Don Grieve: Gypsy Of The Celts

All Over for another year

2011-01-25T19:20:00.001-08:00

Hello one and all.

To Montsalvat. Yes go ahead with the link I have no worries there.

Yes the concert in the Botanics. Great. All had a good time at leats those that came.

Hope to have more for you all as this year unfolds.

Ciao

Remember

2011-01-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

Robert Burns, loved a drink and loved women. It has been said of Burns that he was a drunkard and a blaggered but lets face facts, so what! Look at the body of work he produced from being such a man! Unfortunately what gets pushed into the background is the sensitivity that the man had for his fellow human beings.

He loved every woman he ever slept with and that is more than can be said for relationships that either last a night or some relationships that last years and years.

Charlie Parker used heroin to create what he did and most Jazz-Heads would say he's a genius, Jimmy Hendrix also used drugs of various strengths and degrees of harm but people would say, and still do, that he was also a genius - so what is the beef about a man who likes a drink and loves women. Look at what he wrote and read the words he spoke, actually do it.

Like Shakespeare it is never the same unless spoken out loud. You must hear the words in the air to understand their meaning and so it is with Burns. OK he writes in Scots-tongue but you can google Burns World and actually see the words translated into English so go ahead and do it.

A whole new world will appear before your eyes and once you speak the words he wrote you will come to understand the many unusual angles that he viewed the world of his day - far beyond the narrow minded and ignorant ways of his fellow humans... that is why he was termed a genius.

The Ploughman Poet, this was a phrease coined by the first novelist, Sir Walter Scot, it was he who introduced Burns to high society in Edinburgh and of course from there Robert Burns fortune esculated beyond his wildest dreams. Unfortunately it was also his downfall. He became a "Friend of the People" a society promoting the values of the French Revelution and many of the freedoms and rights that we today take very much for granted. These freedoms and rights were not in excistence back in Robert Burns day.

To speech of such ideas was to harbour instant rebuke and dislike from your peers and so it was for Burns.

He was scorned by Edinburgh high society and when he was in need of patronage to get a job when he left farming the most the nobilty and high society could do for the Scottish Poet Laurete was give him a job as an excise man. How disgusting is that for such a man to be shunned for his believes and his forward thinking. He must have terrified those higher up the food chain for Burns to be so treated.

So as you lift that beverage to your lips and suck on that cigarette or cigar while pondering the intricate vagaries of the English language could you write the why The Bard wrote ..... well there in lies your answer why you are not a genius and he was. His day is celebrated each year around the world his deeds are set to music and song across the planet even a dish and drink are named after him ... will this be so for you when you have departed this mortal coil ......

Camperdown Botanical Gardens 25th January

2011-01-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Every Body!

Yes it is that time of the year again, how the time flies when your having fun!

Free Concert celebrating the life and times of Robert Burns.

Lunch time FREE Concert in the beautiful Botanical Gardens in the lovely Western Victorian township of Camperdown.

Concert starts at roughly 12:30 goes roughly until 1:30 or beyond whos knows.

Bring a rug and a picnic.

See you all there.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-11T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hi One and All.

We wish every one a very special Christmas and the Happiest of New Years for 2011

All those who have particapated in our concerts for the year and of course to all who bought the CD, we thank you for your support over this year and indeed the years past and beyond!

You will find on our blogg new links to our distributers in the USA and in Italy. You can still purchase the CD direct from:

www.gypsyofthecelts.com

We look forward to an exciting new year with projects on the cards to record two new CDs featuring the Harp and another featuring our two distinct flute styles.

We are also in the throws of organising a tour wither that be in the USA or in Europe.
We are this stage not sure as plans are still in their infancy.

The Falling Feather Project will be finished early in the year and this too will be up on our sites and bloggs. I think you who are interested in the spoken word and our brand of music will find this recording fantastic, watch out for reviews on this album.

Meanwhile have a safe and joyous time over the festiv season and we look forward to seeing you at our up and coming concerts.

BFN Don & Angela

Montsalvat Concert

2010-09-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

Hi One and All

We had a magic concert in Montsalvat, the crowd was fantastic and sold a hundred percent of CD`s great stuff.

The night began with us performing away but we then decided it was getting a little cool and finished the concert in front of the fire, very homely and kitcheny feel to a great evening.

We look forward to seeing you all again very soon we are in the process of creating a concert in Ballarat possibly St Pauls Anglican Church, we will see.

Before hand though we are off up north to the Gold Coast and look forward to seeing a little sun and a little more of it`s warmth.

We will keep you posted with what we are doing meanwhile Uphellia to one and all

Ta ta the Noo form us to You

10th of September Montsalvat in Eltham Melbourne

2010-08-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

Hello One and All

We are performing our Tribute to Robert Burns concert in the Long Gallerie at the beautiful house and gardens of Montsalvat in Eltham, Melbourne.

On the 10th of September

Tickets are $25 or $20 Concession.

We look forward to your company, call Montsalvat for Bookings on : 03) 9439 7712

Show starts at 7:30pm so be in sharp and early for seats and good position.

Looking forward to performing our new show with new additions to our instrument skills with Angela performing on the Fiddle and Harp and myself mastering the Bazouki and Mandolin

I think this will be our best show yet after success in Adelaide and Port Fairy.

The Address: Montsalvat Concerts, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham 3095, Victoria

About Robert Burns

2010-08-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Robert Burns was born in Alloway in Ayrshire Scotland on the 25th of January 1759. Why was he such a popular poet? He wrote in the common tongue. He wrote and expressed the feelings and hopes and misery of the working people of his country. His poetry was to travel the world and link emotionaly all down trodden people with hope.

His life was extraordinary due to the people who would lift him up and then distance themselves because of his progressive ideas and leanings. He was a republican and would have loved to see Scotland a republic on the lines of the French Revelution which was happening across the Channel in his time.

He was a socalist before such a thing existed, a humanitarian before such thoughts existed. He was a man of the people, a man of his time at the same time his thoughts and views were radical and way ahead even of those who were creating the world of tomorrow in France and in America.

August Concert in Port Fairy

2010-07-31T04:55:00.000-07:00

Don Grieve presents a... Tribute to Robert Burns
The Bard’s life & work: poetry, history & song
Saturday 14th August 2.00p.m.
St John’s Church, PORT FAIRY
Tickets $25 - $20, Regent St (Off Bank)

September Concert, Montsalvat

2010-07-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

Friday evening... 10th September 7p.m.
THE LONG GALLERY, MONTSALVAT, MELBOURNE
Tickets $25 - $20, Ph: 9439 7712
7 Hillcrest Ave. Eltham 3095

The Bard's life & work...

2010-07-07T02:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all in Adelaide for a great night will be back in your state soon. Ciao Don and Angela
Concert Saturday 24th July, 7.30 p.m.
A celebration of poetry, history & song...

$25 Tickets (Phone: 8354 4606)
South Australian Folk Federation, Adelaide

Corner of George Street & South Road, Thebarton

Robert Burns Tribute CD

2010-05-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

You can buy copies of the CD online. Email Don and he will send an invoice. CDs are $25 Australian Dollars each, includes postage. Buy three and get one free!

A Song & Tune

2010-05-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

"My Love Is But A Lassie Yet / Trippin' Over Her Shoe"

A Comic Poem - Wullie Wastle

2010-05-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

Wullie's wife is "admired" by Robbie in disdain. Recited by Don Grieve.

Bard's Epitaph

2010-05-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Robbie Burns wrote this as his own epitaph, accompanied by an original tune called Three Brethren. Poem recited by Don, music written and recorded by Angela & Don.