June 6 to 13, 2014:  A week in Ireland with Cathie Ryan - Galway, Kerry, Clare, Offaly, and Limerick.  Space is limited so book early!

Come and enjoy the beauty and magic of Ireland with Cathie Ryan!   Cathie has decided to begin doing guided tours of Ireland again after a long hiatus.  For fourteen years she shared her sojourns in Ireland with fellow travelers and lovers of Irish folklore, music, and story.  Many of her best songs were inspired by those deep immersions into the myth and landscape of Ireland.   It is time to return!   Beginning in Shannon early on June 6  and meandering through Clare, Galway, Kerry and Limerick,  the tour will come full circle back to Shannon on June 13.

Cathie has chosen a different approach for this first tour.  Instead of 45 people on a large coach, she will take a group of approximately fourteen to twenty on a smaller coach for a more intimately shared experience.  We will enjoy lots of planned events both musical and cultural, spontaneous gatherings, concerts, sing alongs, pub visits, the beautiful Irish countryside, and the inspiration of it all!

Cathie will share her songs, stories, and tales of myth and folklore on the bus - at the sites - anywhere it seems fitting!  She is looking forward to sharing this time in the landscape and music of Ireland with you.

For detailed itinerary and cost: https://cathieryan.com/guided-tours-ireland/

Please contact info@cathieryan.com for further information and booking details.

The post TRAVEL IRELAND WITH CATHIE June 6 to 13, 2014! appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Important news for all folk music lovers: Mike Harding, the legendary folk radio show host, is back on the air. Please log on to www.mikehardingfolkshow.com   His new program and format is even better than his show on BBC2 because it is online - an hour plus show of the very best in folk, roots and acoustic music – every Sunday 5pm – then streaming  24/7!!!!!  And unlike his archived shows at BBC2, we can access this from all over the world.  This makes me very happy as I was often unable to get his show all the time online - it depended on where I was.  Now we can hear him from everywhere.  He already has listeners from all over the world.  Well deserved.  I look forward to hearing the music he has to share with us - plus the wit and knowledge and great interviews.....   This is a brilliant new beginning!

The post One of the Best – Mike Harding – Is Back on the Air! appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Tonight is the night!  My interview with Mike Harding airs on BBC2 at 7:00pm UK time - 12:00 midnight in the USA.  The show is available to listen to for one week after today, so you can tune in and listen anytime you'd like to.  It is more than an honor to be a guest on one of his last shows.  Mike is one of the finest presenters folk music has.  I am grateful for his support of my music.  You can listen into his show at BBC2 iplayer link provided here.

The post Mike Harding BBC2 Interview with Cathie Ryan 12/12/12 appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

We are happy to announce that Cathie's new CD, Through Wind and Rain, has been selected by Rich Warren of WFMT's syndicated radio show "Midnight Special" as one of his favorite CDs for 2012.   Top 8 CDs of 2012.  Cathie shares the honor with Kathy Mattea, Gordon Bok, Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers, Anne Hills, Sons of the Never Wrong, Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, and Steve Turner.  Rich tapes his show at WFMT in Chicago, and, happily, it is syndicated throughout the USA.

The post Through Wind and Rain “Midnight Special” Favorite CDs of 2012 appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Bad Ischl, Austria is covered in a blanket of snow – everything is bright and beautifully silent.  We drove here yesterday and spent the evening off with snow falling outside and us in the warm – talking and relaxing.  It was our first and only night off so we all really appreciated it.  I thought I’d be blogging up a storm on this trip, not so.  There isn’t much time to spare and when there is – a lie down is good!

Bad Ischl is a spa town and was the summer home of the Austrian royal family.  It has that feel – beautiful architecture, a gorgeous walk along the esplanade beside the river (such clear water), and a sense of history that is palpable.  The town is nestled amid lakes and majestic mountains.  Edenic.

We are looking forward to the show here tonight. Without exception the shows have been brilliant, sparkling. The audiences are generous and enthusiastic, and listen deeply.  I think this is the one country I could actually sing a full show of slow songs and it would be ok.  In the USA I mix our sets up with slow songs, medium paced songs, and then the rafter-raising tunes on the fiddle.  At festivals we play primarily up-tempo music.  I always try and keep it moving, don’t want to do slow songs one after another.  It  is different here.  And, the change of pace is lovely.

