Darren's Blog

[jillebeans]

    
Listen to HK Performance Interview LMFM 95.8 today
Hi Everyone

The High Kings were in the studio at LMFM95.8 this morning, chatting to Daire Nelson. Listen to the interview as they chat about Irish History, the High Kings name and their music heritage and professional careers. They also performed a live studio version of Red Is The Rose.

Drop by Darren's official Facebook page and take a listen.

Darren's Official Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darren-Holden/24990486788

Enjoy

[jillebeans]

    
MONASTEREVIN ETC

Hi Everyone.

I am sitting in Cork city where we drove to last night after Monasterevin.

Without a doubt, last night was the most fun we have had onstage in ages, and with people wedged everywhere in the venue,  bar the stage, it was destined to be a stormer!
It was hot, loud, rowdy and they sang and stomped along with every single song all night!

This is what HK thrive on and it makes it so worthwhile!

We have a signing in The Mahon Centre today at 1pm, and then on to Rossmore for the show tonight. Immediately  after we leave for Dublin, as we are doing the Ryan Tubridy Radio show at 8am.
We also record a show for 4FM tomorrow afternoon. Details of broadcast to follow.

The first week is over and if the rest of the shows can match what we have already experienced, the this tour will be one to live long in the memory.

Thanks to everyone for keeping us at number 8 and in the Top 10 for a 3rd straight week!

See ya soon.

DH.

[jillebeans]

    
CORK ROCKS!
Hey everyone.

First of all, a big thank you to the many Cork fans who were at the Mahon Centre for our cd signing yestreday! We were blown away by the turnout!

Once again the reaction to HK at Rossmore was beyond anything we hoped for!
An amazing audience who were only too willing to get in on the act, and as always, we welcome that!

Afterwards we headed back to Dublin where we had an early start this morning.

RTE Radio 1 was the port of call, as we we had an interview with our friend Ryan Tubridy who genuinely seemed blown away by a very different version of "Step it out Mary".

We also  performed "Red is the Rose" to finish the interview.

Today we have more pre recorded interview for 4FM plus a much needed evening off!

Cheers!

D

[jillebeans]

    
The Strabane Chronicle - High Kings article
Category: Music

Let's hear it for the High Kings

By Conor Sharkey

   


Billed as one of the most exciting Irish ballad groups in decades, The High Kings perform in the Millennium Forum in Derry on Sunday, March 14.

NAMES such as Clancy, Furey and Dunphy will forever be associated with the finest balladry this country has ever produced.

For decades the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem endeared global audiences with their beer-soaked tales of drinking, fighting and women. Similarly, the Fureys gave the world some of the most beautiful airs these shores have ever known. Look no further than classics such as The Green Fields of France, Sweet Sixteen and the Red Rose Cafe for example

Sadly, many of the old guard, particularly with regard to the old Clancy/Makem line-up, have passed on.

But while the legends may be gone, the music very much lives on in the sensational High Kings.

Touted as "The most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem", The High Kings have been blazing the trail to become the hottest folk and ballad act of the new millennium for the past couple of years.

If you haven't caught them yet, well now is your opportunity. The quartet bring their unique show to the Millennium Forum for one night only on March 14.

Already a multi-platinum selling act, The High Kings brings together Finbarr Clancy, son of Bobby Clancy of the famous Clancy Brothers, Martin Furey, son of Finbarr Furey, Brian Dunphy, son of showband legend Shaun Dunphy and Darren Holden, who has recently returned from playing a lead role in Billy Joel's Movin' Out musical.

Although still somewhat in their infancy in terms of being a band, the quartet has had a remarkable career so far. Along with achieving platinum status with their Debut CD and DVD, the lads have racked up numerous television appearances, Including ringing in the New Year with Ryan Tubridy and closing out Pat Kenny's last ever Late Late Show.

Already The High Kings have completed two sell out tours of Ireland and spent almost all of the Summer 2009 appearing in festivals the length and breadth of the country.

In their latest show, they showcase their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, bringing a rousing acoustic flavour to well-loved folk songs such as The Rocky Road To Dublin, Will Ye Go Lassie Go and the absolute crowd pleaser, The Parting Glass.

Don't miss this chance to see The High Kings up close and personal as they continue to live up to their reputation as a phenomenal live band, serving up laughter, craic and even the odd sing-along.

There is much more to come from this energetic outfit and they take to the stage of the Millennium on Sunday night.

Tickets are £23 and available from the Forum box office, 02871 264455.

[jillebeans]

    
Cork, Waterford.
Hello there!

