the traditional style from which much of their music derives. Their first album's name? ALL AGES, of course!
   
   Buy CD: All Ages

See the rest of the 17 Free Music Downloads for St. Patrick's Day at the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine.

Iron and Wine, the recorded Word of one Samuel Beam, Miami, Florida; is one of those one-guy-and-his-tapedeck affairs. Taken as a whole, The Creek Drank the Cradle, Iron and Wine's debut CD, is an ode to an older South; a part of America that is defined by "traditional values," pastoral imagery and arcane manners. Or maybe that's just what I want to hear. You'll soon be the judge.

What I can tell you without a moment's doubt or hesitation is that Iron and Wine create the most arresting and seductive music that I've heard in years. Sub Pop heard about Iron and Wine by way of Yeti, a magazine published in Seattle, whose initial run came with an accompanying compilation CD featuring an Iron and Wine song. Mike McGonigal, Editor of Yeti, was introduced to Iron and Wine by way of Ben Bridwell, Brown Records label-owner and onetime drummer for Seattle's beloved, Carissa's Wierd. Ben has known Sam Beam since childhood.

Website: Iron & Wine
Download MP3: "Woman King"
Buy CD: Woman King

by Marc Gunn of Bards Crier Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine

It's interesting to compare the articles written on how to give an exciting speech with how to put on an exciting show. I have not seen that many articles for musicians on that topic. Fortunately, the two topics are fairly similar. So it is easy to transpose public speaking articles to live gig articles.

Speech writers know that you have to grab the audience's attention in 30 seconds. That's where you make your biggest impact. If you ever see a musician get up on stage and fumble a "Hi. Um. We're the Barnyard Owls," you know what I mean.

As musicians, we can grab the audience's attention with a song. But it helps to think about other ways to captivate your audience too.

Wasn't it KISS who used to shout, "Are you ready to rock!" The phrase might sound cliche now, but it serves the point. KISS knew you had to draw your audience in fast to make an impact and put on a great show.

Or perhaps you prefer non-verbal hooks. You can use a light show. Or imagine band members quitely meditating next to their instruments before they jump up and rock the house.


In one of the speech writing articles I remember reading you should provide five 'Magic Moments'. Apparently, this is something that movie promoters say is essential for a film to have a successful ad campaign... that will make the movie a hit. That seems like good advice for a live show too.

I remember seeing Ed Miller at the Texas Scottish Festival last year. He is Scottish-born and told a story about how he had to cross the Rio Grande illegally in the 60s to get back into the United States. It made him feel like he too was a "Wetback". Then he sang the song telling the story. My mind has a clear image of that day hearing that story. That was a Magic Moment for me that still gives me chills thinking about it.

Some of your Magic Moments might come from telling a story about the song like Ed Miller did. Others might be the song itself. Is it chilling or powerful. Does it make people cry, cheer, sway, or sing-a-long.

Sometimes the Magic Moment will be the way you sing or move. I remember the first time I saw some "shoegazing" and the first time someone ran up the side of a wall and did a flip. I remember someone throwing a pen towards their sales table to encourage people to sign up to their mailing list. I also remember meeting band members after a show when they took the time to say, "Thanks. And your name is?"


Just like you need a great intro, you also need a great Closer. Boy, I'm guilty of having bad closers. We end all of our shows with a sing-a-long of Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life". It's a great closer, but too often, the show is over and the audience is still hanging around thinking there will be more to come.

Obviously, I'm not the person to give advice on this topic. So create your own closer. I've seen the unified bow of the band members; the strong and simple, "Thank you and good night!"; or band members running through the audience to accept tips. There are still a lot of different possibilities.


There are a lot of similarities between live shows and public speaking. I'd suggest you read some articles on how to write a speech and see what they have to say on the topic. You may be surprised at just how easily those techniques will give you a live show.

Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards has helped 1000's of musicians save and make money with their musical groups through his monthly newsletter, Bards Crier Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine. Now you can get FREE "how-to" music marketing and promotion advice by visiting www.bardscrier.com. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to the Bards Crier Ezine for Free. Just email subscribe@bardscrier.com

"RogueTrip" by The Rogues

by Marc Gunn

I love The Rogues. They were the band that taught me if you had pipes and drums, it wasn't just another bagpipe band. It was The Rogues. "RogueTrip" is the latest offering from this Grammy-Nominated Celtic music giant.

There are some semi-new faces on this new CD. Randy Wothke is still the mastermind behind the success of The Rogues, playing a variety of percussion with some delicately added keyboards in the mix. Nelson Stewart continues to front the band with this dynamic personality and bodhran playing. Though I didn't realize he could sing until I heard, "When Diana Fell". Jeremy Freeman is the newest face for me, but he is no amateur when it comes to rocking on the pipes.

EJ Jones is the newest member of The Rogues, but definitely no stranger to the band. He dominated the Celtic super group Clandestine with his amazing bagpipes and flute playing. I'm thrilled to see him find a new home with The Rogues. He's added bombarde to this mighty group with the Breton tune "An Dro", a remarkable addition to the musical variety that first drew me to this "pipe and drum" band in "5.0".

The new CD isn't a change of sound though. It's the solid evolution of a group that continues to grow from the traditional pipe sounds of "Bobby Cuthbertson" to the breathtaking celebration of the Celtic spirit found in their newest arrangement of "Bonny Portmore". I look forward to seeing the new incarnation perform live. After hearing the lead track off the album "Pressed for Time", I'm convinced that their live show is just as much mind-blowing fun.

  Buy CD: RogueTrip

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Since 2000, Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards has guided thousands of Celtic music lovers to the best independet free Celtic MP3s through his weekly email magazine, the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine where he recently unleashed his personal archive of bands with free Celtic downloads--SONG HENGE. Marc hosts two podcasts, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and the Renaissance Festival Podcast, where he works hard to promote independent Celtic artists.

Boy! It was an exciting week.

On Monday, the Brobdingnagian Bards released their eighth studio album on CDBaby. On Tuesday, they sold out of the hundred copies that were pre-sent to that website. On Wednesday, CDBaby listed the new filk music album as the #3 Top Seller on CDBaby. More CDs arrived last night. Those too are almost sold out.

IMHO, this is a big week for filk music. Due to the novelty nature of filk music, filk is not typically given the credit it is due. But that really changed this week. Now, filk music is dominating the charts and helping to educate others that great music doesn't need to be normal. (whatever normal maybe)

Now if you like filk music about Star Wars, The Priness Bride, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or The Last Unicorn, order a copy of Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales and let's keep the filks a-rolling.

I've been debating something in my head a lot recently. I started a website called Free Irish Music Downloads. It's a companion website to my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Of course, this means that you will find lots of free and legal Irish MP3s, because that's what my magazine is all about.

I am trying to decide if I should create a members only section of the website. I've gone back and forth on that idea. Utlimately, I decided to not have one. Now, I am thinking about starting one back up again.

It's a bit of a tough decision though because it will take a lot of time at creating the members only section. Right now, there is nothing like this out there, but it could become an incredibly valuable resource if I do finally decide to act on this.

I kinda hope it will emulate my Classical Music Downloads website, but I doubt it.