My cat Tiziano is gazing at me lazy-eyed. He was daydreaming before I took notice of him. I haven't had time to do the same as I finish a ton of work perparing for my first solo tour.

It was a produtive day. I finished recording the Pub Songs Podcast with special thanks to Summer Brooks of Far Point Media who helped me migrate the show to their new servers. It motivated me to release another show. What with touring, recording new albums, organizing Celtic Invasion Vacations, and podcasting, the Pub Songs Podcast was neglected. But here it is again, and here's hoping I can release more while I am out on the road.

Meantime, I am packing for my tour with a sense of excited anticipation. Two weeks on the road. I've done it before, but not quite like this, as a soloist. There will be a lot of driving. But I hope to take some breaks on this adventure to watch the setting sun and soak in the beauty of this great country of ours that filled me with pride at JazzFest as I sang along to Pete Seeger performing "This Land".

America is a land of beauty and opportunity. I forget about that all too easily with the flashiness of the cities and my immersion into the internet. That's what this trip will be for me--opportunity. A chance to share to my music with scores of people, to connect with old fans, and to invite new ones into my world.

The tour is based around the input of people like you saying, "I want to hear Marc Gunn perform live," and then going to venues, looking stuff up on the net, and sending it my way so that opportunity might become reality. It's based around you sharing my music with your family and friends, but in a more personal arena, face-to-face, just ten feet away as I play your favorite songs. I hope you will come sing with me.


Listen to the Song of the Week: "Big Strong Cat (My Puddy Tat, Sylvester)" from Whiskers in the Jar: Irish Songs for Cat Lovers





This Week:

-- Quote of the Week: "Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working." Pablo Picasso.

-- CD of the Week: "The Hotting Fire" by Kennedy's Kitchen. One of my favorite bands from the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. They have a brand new CD out that I hope to feature it in future episodes.

-- Book of the Week: The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician by Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan. I finally started reading this book by my friends the Beatnik Turtles. It's a good book. Up-to-date with the latest internet music promotion ideas. I've even learned a few new tricks. That's always nice.

-- Interesting article: Grow Your Own Fresh Air. With only three varieties of plants, you can "grow our own fresh air" indoors, to keep you healthy. Is that true? I'm not sure, but it definitely makes me want to bring some of these plants into my home.

-- Pre-Order Happy Songs of Death Now!. I just got word from Ari that the album will be done Before the end of the month!!! He loved the last song I sent him, "Twa Corbies", which completes a delightful 13 songs of death on this CD. I should have an official song order coming soon too. Thanks for all your patience. Now let me know which CD cover you prefer, pre-order the album today!

-- The latest Pub Songs Podcast is now live. It's a 30-minute show where I tell you all about the Celtic Invasion Vacation, some interesting facts about Happy Songs of Death, and let you know about my upcoming gigs. Plus, lots of music and a brain new affiliation with Far Point Media.

-- Bards Comic. The Bards Comic is alive and growing with new stories coming from artist, Nikki O'Shea. See what my cats think of me going off on tour.

-- Celtic Invasion Vacations. The next Celtic Invasion is picked. We're gonna spend a week in Dingle, one of the most-beautiful and peaceful parts of Ireland. You catch a glimpse of the town and surrounding countryside at West of Dingle.

-- Promote Tip: Review this iMix of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You can help promote my music by reviewing this iMix of music from the podcast. There's a TON of great music to choose from. And while you're there, buy a song or the set.

-- Celtic Music Reviews and Features.

-- Cool videos: Hoops and Kilts featured a couple live songs from my Texas Scottish Festival performance. And here is Marc Gunn's Renaissance Festival Demo. If you like the bodhran, I recorded my friend Lucrezia Playing the Bodhran several years ago.

Marc Gunn in the News: 

"Johnny Jump Up" and "Beer, Beer, Beer" were played in The David Tanny Show.

"Lord of the Pounce" was played on Mostly Folk.


UPCOMING GIGS. Don't forget to make a demand to see me perform. Want me to see where I plan to tour this summer?

6.21 (AUSTIN, TX) Saxon Pub
6.24 (SPRINGFIELD, MO) The Coffee Ethic
6.26 (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) Cummings House Concert
6.27 (ELMHURST, IL) Benefit Concert for Feral Fixers at Fitz's Pub
6.28 (BROOKFIELD, IL) Irish Times Pub
7.1 (WINCHESTER, KY) Panzarella House Concert
7.8 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Neutral Ground Coffeehouse
7.11 (COVINGTON, LA) Etoile Restaurant
7.25 (RESTON, VA) Fogel House Concert
7.30 (DENTON, MD) Market Street Public House
8.12-16 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) GenCon
9.4-7 (ATLANTA, GA) DragonCon
9.16-23 (DINGLE, IRELAND) Celtic Invasion of Ireland 2009
10.23-25 (DENVER, CO) MileHiCon
10.30 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club's "Blood and Gold" Ball
11.7-12.13 (ROBERT, LA) Louisiana Renaissance Festival
1.16.10 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Concert with Jed Marum

-- Check me out on Sunset Connoisseurs Society, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, SoundClick,Demand a Show on Eventful, Wikipedia, Livejournal, and DeviantArt. And if you'd like a CD...


-- Do you have a quote, movie, album, tip or suggestion that you'd like to share in my Weeklies? If so, post a comment with your suggestion here.

Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.

It's funny how "sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't." Who would've thought that old commercial could have such a deep meaning for life. Today, I'll have a Mounds, thank you.