Well, here we are in sunny Waterford the morning after an absolutely senational night back on  home turf....kinda.
Waterford was very good to me back in the day and so many family and friends turned out last night to give HK an incredible welcome.
Beautiful theatre and and very loud atmosphere and craic.
It seems that audiences all over the country really want to be part of the show and thats always ok with us.
Cork opera house was fantastic as always. Again, a super crowd and a memorable night.
More friends to catch up with there.
Tonight we are in Ennis Co Clare, last time was a sell out. Should be fun.

Hope to catch up soon.

Take care,

D.

[jillebeans]

    
Happy Paddy's Day.

Hey everyone.

We are on a much needed day off at home after a whirlwind week of amazing gigs and crowds around the country.
Killarney was the biggest  and wildest audience yet on the tour. 1,800 people who were up for it from the get go. What a night!! Loved it.
The Millennium Forum in Derry last night, was again a huge crowd who sang along all night and clapped from start to finish. Beautiful theatre  and great atmosphere.
Its been so hard to pick a favourite show so far on this tour. Each one brings a totally new high.
Definitely our most successful tour of yet.

Tomorrow I have a pre-record interview with Billy McCarthy on WLR FM, which will be broadcast on St Patrick's Morning.

THK are performing outside HMV's Flagship store on Dublin's Grafton St, at 11am St Patrick's Day. We will be signing copies of "Memory Lane" afterwards, then its straight on to The Royal Theatre Castlebar for the show.

Hope you are all doing well.

Happy Paddy's day!!

D.

[jillebeans]

    
Great US Review for The High Kings
..The High Kings (Music Review)
Written by Greg Victor on March 17, 2010
highkings2

*** ½ (out of 4)
Label: Universal Music Ireland

If it’s traditional Irish music with a fresh sound and a soulful delivery you’re after, then you want The High Kings. They are fast becoming known as the traditional Irish group for the 21st century. The High Kings are named after the legendary Kings who claimed lordship over the whole of Ireland. The utopian harmony such kings presided over is nothing compared to the perfect musical harmony that these guys create.

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the Platinum-selling Irish vocal/instrumental group The High Kings have released their second amazing album. Titled “Memory Lane,” the new CD is only available as an import so far, but you can always purchase/download their self-titled first album as well. If you’re planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with any authenticity, you are going to want to have the infectious High Kings river-dancing out of your speakers.

The High Kings feature modern takes on classic Irish ballads (a “ballad” in this case isn’t necessarily a slow song – it is a song that contains a complete story. Most Irish ballads are in English, and the musical form originally arrived in Ireland with Scottish settlers.) The High Kings sing these songs with passion and stun audiences with their versatility as multi-instrumentalists. They place equal emphasis on ballads and up-tempo, and excel in performing rhythms so intricate that they usually require a pint or two to even begin to decipher. You can see all of this live when they tour the U.S.A. this spring. So far, no dates have been announced, but they should be soon. If they don’t make it to a concert hall near you, the rousing High Kings TV special that was on PBS last year is also available on DVD.

The High Kings are: Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey, and Finbarr Clancy (and yes, he’s from that famous Irish music family). All are incredibly talented volcalists and musicians. The group’s producer is David Downes, the former musical director of Riverdance and the creator of Celtic Woman. (Perhaps you’ve seen this feminine Irish import on PBS whenever it’s time for a pledge drive…) When such a talented group of artists comes together, you know the vocals will be awe-inspiring, but what comes as a pleasant surprise are the superb instrumentals that drive the album and set your feet tapping. The rapidity with which the group changes rhythm within a song, within a verse, within a phrase, within a stanza of music is nothing less than the most sophisticated, world-class musicianship. If there isn’t a classification of music known as “Irish Folk Jazz,” The High Kings threaten to invent the category.

Prominently featured is Darren Holden, who might be a familiar face to anyone who saw the Billy Joel Broadway musical “Movin’ Out.” In that show, he starred as The Pianoman, singing the entire evening of Billy Joel songs and playing amazing keyboards both on Broadway and on the national tour. Darren has a voice that pulls you in with a natural ease that sounds so good it convinces you that even you should sing along, and when the emotional heights in a song are called for – he hits notes that soar from someplace you’ve been long ago into someplace you’ve never been before. Darren makes you realize that superior vocals are in fact a God-given gift, and he is one of the chosen few who prove that. For just a taste of what Darren can do with a song, download “Galway to Graceland” and “Cavan Girl.”

For more information visit www.thehighkings.com.

Download these from The High Kings album “The High Kings”:

“Galway to Graceland”
“The Black Velvet Band”
“Marie’s Wedding”
“The Wild Rover (live)”

Download these from The High Kings album “Memory Lane”:
“Cavan Girl”
“Red Is The Rose”
“Leaving Of Liverpool”
“Raglan Road”
“As I Roved Out”

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Ceol binn agus ruille buille” translated from Gaelic means ‘Sweet music and good times’. Happy St. Patty’s Day!

[jillebeans]

    
Fantastic High Kings Review - Munster Express
Category: Music
Review: The High Kings
By Liam Murphy. Published on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

High on fame, high on the music, the craic, high on public acclaim, The High Kings packed out the Theatre Royal for a one-night return to the euphoria of the ballad session. To heck with recession, let’s have a session and what a rockin’ session it was. A night of great music, wild fancies, shut-eyed wans, come-all-yes, rowdy songs, rebel songs and sweet sad memories, rockin’ and rollin’ with Whiskey In The Jar and the anachronistic On The One Road.

This was polished entertainment, no rough edges, no long tuning; this was an Irish super group – a ballad and folk quartet of multi-talented, multi-instrumentalists.

With bottled water on stage not flowing pints, featuring a Mooncoin neighbour Darren Holden in powerful voice, Finbar Clancy of the famous family, Martin Furey of another legendary family and Brian Dunphy, a son of a showband hero. They gave us a great night out, a dash of nostalgia, some Clancy Brothers, some Dubliners, a lash of Wolfe Tones, a hush of the Voice Squad and great harmonies that Crosby, Stills and Nash would be proud of.

They ran out on stage and opened with Step It Out Mary and an amped-up bodhran and a drum pad to amp-up the foot on the floor taps.

The Fields of Glory – where boys become men changed into Cavan Girl with The Black Velvet Band, shining like diamonds lots of energy, attack and exuberance for Rocky Road to Dublin and Martin Furey hushed the house with Raglan Road.

An acapella The Auld Triangle slipped into a sweet, sensitive Fields of Athenry, full of beautiful harmonies. A Liam Clancy style The Rising of the Moon closed the first half.

A long interval suited the audience in need of cool air and cool refreshment and you could bring drinks into the auditorium (The Barn Bows to Booze).

Red is the Rose and Willie McBride opened the second half as the mood got more clappy with a clever hand clapping routine for a lilting Little Beggar Man.

This band showed their pedigree with such musicianship and vocal skill for Is A Eirne and a haunting Boolavogue before Darren Holden rocked the place into The Leaving of Liverpool and the party was in full happy swing. Five happy girls in the front of the balcony were a cheer leading section, carefree and rockin’.

A Clancy medley was sad and nostalgic with a rousing salute to Liam and his brothers, not forgetting Tommy Makem, before the house rocked into On The One Road (Fintan O’Toole ate your heart out). The Irish Rover was a massive blast of a finale with a beautiful Parting Glass and a wild Whiskey In The Jar.

What a night, it really was, such a night.

Munster Express - High Kings review Theatre Royal Waterford

[jillebeans]

    
Castlebar, Athlone.
Hey folks!

Just finished the show in Athlone, and what a night it was!

Brilliant audience and a great vibe which made the 2 hours fly by. Great stuff.

Castlebar was amazing as always, and huge thanks to the massive crowd for turning out to see us again.

Tomorrow we travel to Armagh to play the St Patricks Festival.  Its a very short 40 minute set for a change, which should be fun.

Then its on to Limerick for our third appearance at The University Concert Hall.

Hope you are all well. Talk to ya soon.

D

[jillebeans]

    
High Kings - Kilkenny Advertiser article
..High Kings to pack out Langtons ballroom for sell out gig

Kilkenny Advertiser, March 26, 2010.

By Naoise Coogan


Kilkenny Advertiser

The High Kings need no introduction in County Kilkenny — their reputation precedes them, and no doubt their Kilkenny performance this weekend will be a lively affair with a packed audience.

With names like Furey, Clancy, Dunphy, and Holden, the audience has certain expectations, however the High Kings rise to the expectation with gusto, turfing out stunning versions of Ireland’s most-loved folk ballads and classic Irish tunes, many of which feature on their newest album Memory Lane.

Kilkenny is proud to have one of its own sons, Darren Holden, as part of the High Kings and Holden will be singing and playing traditional music on his home turf along with Brian Dunphy, Finbarr Clancy, and Martin Furey this Saturday night at Langtons.

Their debut album was produced by David Downes (Riverdance, Celtic Woman) and the live concert DVD, recorded over two nights at Ardmore Studios in Dublin, was directed by Declan Lowney (Celtic Woman) and produced by Ned O Hanlon (U2).

