Joy On

Mima Rekidz is pleased to announce that I MADE LEMONADE by CEILI RAIN was recognized as ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the 2010 KCCM Awards held Saturday, May 22. The KCCM Awards is an ecumenical event hosted by KingCat Music and is held annually in the Kansas City area. This organization serves to recognize artists who are part of the KingCat Music network in a variety of award categories including Artist of the Year (in each music genre), Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. KingCat Music includes local, regional and national independent artists that perform in the Christian music genre. The awards are held each spring at a Kansas City area venue. Sponsors for the event include notable businesses, professionals in the Christian music industry, along with several radio stations, and news periodicals. For more information on the KCCM Awards visit www.kingcatmusic.com.

Ceili Rain would like to congratulate St Monica Council 11927 of the Knights of Columbus based in Indianapolis, IN for receiving the 2010 Youth Award for the State of Indiana for their coordination and hosting of the CEILI RAIN concert held at the Pike Performing Arts Center in May, 2009. The award was presented at the Knights of Columbus State Convention where Grand Knight, Mark Stevens was on hand to accept the award on behalf of his council. Congrats to all involved. CEILI RAIN was honored to be part of this event.

If your community is interested in hosting CEILI RAIN…we’ve got references! Write to us at crgigs@aol.com for details.

Ceili Rain music was recently featured on a new and “fresh” global travel show on EWTN called “The Faithful Traveler.” www.faithfultraveler.com

The episode focused on Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. The creators/producers/hosts Diana and David Van Glahn are Ceili supporters and we are very excited that their show has been picked up for an entire season by EWTN. This show is broadcast globally to hundreds of millions of viewers and thus, is a great opportunity for them and for our music to be heard by a whole new audience. They have worked hard to make sure that their show brings a new energy to this network.

Think of this show as a Catholic version of the Travel Channel and those shows with Samantha Brown(however, you don’t have to be Catholic for it to be interesting). Their vision is to use high quality video, audio and music to capture and accentuate the spirit of the subject in each episode. The concept of the show is to focus on a prominent Catholic landmark in the US or Europe, such as a Cathedral, and give vivid detail and history of it’s architecture, construction, legends, traditions, doctrine etc. Diana does a great job of bringing excitement to the delivery and really draws one in to pay attention to the history and detail that most people don’t know.

So we invite you to tune in to see and hear what they’ve done to incorporate a few CR classics into the show. Then if you enjoyed the program and want to see and hear more, feel free to drop a positive comment to viewer@ewtn.com so the network knows people are watching this new show and want more of it!

Thanks for the ongoing support!

UPDATE:THE FAITHFUL TRAVELER DVD series will be available soon! Watch for details!

The very popular Christian website JESUSFREAKHIDEOUT featuring JESUS, FAITH and MUSIC for over 13 years has chosen to add ALL the CEILI RAIN videos to their website! This is a terrific opportunity for Ceili Rain to gain new fans as “visitors” search for videos by popular artists such as Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp and others.

We are so grateful to be included and we encourage you to go and check out this website. In addition to videos they also do album reviews, concert reviews, have a full artist database, include news of the music industry and more. Very cool, very comprehensive!

Go now to www.jesusfreakhideout.com

Paddy Noonan (yep…that’s his real name) founder of IMRADIO recently selected CEILI RAIN as their Featured Showcase Artist for this month. Paddy is not only the creator of IMRADIO but also a musician and has created a new radio web presence with a new radio model for musicians by musicians!

IMRADIO is an Internet radio station playing music from bands in over 75 countries and all 50 states. They play music from over 50 genres, including Spoken Word and Comedy. A recent review of the songs introduced to IMRADIO listeners included this one by MC Rydel…

“Are you looking for an innovative blend of pop rock music with a dash of Celtic/Irish flavor? Then, you will love Ceili Rain The group is led by songwriter Bob Halligan, Jr., who has had over 140 songs recorded by well-known rock artists, including Cher, Michael Bolton, Judas Priest, KISS, and Kathy Mattea. Ceili Rain will simultaneously touch your soul and make you dance with songs like “666 Degrees” and “Stomp”. Look for them on the New York and Celtic stations on IMRadio. ~MC Rydel

To visit IMRadio just go here. www.imradio.com CEILI RAIN music is positioned in the New York and Celtic stations but we bet you’ll get hooked on a lot of additional music by really talented artists as well.

Let’s Do This Thing

Ceili Rain recently established a new radio partnership with AIRPLAY ACCESS. AIRPLAY ACCESS is taking the song titled LET’S DO THIS THING from the CD-I MADE LEMONADE and is introducing it for airplay to a worldwide audience.

Airplay Access is the music industry’s answer for fast, secure music delivery, enabling registered industry professionals, records labels, artist/bands to get their promotional music directly to radio as broadcast quality digital files.

We want to make sure radio programmers have an opportunity to preview this new song and add it to their playlists. We’ve already received feedback from college and internet stations based in the USA as well as AC/Hot AC stations located in Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Spain.

LET’S DO THIS THING is a song about taking risks and chances. A great motivational ditty that will surely want to make you get up and go with the ol fighting heart and spirit within you.

Radio stations interested in adding LET’S DO THIS THING can contact us directly at crgigs@aol.com or albieemail@aol.com

I Made Lemonade

Our newest CD-I MADE LEMONADE is available through ITUNES and other digital distribution channels. A lot of folks are making “Lemonade” part of their playlists these days and we couldn’t be happier.

You also have the option to buy individual singles through our partnership with CD Baby. Maybe there’s one song that really speaks to you, or maybe you just can’t stop dancing to the whole CD. We’ve got you covered.