Back once again in New Orleans, I have about a week before I head off on tour gigging in Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky. Then I make my way back home in time for the 4th of July with my friends.

Meanwhile, I just got word that Happy Songs of Death will be done sooner rather than later. I just heard the last song that I was waiting on, "Twa Corbies". It sounds amazing. I take a mellow Scottish song about two crows discussing how they will eat a dead knight (Now That's a folk song!), and chippery it up a wee bit.

Speaking of Scots. I had a great time at the Texas Scottish Festival last weekend. The Friday night Ceilidh was a smashing success, and it sounds like they want me back next year to host it again. That would make me happy. My show pulled in a lot of folks who sat and sang along with me. I had such a great time hanging out with Jed Marum, Hugh Morrison, Don Gabbert, and Tullamore. Plus, the Clan Gunn tent and meeting up with The Rogues, Brother, Clandestine, Ed Miller, and finally meeting Deanna of Jiggernaut. I brought home a ton of CDs I need to start ripping so I can get these groups on the next Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

Oh! I keep getting emails asking me "How was Italy?" Didn't I tell you? It was AWESOME!!!! A universal success which is why I want to do another one, this time to Ireland in September (and Scotland next May). We saw the magic of Tuscany. But even better, we shared some great craic singing songs and sharing one another's company in one of those must-see locations. Check out the Sunset Connoisseurs Society for many more comments and pics.

That's most of the news for now. I could probably go on and on, but I won't. I have other things to do for now. So pass the Mounds.


Listen to the Song of the Week: "I'll Tell My Ma" from Irish Drinking Songs





This Week:

-- Quote of the Week: "When you make music you are acting as a philosopher. You can either do that consciously or you can do it unconsciously, but you're doing it." John Cage from interview with Brian Eno

-- CD of the Week: Anchor Management by The Poxy Boggards. Songs of drinking and revelry, performed by the drinking group with a singing problem.

-- Book of the Week: The Great Cat: Poems About Cats. This delightful anthology gives us a teeming litter of literary tributes to the ever-fascinating, ever-mystifying cat.

-- Interesting article: Quality vs. Quantity. Which is better, producing one great work or a hundred average works? It's the question that taxes artists of all kind. Derek Sivers' has an interesting look at it the topic.

-- Pre-Order Happy Songs of Death Now!. I just got word from Ari that the album will be done Before the end of the month!!! He loved the last song I sent him, "Twa Corbies", which completes a delightful 13 songs of death on this CD. I should have an official song order coming soon too. Thanks for all your patience. Now let me know which CD cover you prefer, pre-order the album today!

-- Celtic Invasion Vacations. The next Celtic Invasion is picked. We're gonna spend a week in Dingle, one of the most-beautiful and peaceful parts of Ireland. You catch a glimpse of the town and surrounding countryside at West of Dingle.

-- Review this iMix: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You can help promote my music by reviewing this iMix of music from the podcast. There's a TON of great music to choose from. And while you're there, buy a song or the set.

-- Cool video: "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling" was featured in a Dingle fun with Fungie in the Sun


Marc Gunn in the News: 

"The Cat Came Back..... Cat's Perspective" was played in the Boise and Beyond Podcast.

"Stardust Serenade" was played in Murder at Avedon Hill Podcast Novel.

My Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was picked as a favorite by One Woman Show.

"Monahan's Mudder's Milk" and several other songs from a show at Studio Joe's in Little Rock, AR are now on YouTube.


UPCOMING GIGS. Don't forget to make a demand to see me perform. Want me to see where I plan to tour this summer?

6.12 (COVINGTON, LA) St. John's Coffee House
6.21 (AUSTIN, TX) Saxon Pub
6.24 (SPRINGFIELD, MO) The Coffee Ethic
6.26 (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) Cummings House Concert
6.27 (ELMHURST, IL) Benefit Concert for Feral Fixers at Fitz's Pub
6.28 (BROOKFIELD, IL) Irish Times Pub
7.1 (WINCHESTER, KY) Panzarella House Concert
7.8 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Neutral Ground Coffeehouse
7.11 (COVINGTON, LA) Etoile Restaurant
7.25 (RESTON, VA) Fogel House Concert
7.30 (DENTON, MD) Market Street Public House
8.12-16 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) GenCon
9.16-23 (DINGLE, IRELAND) Celtic Invasion of Ireland 2009
10.23-25 (DENVER, CO) MileHiCon
10.30 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club's "Blood and Gold" Ball
11.7-12.13 (ROBERT, LA) Louisiana Renaissance Festival
1.16.10 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Concert with Jed Marum

-- Check me out on Sunset Connoisseurs Society, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, SoundClick,Demand a Show on Eventful, Wikipedia, Livejournal, Sonicbids, and DeviantArt. And if you'd like a CD...


-- Do you have a quote, movie, album, tip or suggestion that you'd like to share in my Weeklies? If so, post a comment with your suggestion here.

Originally published at Marc Gunn .com. Read. Interact. Breathe. It's easy; it's free.

Brought to you by Song Henge, the online archive of free and legal Celtic music downloads. Find out more at SongHenge.com

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Underwriting for this program is provided by...
Celtic Invasion Vacations.
Join Marc Gunn in Ireland this September as
relax and experience Dingle.
During the day, see the sites
and at night sing with me.
Subscribe to the mailing list be notified about
the next Celtic Invasion Vacation.
http://www.celticinvasion.com/



Notes:
- The Celtic Top Five. Cast your vote for your favorite song in this show.
- Become a Member of the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast