It's A Great Big Fuchsia World

All kinds of news today from Fuchsia man Máirtín de Cógáin back in Cork. The boys in the band have been signed to play for Steve and Tim and all our friends up at the Minnesota Irish Fair in August. They'll be sharing the bill with fellow KCIF performers Gaelic Storm as Irish Fair headliners.

The band have also added a local date to their rapidly filling calendar, with a show at The Mountain Music Shoppe, 12710 Shawnee Mission Parkway on Tuesday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m. A mere 60 seats will be available for $12 each, so the advice is to book early. You can do that right now by calling 913-962-9711 or sending a note to jcurley@mountainmusicshoppe.com.

The widely syndicated (though sadly, not in Kansas City) Celtic radio show Celtic Connections, hosted by Bryan Kelso Crow, has announced a June 29 the airing of a show featuring the Fuchsia Band, including live interviews recorded last year with Máirtín and Eoin during their summer USA tour.
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And finally, the long awaited report from Máirtín on that Tuscany castle gig:

"THE FUCHSIA BAND SIEGE TUSCAN CASTLE!
Last weekend, we were called out to perform at a Tuscan Castle for a special celebration of Traditional Music. We were picked up at Roma airport and driven two hours deep into the Italy countryside to Castello Di Potentino, Tuscany. Here we were met by the lady of the castle, Charlotte Horton, stepdaughter of publisher Graham Greene. After finding our rooms, on the 3rd floor of this medieval castle with roots of 3000 years, we had a welcoming meal of traditional Italy food. The following day we were treated to a tour of the local valley by English sculpture Emily Young. With the night drawing near the local chefs brought in the best of foods, cheeses, breads, wine as well as bringing a lamb to roast and boil in the courtyard were the concert would take place. When the guests had all arrived The Fuchsia Band took to the floor and played the whole night through. Towards the middle of the night everyone was taught the Siege of Ennis or Ionsaí Venetia more like as it was the first time dancing for most. We were joined for the half time break by the Cardellini del Fontanino, who sung with Keith Richard’s of the Rolling Stones in 1995, this unique group who sing in four-part harmony with Yodeling, a very ancient form of singing particular only to that valley. This brought the best out of us as we turned on the style when the bar was raised and entertained in four-part ourselves for the next hour to an exhilarated audience. The following day, Sunday was spent walking the castle’s vineyards and olive grooves as well as mass in a 11th century Abby sung in Gregorian chant. That night Dr. Moira Woods brought us up to her abode for a farewell dinner and more songs and tunes by the fireside. We arrived home to Cork on Monday feeling we had lived in a dream for the weekend with no television, radio or newspapers out under the hot Tuscan sun playing the best of Irish music, stories and songs reeling for their next adventure."

And don't forget, Maitin's film The Wind That Shakes The Barley is up for the top prize at Cannes this month. Stay tuned for more on the meteoric rise of all things Fuchsia.