Both were released in the US, and within three weeks of release the album broke into the Billboard Top 200 at No 154, and went to No 2 on both the Billboard World Chart and Billboard’s Heatseekers, as the week’s highest climber.

The High Kings gained fans in their thousands as they toured the US with Celtic Woman in April and May 2008. They returned home to Ireland in June for their own sold out Irish tour, performing to some 30,000 people with a fantastic response from both the fans and the critics. It was then back to America to prepare for their headlining tour of the US. They made a whistle stop return to Ireland on Sept 7 to perform ‘Fields of Glory’ at the All Ireland hurling final where Kilkenny was on the pitch in front of 82,000 hurling fanatics, before heading back across the pond to kick off the tour on Sept 9 in Baltimore.

In October they returned home to Ireland to embark on a second sold out 23-date Irish tour, receiving a phenomenal reaction from audiences at every show.

The full production show with the band was a huge success both sides of the Atlantic, but March 2009 saw a change in format as they presented audiences with their new ‘stripped bare’ show during a five-night run at The Olympia Theatre in Dublin. The new show was an overwhelming success, with the group playing all their own instruments.
As they have taken the show on the road, performing at various theatres and festivals around Ireland, they continue to be met by thunderous applause from sell out audiences at every venue. The group were thrilled to have been nominated as Best Newcomer and Best Folk Group at the IMA awards in Castlebar, and received a huge response from the crowd when they picked up both awards.

They play Langtons ballroom on Saturday March 27 at 8pm and tickets are €25.
HMV will also welcome The High Kings to HMV Kilkenny on Saturday March 27 at 12 noon at MacDonagh Junction where the group will perform an acoustic set and will also sign copies of their new album Memory Lane.

[jillebeans]

 Catching up.
Hey everyone!

Very late here in Sligo, but wanted to catch up before I hit the hay!

Sorry I have not been updating by the gig, but this tour has been so demanding on us, not that we are complaining!

All of the  shows have been as good, audience wise as the previous.
As I write this, we have just completed a 3 hour journey from my beloved Kilkenny to Sligo, where we have a HMV signing at 2pm tomorrow, followed by the show at 8.

Kilkenny, as always, was a massive night for me personally, and the lads helped make it very memorable. Huge, loud, and rowdy crowd, who were with us all the way.
Many family and friends there which is always cool

Great article is the "Kilkenny Advertiser"  this week also! Thanks to them for that!

We are nearing the end of our most successful Irish tour to date, with only 4 shows remaining. Crazy!

Hope to check in soon with you all!!


Take care,

DH.

[jillebeans]

Category: Music
..
THE HIGH KINGS Come To The Grand
Canal Theatre April 3





Monday, March 29, 2010; Posted: 01:03 PM - by BWW News Desk
THE HIGH KINGS: Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey & Darren Holden set to play one night only  at The Grand Canal Theatre on Easter Saturday 3rd April 2010 as part of their National Tour.
The High Kings are still in the National Charts and had the only Irish Album Memory Lane in the top ten for 3 weeks.

The High Kings will Tour the UK in September 2010 USA in October and November and then Australia. The High Kings will be announcing the international release of Memory Lane in September

The High Kings are currently on a 25 date Irish tour with dates including Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin, INEC Killarney, Royal Theatre Castlebar and Cork Opera House.

The High Kings have had rave reviews for their Nationwide tour so far, including Killarney, Castlebar, Waterford, Athlone and Kilkenny.

Platinum selling The High Kings have now signed to Universal Music Ireland and their 2nd CD MEMORY LANE is now available. This new album, the second CD for The High Kings, has enjoyed severAl Weeks in the top ten Irish charts and follows their hugely successful debut self titled album and features a modern take on classic Irish Ballads like 'Step it out Mary' and 'On the One Road'.

The High Kings are currently on a 25 date Irish tour. Following on from their 2 previous sold out tours 2010 this tour takes in Galway, Tullamore, Drogheda, Wexford, Offaly, Monasterevin, Cork, Thurles, Waterford, Ennis, Killarney, Derry, Wicklow, Castlebar, Athlone, Armagh, Limerick, Enniscorthy, Castleblayney, Kilkenny, Sligo, Letterkenny, the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin and Carrick-On-Suir. (Full tour dates below) In this new show, The High Kings showcase their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists and will perform songs from their highly anticipated new album. The group will also be touring the UK, US and Europe throughout 2010.

Tracks on the much anticipated new CD include: Step it out Mary, As I Roved Out, The Fields of Athenry, Raglan Road, Whiskey In The Jar, Leaving of Liverpool, Red is The Rose, Star Of The County Down, Boolavogue, Cavan Girl, The Rising of the Moon, Green Fields of France, The Irish Rover.