Do have to say, though, that when we launch into the high-octane songs and tunes, we all love it.  Patsy O’Brien and Patrick Mangan have been playing brilliantly - heart and soul. I am proud to be on stage with them. The communication that happens between the audience and us is dynamic - every night is a different buzz, a different feel. The fact that there are some in the audiences who don’t speak a lot of English has made no difference at all. They seem to be listening with their hearts.

And we couldn’t do any of this without the exceptional soundman we are travelling with – Martin Zimmer. Doesn’t matter what venue we are playing, he makes it sound huge, clear, and pitch perfect. There is nothing in the way between the audience and us.  Singing/playing each night has been a pure pleasure.  Martin and Egon (his brother and assistant) are there hours before us and stay long after us.  I watched them tearing down the sound system the other night. They did it with precision and speed – impressive – and it is the same every night. I sat there thinking that we musicians have a much lighter load to carry on the road. We are very lucky to be working with them.

We also share the show each night with Full Set.  They are fine company and are playing and singing beautifully at every single show – true professionals.  Their sets feature lovely, lovely instrumentals and seriously good songs/arrangements – and “take the roof off the room” tunes too!  If you haven’t had a chance to see them live yet, do!  You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to all of you have come out to hear us here in Austria.  We are having a blast!  And to those of you in the States: we will be back to start our Spring shows in January – right into February and March – new songs from the new CD!:)  Looking forward to the shows there.  I’ll be posting the dates on the site soon.  We hope to see you at one of the shows.  And I’ll be joining Cherish the Ladies as their guest vocalist for some shows too.  Will be fun to sing with them again!

Cathie

The post An Austria tour update appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

I am writing this in Blieburg, Austia as we get ready  to travel to our fifth show in Feldkirchen today.  We performed our fourth show of the 17^th Annual Guinness Christmas Tour in Blieburg last night - fantastisch!  The first three in Bruck/Mur, Traisen, and Rudersdorf were over the top too.  I love singing here – enthusiastic audiences who listen to every word and feel every nuance, welcoming venues, plus gorgeous countryside and delicious food. We drove through the Alps two days ago and stopped at a Christmas fair in Mariazell – the town center was dotted with little wooden cabins where people sell their food and wares – beekeepers, wine makers, artisans, craft-folk, and the intoxicating smell of sweets and food pulling us into the stalls. Everyone was full of good cheer, the Christmas ornaments were sparkling in the displays, and Christmas trees were all lit and decorated with old-fashioned lights and colorful wrapped boxes with bows.  Brisk, fresh mountain air, light snow falling, and the Alps all covered in glistening snow - a magical scene.

I am grateful to my agent here, Dietmar Haslinger, for 12 years of friendship and tours of Austria.  He is extraordinary – a man who is supremely good at his job and has a deep and abiding love of his homeland.  He wants us to experience all of the beauty and charm Austria has to offer so he always takes the long way through the mountains and picturesque little villages.  Doing these journeys and sharing the stage with my band mates, Patsy O’Brien and Patrick Mangan, is, as always, so satisfying musically – and good fun.  Patsy has a quick wit – and, thankfully, uses it often!  Getting to know the members of Full Set (great musicians all!) has been really good fun too – loads of laughs during the drives and shows and everywhere in between.  Love our encores –the nine of us get up on stage together and lash out lots of high octane tunes and songs for the holidays.

All of this is a gift this Christmas time.  I feel blessed.  On to Feldkirchen!

xo

The post Christmas Tour in Austria appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

The post Cathie Ryan Band Sirius XM Concerts in December! appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

The Irish Echo have printed a glowing review of Cathie's new album, 'Through Wind and Rain' (available to pre-order now!). Please find the review from the Irish Echo's Liz Noonan below...

[scribd id=105342785 key=key-25p78ge7kjtz0z8oigxu mode=scroll]

The post The Irish Echo reviews ‘Through Wind and Rain’ appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

The post Cathie to be inducted into the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Please join Cathie and the band for three very special concerts to celebrate the release of Through Wind and Rain:

Friday, October 12, 2012:  The Lyceum Theatre, Alexandria, VA (information)

Saturday, October 13, 2012: The Clark Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York, NY (information)

Sunday, October 14, 2012: The Back Room at the Burren, 247 Elm Street, Somerville, MA (information to follow)

The post Cathie announced CD release dates for NYC and Washington, DC area appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Through Wind and Rain is the cover story for Irish Music Magazine’s October 2012 issue. On news stands in mid-September! See www.irishmusicmagazine.com for more info on how to order your copy or where you can get it near you.

The post Cathie on cover of Irish Music Magazine appeared first on Cathie Ryan.