It's just about this time of year
It always rolls around
When everything starts comin' up green
In our little town
Winter's almost over
Spring is in the air
The Pipes are in the distance
But you know they call us there!
They are calling us!
The Troubles will be at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center on Friday, March 7, 7pm for An Evening of Irish Song & Dance.
We will be joined by our very special guests, the McCormick School of Irish Dance. We had a wonderful show there last year and this year, we hear that the Center has renovated their upstairs performance area. We are very excited about our show there! The Troubles and the Irish dancers are preparing a very special surprise for our audience! All proceeds will benefit the Schuylkill County Diabetic Association - this great bunch of folks helps kids with diabetes go to a summer camp where they learn how to manage their disorder and meet other children with the same disease.
On Sunday, March 9th, The Troubles will be in historic Jim Thorpe for the Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade. The following week, March 15th, we'll be in Williamsport for their St. Patrick's Day Parade. Later that evening, we'll be at the Cellblock in Williamsport, from 7-9pm.
Finally, we'll be seeing you all in our favorite place, Girardville, for the 11th Annual Girardville AOH St. Patrick's Day Parade, 12 Noon sharp Girardville time.
It's getting late, but we do have a few open spots in the schedule if anyone is still looking for a band. We apologize to those who inquired about dates that we already had committed to, but the season only has so many weekends and all of them are busy ones.
We are just finishing our Irish Coal Cracker CD up at Peach Mountain Recording Studio. Our buddy, Joe Ciarvella, has been wonderful. What a talented guy! The studio is rustic and well equipped, very quaint, and a fun place to record. We are looking forward to hearing the final mixes and having the CD ready for our audiences this month.
We are heading into the last week of February as I write this. Time to break out your green and get ready for another wonderful season.! We hope to see you in our travels.
Slainte!!
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The Troubles / Blog
Change is Nothing if Not Inevitable
The Troubles are undergoing a brief musical metamorphosis so some of the information and content on our webpages will be changing. Change in inevitable. Embrace the energy. Cherish the moment. Listen to more Irish music. An old ballad goes like this... O Kind Friends and Companions Come join me in rhyme And lift up your voices In Chorus with mine Let's drink and be merry All Grief to restrain For we may and might never All meet here again...
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Remembering Woodstock
45 years ago, this upcoming weekend, half a million young people and a group of musicians never to be seen the like of again, descended on the small rural town of Bethel, NY, for three unforgettable days and showed the world that peace, love, and music are an unbeatable combination. It was the music festival that changed the world. Those artists who performed went on to become legends. Remembering all those who dreamed it, built it, attended it, played at it - especially those who have moved on to party at that big festival in the sky...Ritchie, Jimi, Janis, Johnny, among others - and especially all those who will keep the dream alive when they return to Bethel, NY this weekend to continue the tradition of peace, love, and music that has been acclaimed around the world for the last four and a half decades. Woodstock '45 is alive and well....it's time to get ourselves back to the garden. Blessings to Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld for their visionary efforts - both are reportedly making the pilgrimage to Bethel this weekend - thank you. Without both of you, none of it would have been possible. See some of you there - I'll be taking a break from my beloved Irish music this weekend to get back to my rock and roll roots. May the message of Woodstock live forever...
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50,000!
The Troubles have reached 50,000 plays! Thank you!!
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Thank you, Eckley Miners' Village & Museum
The Troubles had a fantastic time sharing our Irish and Coal Region music with the folks at Eckley's Miners' Village and Museum's Patch Town Days this past weekend. The event fell on the 137th Anniversary of the Day of the Rope - the stars aligned perfectly and the timing and venue were just right for sharng our Molly Maguire songs. The band was pleased that they were so well received. Visiting Eckley Village is like taking a step back in time to the mid-1800's. The Troubles were so pleased to be part of the Village's annual Patch Town event. What great fun!! If you've never visited, make plans to go today!
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No Troubles Springing into Summer!
Lots happening! The Troubles new CD, Coal Cracker Irish, which includes 13 original coal region tunes about the Mollies, mining, and coal region history and culture, turned out fabulous thanks to our buddy, Peach Mountain Joey, who did an amazing job for us at his studio. We're considering a Christmas CD next...
We have our annual Heritage Day show at The Friends of St. KIerans down in Irish Valley on Sunday, June 1st. The McCormick Irish Dancers will be there (maybe we'll do our dance set with them - I'll have to message Caitlin) and we'll be part of an all new Finnegans Wake! The band all play a role in the show!
Later in June, we'll be at Eckley Miners Village for their Patchtown Days. I've done some book signings at Eckley for The Pipes are Calling and Irish Roads, but this is the first time the band will be there. I just love Eckley - and what better place for The Troubles to do our Molly and mining music! We're also working hard on perfecting some Irish fiddle tunes that Patrick has been after us to do.
Before you know it, it will be August!!
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Let's March!
The High and Holy Days of St. Patrick are upon us!! There is no holiday that make me happier than St. Patrick's Day. I love Spring, I love being Irish, and I adore Irish music, traditions, and culture.
