Since I've already successfully produced two CDs, you would think I have this down. Not so. I'm positive some of my musician friends are sick of my emails and text messages filled with questions. And if they are not sick of questions, I'll bet they are tired of being chased for song files and legal release.

Tomorrow is my DEADLINE. Tomorrow I put the masters in a box and overnight them to the company that creates the final product. The PRE-SALE for Volume III will be Jan 24 - February 7 at www.celticpinkribbon.com. Those of you attending the Mid-Winter Scottish & Irish Music Festival February 13-15 will be able to purchase your copy there. The official release date is FEBRUARY 24.

As of this moment we have 32 confirmed tracks with 2 more on the way. There are EIGHT new to the compilation bands, including The American Rogues, Kilmaine Saints, Moxie Strings, My Three Kilts, Runa, and Seasons. 24 bands have returned from Volumes I & II. 

I'm really excited about this Volume. The songs are FANTASTIC!! I think you are all going to love it. Later today I might provide a sneak peek a the cover on our Facebook page. 

This Friday, October 24 at Celtober will be the first ever LIVE performance of the Audacious Divas song. Rathkeltair will perform the song written especially for us during the 9:00 pm set. 

The band will be shooting a video during the performance, so please MAKE SOME NOISE!!! If you deck yourself out in PINK you might even appear in the video.You can hear a catchy 37 second clip of the song HERE: 

Get there early to catch the Screaming Orphans at 8:00 pm and be sure to stick around to see Albannach at 10:00 pm!!!

CLICK HERE to purchase your Rathkeltair & Friends CPR CD or T-Shirt

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, by now you've probably seen somewhere that Rathkeltair is PAYING IT FORWARD to help us fight breast cancer. They've gathered some friends and are releasing a CD this month. All proceeds are being donated to the Audacious Divas' Celtic Pink Ribbon project and will go to fund a cure and raise awareness. 

Our original announcements promoted 13 tracks, but in reality there are 15!!!! The tracks include the ORIGINAL song by Trevor Tanner and performed by Rathkeltair titled Audacious Divas. There are really no words to express how excited I am about this track. For those attending Celtober the weekend of October 24-26, you'll be the very first ones to hear it LIVE!!! If you PINK yourself out, you might even be in the video :)

Rathkeltair and Friends - CPR

1. Audacious Divas - Rathkeltair

2. Pretty In Pink - Trevor Tanner and Nick Watson

3. Jack Dempsey - Scythian (with Neil Anderson)

4. Oh My Love - Trevor Tanner

5. Celtic Soul - Spade McQuade (With Nick Watson)

6. Madame Butterfly (Song for Janis) - Rathkeltair

7. Belfast Girl - Full Circle Band (With Neil Anderson)

8. Flagstone Reels - Neil Anderson

9. Donald, Where's your Troosers - Gypsies Ginger (with Aya Thorne)

10. Beware of Darkness - Trevor Tanner

11. Wild Geese - Scooter Muse and Jil Chambless (with Nick Watson)

12. Land of Grey and Pink - Rathkeltair

13. Fields of Athenrye - Gypsies Ginger

14. Clan Na Gael - I Still Believe (With Neil Anderson and Nick Watson)

15. Rath 'N' The Nach (Live) - Albannach and Rathkeltair

To purchase your copy of Rathkeltair & Friends CPR (or the limited edition t-shirt) please click HERE

I'm at a loss for words writing this post because it is still very surreal to me, so I'm just going to come out and say what keeps running through my brain:

TREVOR TANNER WROTE A SONG FOR ME!!! 

I've listened to "Audacious Divas" probably 250 times in the last month and I still can't believe it. 

There are no words to explain how grateful I am to Trevor, Neil, Alexs, Nick & Rob for their AMAZING support of Celtic Pink Ribbon. They created Rathkeltair and Friends CPR and are donating ALL the proceeds from to help us fight breast cancer, but Rathkeltair didn't stop there ... Trevor wrote a song for us.

I'm so very thrilled to present a tiny clip of "Audacious Divas" performed by Rathkeltair, written by Trevor Tanner. If you want to hear more, you can purchase your copy of Rathkeltair and Friends CPR HERE

AUDACIOUS DIVAS SONG

I started hinting about it earlier in the year, but NOW I am able to announce the next installment of Celtic Pink Ribbon. I've been pretty open about taking a year off before putting out Volume III. I've also told you time and again how AMAZING the bands have been with their support. In a surprise move, Rathkeltair has taken their support of Celtic Pink Ribbon one step further. They organized some musician friends and created Celtic Pink Ribbon 2.5.

You can PRE-ORDER Rathkeltair & Friends CPR just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

Rathkeltair & Friends CPR is a single disc with 13 songs for $15. Tracks include guest appearances by Scythian, Hadrian's Wall, Scooter Muse and Jill Chambless, Albannach, Aya Thorne, Gypsies Ginger and Spade McQuade!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

And just when you think Rathkeltair could not possibly be any more AMAZING, there is this ... Trevor Tanner wrote a very special song for the CD titled "Audacious Divas." When I first heard it my heart was so filled with gratitude I thought it would burst open. It is a very fun song with a powerful message. I can't wait to share with the world. 

Did I mention that Rathkeltair is doing this ALL OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET??? This enables 100% of the funds raised to go directly to breast cancer research and awareness. 

Order your copy TODAY at www.Rathkeltair.com

There is also a limited edition T-Shirt available

There are simply no words available to adequately express how grateful I am to all the musicians on the CD, but especially to Rathkeltair for the idea and making it happen <3

Deb

Where does the time go?? It is already September, which means it is time for me to get in gear and start cranking on Celtic Pink Ribbon Volume III. The good news is that I already have 15 bands confirmed for the next release. Some of the uber-organized groups have already selected their song AND sent the files I need. Now I need to start chasing the others :) Of the 16 other bands that received invitations to be on Volume III, I'm pretty sure about 1/2 will accept. 

Here is the problem, I've been so busy selling CDs at the sets of the bands ON the CDs that I've not had the time to get out and hear some of the new acts on the circuit. If you have a suggestion for a band, please comment and let me know. Thank you!!

I'm getting pretty good at this website stuff. Not really. I just found a site that is a lot easier to work with. Thank you, Weebly. I hope you like the new design. The store is easier to use than our old WePay site. I'll be adding the sticker and temporary tattoos in soon. 

I'll try to keep you more updated on the Audacious Divas and Celtic Pink Ribbon news on this blog. I'll have some big news to announce soon, so stay tuned. 

I am hard at work on Volume III. If everything goes according to plan (read: The bands all get their songs and releases to me) it should be ready to press in February. I have 17 tracks confirmed and several new artists joining Volume III. If you have a suggestion for a band you'd like to see join the Celtic Pink Ribbon family, please let me know. I spend much of my time with the bands already on the CDs that I've not had much time to scope out new talent. 

Last month was the first Celtic Pink Ribbon Presents concert in Virginia. Seven Nations and the ShamRogues generously donated their time and talent to help pull off a FUN and successful event. I'm already thinking about the where, when and who for next year. 

Before I close my first blog post I want to thank everyone who has purchased one of the CDs and, of course, all of the bands. I never in my wildest dreams imagined the CDs would raise over $150,000 for breast cancer research and awareness. When I came up with the idea back in 2010, I just wanted to raise the $3,000 in donations required to participate in a breast cancer walk. Thank you all for your generous support!!!!