Hiya-
Our accordionist, Buddy Connolly, plays so well and so fast that, as a result of industry pressures, he has volunteered to take a steroids test. Other artists were complaining that he gave Ceili Rain an unfair advantage, and have been beating the drum for justice. We want to say categorically that we stand behind Buddy and believe his speed and style to be organically arrived-at.
Enough with the silliness! We’re off to Ireland in 2 days, can’t wait!! Some of our favorite people on the planet will be along, so it’s a great thrill for us to combine seeing the motherland with seeing our dear Ceili Brigade. While there, we hope to (here I mention famous people and products for web-spider purposes- please bear with me) run into the Chieftains, maybe be offered a ride in a Jaguar, perhaps drink some Tropicana Orange Juice or hear news of the New York Yankees spring training goings-on via the New York Times. Or maybe not. Maybe just a lot of shepherd’s pie. And Guinness. And parties with Liam Neeson, Daniel Day-Lewis and Pierce Brosnan.

Love to all-

Buon giorno!
Going to Ireland soon, very excited!! Hoping to get to work on some tunes this week, have a really nice batch going, but it’s hard to balance the time between business and music. Thank God there’s enough business to keep me so busy! Had a near-accident on the road from Long Island to Syracuse on Friday, oh boy was a I grateful when that was averted. Recently read a piece about executives in the music business, showing how staff are being fired, artists are being dropped, but the top exec salaries keep growing as if every year were a banner one. Very happy to be distant from all that in our little Ceili world, working with spiritandsong and Compendia and KOCH, vastly more pleasant. Lots of shows this week, hope to see you all at one or another!!

Love-
BHjr

Dear Folks-
A new unsung hero in the group is whistle & pipe per John Dreibelbis (DRY- buhl-biss). He always shows up on time, he’s always pleasant to everyone, and he’s recently really mastered the songs. What a guy! As a result he’s hoping for endorsements from Nike, Guinness, Coca Cola, The U. S. Treasury, Home Depot and Piggly Wiggly. One can always hope! John’s daughter Hannah is a champ Irish step-dancer, and has plied her craft on the Ceili stage a time or two so far to great advantage. Watch for John!
Meanwhile, Hoolibob is working on songs for the next CD. Some of the titles are so good I’m not mentioning them- like…. wait, I wasn’t going to mention them. Anyway, you get the idea, amazing stuff! Have 29 songs under conssideration at the moment, some left over from previous batches, about half of them are very new, several of those not quite finished yet. Always one of the most exciting parts for me, the construction of the CD is done in the song writing and planning. Good fun, what I was put here to do (along with 47 other things, all equally necessary- like BLOGGING.)
The other 46 things are calling me, so I’ll sign off for now.

Love-
BHjr & the Ceili Kidz

Dear Peeps:
I’m told to celebrate: Ceili Rain is on Rhapsody! Before I pop open the Dom Perignon, will someone please tell me what Rhapsody is? Some sort of songs-for-free affair, seemingly, but educate me on what it is, what it does, and to whom it does it. I want so desperately to be modern, but it sounds like I’m losing income in the bargain. Are we spreading the good news? Let me know, I want it to be a good thing.
Meanwhile, we had two shows this weekend, first was in Harrisburg, PA. Bill got to play for his peeps, including his mom, who scolded me on his not being in the picture that was used in the paper. The Bonners brought us pretzels and joy, new friends Dave & Chris were most pleasant. Next, Wheeling, WV for a Celtic celebration. We were very well received. In attendance were Miss Meadville, PA and her mum & two friends Kaylee & Amanda, who drove 2 & 1/2 hours; Ceili Fan #1 Barb Votel all the way from San Diego ( a good bit longer trip!) and her friend Carole; Kevin, Kathleen, Kyle and – rats, I’m not remembering Kyle’s sister’s name, Melanie or Marjorie or Amanda, oy! Anyway, the Family Frank. And lastly, new friends Veronica and B.E. Taylor, who have a successful music thing going in that part of the world and were introduced to us by dear friend and F.A.M.I.L.Y. guy Stephen Connolly. We ate dinner after the show at Pastimes, I had steak with guacomole on it, and a brownie with ice cream, whipped cream & chocolate sauce! I am screaming toward 150 pounds and you can’t stop me!!
We Ceili Kidz love to see people at shows, so please make it out this month, there are many to choose from. Next letter I will tell a bit about the next Ceili album, which I’m working hard on the writing of.

Love always-
BHjr & the lads