The Troubles are going to be busy over the next couple weeks. We've got a few shows and 3 parades coming up. At this point, unless the weather brings us a blizzard, it looks like we will be in Jim Thorpe for the Carbon County Parade on Sunday, March 9th, the Williamsport Parade on Saturday, March 15th, and of course, our home parade, the 11th Annual AOH Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 22nd.
We also have a couple gigs - this Friday, March 7th, at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center 7pm, with our special guests, The McCormick School of Irish Dance to benefit the Schuylkill County Diabetic Association, and on next Saturday, March 15th, in Williamsport at the Cell Block, from 7-9pm (after the parade).
The Troubles spent a good bit of time this last few weeks on a labour of love. We finally completed our long awaited CD of original coal region and mining music, entitled Coal Cracker Irish. It is in production as I write this. We are really proud of this music - the CD tells a story of the Coal Region Irish immigrants who came to the Hard Coal Fields of Pennsylvania to settle after they were forced out of Ireland by An Gorta Mor - The Great Hunger - and the English.
We'll have the CD ready for sale on Reverb soon - and we hope to have it for a few of these parades/shows. Price $10.
Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day and make sure you support your local Irish band!
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The Pipes Are Calling
It's just about this time of year It always rolls around When everything starts comin' up green In our little town Winter's almost over Spring is in the air The Pipes are in the distance But you know they call us there!
They are calling us!
The Troubles will be at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center on Friday, March 7, 7pm for An Evening of Irish Song & Dance. We will be joined by our very special guests, the McCormick School of Irish Dance. We had a wonderful show there last year and this year, we hear that the Center has renovated their upstairs performance area. We are very excited about our show there! The Troubles and the Irish dancers are preparing a very special surprise for our audience! All proceeds will benefit the Schuylkill County Diabetic Association - this great bunch of folks helps kids with diabetes go to a summer camp where they learn how to manage their disorder and meet other children with the same disease.
On Sunday, March 9th, The Troubles will be in historic Jim Thorpe for the Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade. The following week, March 15th, we'll be in Williamsport for their St. Patrick's Day Parade. Later that evening, we'll be at the Cellblock in Williamsport, from 7-9pm.
Finally, we'll be seeing you all in our favorite place, Girardville, for the 11th Annual Girardville AOH St. Patrick's Day Parade, 12 Noon sharp Girardville time.
It's getting late, but we do have a few open spots in the schedule if anyone is still looking for a band. We apologize to those who inquired about dates that we already had committed to, but the season only has so many weekends and all of them are busy ones.
We are just finishing our Irish Coal Cracker CD up at Peach Mountain Recording Studio. Our buddy, Joe Ciarvella, has been wonderful. What a talented guy! The studio is rustic and well equipped, very quaint, and a fun place to record. We are looking forward to hearing the final mixes and having the CD ready for our audiences this month.
We are heading into the last week of February as I write this. Time to break out your green and get ready for another wonderful season.! We hope to see you in our travels.
Slainte!!
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Spring, Saint Patrick, and The Troubles
The other day I noticed the sky was noticeably brighter at 5pm than it had been for a long time. The shamrocks on my kitchen sill had hibernated for a few weeks - they come and go all year long - but woke up about a week ago.
There may be ice and snow to come but as we head into the end of January, it only a hop skip to St. Brigid's Day on Feb. 1/2. Valentine's Day flies by like cupid's arrow and then Irish Days are upon us, leading up to Monday, March 17th!
We're booking now for St. Patrick's Day, Spring, and Summer!
The Troubles will be at
Friday, March 14th, 7pm Tamaqua Community Arts Center An Evening of Irish Song & Dance with Special Guests, The McCormick School of Irish Dance. Benefits The Schuylkill County Diabetic Association.
Saturday, March 15th, The Williamsport St. Patrick's Day Parade The Troubles will be performing in the Parade.
Saturday, March 22nd, 12 n. The 11th Annual AOH Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday/Sunday, June 22th & 23, Eckley Patch Days, Eckley Miner's Village The Troubles 10a-5pm
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Peace on Earth and Human Rights for All
As this Christmas 2013 approaches and the year draws to a close, The Troubles want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the gift of your support and bless you for listening to our music.
The Troubles have a great time playing together. A lot of our songs are just plain fun for us to share with you - but many of our songs carry a message.
Remember the Irish POW's and political prisoners. Join in the Christmas Card campaign. Pray for their release.
May 2014 truly bring us peace on Earth. If only this new year could bring an end to the atrocities and human rights violations that exist in so many parts of our world!
It is our dearest hope that justice will prevail in Northern Ireland and the practice of internment and political harassment end.
No peace without freedom. No freedom without justice. No justice without mercy.
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Happy Thanksgiving from The Troubles!
Paul, Patrick, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our fans who listen to The Troubles and support our music.
We are very thankful for all of you!
Loretta, Patrick, & Paul The Troubles
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