For itunes visit here…
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-made-lemonade/id322545749

For CD Baby visit here…
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ceilirain3

Ceili Rain rocked the overflow room at NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) in Kansas City November 19-21, 2009! When NCYC event officials realized they had more registered attendees than they could fit in the space allocated for the NCYC General sessions they quickly contacted CEILI RAIN to provide the music for the “overflow” room for each session. Overflow room attendees were staggered each day of the event so in the end, all 30,000 attendees got the opportunity to join Ceili Rain in the NCYC celebration along with the Overflow emcee host, Jesse Mannibusen.

In addition, Ceili Rain had a “packed booth” in the Thematic Theme Park and sold out of all of their CD’s including their most recent CD titled I MADE LEMONADE. Those who purchased LEMONADE even got a commemorative button featuring the CD cover along with the NCYC tie in.

If you attended NCYC in Kansas City…let us know! We’d love to hear from ya!

Peace-
BHJr and Ceili Rain

We are certainly not abandoning our 6000+ friends on MYSPACE, and our website here is stronger than ever-but we are certainly excited about the gathering of friends (old and new) at our FACEBOOK Fan page too. We’ve learned that many Ceili Rain listeners are enjoying the experience of the Facebook social networking scene so we’re in too. We hope you’ll consider joining with us if you haven’t already done so. For quick updates or to join in dialogue on our “wall” then be a “fan” on Facebook too.

But…one step at a time baby…not quite sure we are ready to “tweet” yet! LOL!

Joy to ya-
BHjr and Ceili Rain

Hey guys-just wanted to let you know there’s a cool place on the web now called BAGPIPE ISLAND. This is your online getaway to the celtic arts! The site just recently went LIVE and guess who they are featuring on the front page? Yep…ye ol CEILI RAIN band! We’re honored they have chosen to help us spread the word about the new CD and all that!

Bagpipe Island is a source for celtic arts on Long Island, the metro New York area and the world. This free online publication will feature stories, news and events about bagpiping, music, dancing and more. You’ll see lots of great events posted and no doubt hear about lots of great artists too.

Please take a moment and check it out would ya? www.bagpipeisland.com and go ahead and share your feedback with them too. Good folk for sure (and they got a really cool logo too).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBIE Entertainment/MIMA REKIDZ

I MADE LEMONADE-A Pop/Rock/Celtic Music Celebration!

Syracuse,NY,July 1, 2009-Mima Rekidz is pleased to announce the new CD Release from critically acclaimed touring, and recording artist-CEILI RAIN.

After five successful “label” projects, Bob Halligan Jr. (front-man for Ceili Rain) took a step away from the traditional industry route and has created a CD that not only encompasses his flair for lyrical creativity and instrumentation, but also embodies a spirit of community in bringing this project to fruition. Halligan took his idea of creating a “sponsorship CD” directly to the people that continue to support his mission-the Ceili Rain fans. Without hesitation, many (from all parts of the world) stepped forward to support the vision of this recording project.

I MADE LEMONADE was inspired by the debates, the troubles, and the love that surrounds this long-time songwriter. Halligan wanted the songs to be simple, without being “dopey”. He wanted a bigger sounding record that listeners could turn up loud. He wanted this collection of songs to crossover, and to stir the senses of a variety of audiences. Although Ceili Rain records have always been upbeat and uplifting, “Lemonade” is sometimes a bit more overt with the spirituality. But, Halligan’s penchant for remaining subtle and below the radar is never fully ignored!

I MADE LEMONADE brings hope to the listener and a feeling of accomplishment to the long list of sponsors and contributors who have faith…in hope. In the simplest explanation, if you TRUST ON-LOVE ON-JOY ON…. you’ll find quickly the answers you may be seeking…and no doubt you’ll dance with delight when you connect with the title track-I MADE LEMONADE.

I MADE LEMONADE and all other titles in the Ceili Rain discography are available at www.ceilirain.com. The CD will also be distributed through CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, and other digital download distributors.

For additional PR, Promotion, & Partnerships (including magazine, radio interviews and reviews) please contact:
ALBIE Entertainment (615) 294-7396 albieemail@aol.com

For booking inquiries please contact: (615) 500-8627 crgigs@aol.com

TO ORDER VISIT OUR MERCH page at www.ceilirain.com
Also available on CD Baby!

So every once in awhile you come to one of those websites that catches your attention and you find yourself not only “surfing” but REALLY riding the wave. Many Ceili Rain fans enjoy (and often request) our song SHUT UP AND PRAY from the Whatever Makes You Dance CD. Certainly it’s a title that jumps out at you. So, it only seems fitting that a website called SHUT UP AND SMILE would jump back at me. Here’s the general overview on this great site…

The idea for SHUT UP AND SMILE came to Bob Bills after spending one too many days watching people on the evening news blame everybody for their problems-except themselves. …Many people have legitimate reasons to gripe and there are certainly genuine victims in the world, but “chronic whiners”, are a special group of people that can make those around them at school, work and home miserable. They never have minor problems-all their problems, even the weather, are major catastrophes. SHUT UP AND SMILE is not about simply telling people “life is good”, it’s about letting people know “life can be better” once they choose to give up the “ball and chain” and stop playing the victim card. SHUT UP AND SMILE believes life does not truly suck and everyday problems are not the end of the world.

Sounds like JOY to me…don’t cha think? They have fun blogs to read, terrific apparel available for purchase and much more. Please go over and visit this website. No doubt you may end up having the best day ever after you do!

www.shutupandsmile.com

Peace-

BHJR and Ceili Rain