The High Kings also recorded On the One Road with the Wolfe Tones and this is available as a download single on itunes and other digital platforms with all proceeds going to the GOAL Haiti earthquake fund.

Tickets now on sale.

www.thehighkings.com

www.mcd.ie


ORIGINAL BROADWAY WORLD ARTICLE

[jillebeans]

    
Happy Easter Everyone!
Hey everyone,

Just wanted to stop in to wish you all a Happy Easter!

Have a great weekend and enjoy your family time.

Letterkenny last night was a fantastic show with another amazing crowd! This tour is by far the most successful to  date for HK. One thing that has become apparent to us, is that young kids are really into the group this time round, and that is where the future of HK and the future of Irish Folk music lies. Very encouraging.
There are some exciting developments in the pipeline for the Fall, I will reveal more when I can.

Tomorrow night is the big one, the one we have being gearing up for, and our official end to the tour, not forgetting Carrick on Suir on Sunday.
 "The Grand Canal Theatre"   Ireland's newest state of the art theatre.
Universal Records will be out in force as will many friends within and out of the industry.

Hopefully, we will rock their socks off and give everyone a night to remember!

Take care,

Talk to you all soon.

Darren.

[jillebeans]

    
Waterford Today Press article
Category: Music
Sharon Shannon and The High Kings to headline 16th Feile na nDéise 2010

   
   
   

sharon_shannon.jpg
The programme for 16th Féile na nDéise promises something to suit all tastes and ages. Headlinin a full, exciting and star filled programme will be two of the most popular acts in traditional music today, the long established Sharon Shannon and the more recent entrants to the circuit, the High Kings.

Both come with well established reputations for an excellent programme of music and song and both will draw large crowds to their respective venues.

Details of the programme with the two headline acts were announced by Feile supremo, John McGrath, who appeared last week with Sean Murphy (Bachelors in Trouble) on Ian Dempsey's Breakfast Show on Today FM.

On Thursday 29th April, Sharon Shannon will appear in concert in The Town Hall Theatre after the Official Opening of festival with "Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh"
Patrún na Féile. Sharon has a particular appeal across the board, and is truly the darling of the trad music fraternity.

Best known for her work with the button accordion and her violin fiddle technique, Sharon has also played the tin whistle. Her 1991 album 'Sharon Shannon'is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released in Ireland. Beginning with Irish folk music, her work demonstrates a wide-ranging number of musical influences, including reggae, cajun music, Portuguese music, and French Canadian music. She won the life time achievement award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.

On Sunday, it will all happen again at The Town Park overlooking the Bay, when there will be 'ceol, craic agus cultur'so Phairc Cois Mara.

The Park will surely resound to the 'beat of the bodhran'and the lusty voices of 'The High Kings', a group which has taken the Irish entertainment scene by storm over the last few years. The group made their high profile debut in 2008 and comprise Finbarr Clancy, Martin Furey, Brian Dunphy, and Darren
Holden, renowned vocalists and musicians, the finest group of performers who have come together since the previous generation clapped and sang with The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem during the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s.

The High Kings will play a two hour Open Air Concert at The Lookout on Sunday afternoon, starting at 3.30pm, which should send the blood racing among what is guaranteed to be a major crowd.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be an Open Air Concert with Mattie & Paula Weldon in Grattan Square. This talented father and daughter combo have universal appeal to go with their super talent.

That night at 8pm in The Town Hall Theatre, The Déise Singers and visiting Welsh Choir will provide an evening of choral music which promises to be special.

From 2pm-3.30pm there will be Open Air Music featuring Mattie & Paula Weldon, with a Variety Of Family Entertainment as well. This will include The Wobbly Circus – Featuring Stilt Walkers, Paul Wheel - Comedy 'Rideabout'act on a penny farthing bicycle, including new rocket balloons & juggling.

Kate Bow, a unique colourful stilt walker performing poi spinning tricks.
There will also be a Flea Circus from Pignut Productions (Children Theatre Company) as well as Bouncy Castles

This is just a taste of what the Feile Committee has in store this year. The full programme is about to be released and it guarantees something for everyone in Feile 2010.

Waterford Today Article

[jillebeans]

    
High Kings go into 8th week in TOP 20
Hey Everyone,

Chilling out at home today, doing a bit of gardening and making the most of this beautiful day.
Just wanted to check in and let you know that The High Kings have reached a milestone, in that "Memory Lane" is still at number 14, and still in the Top 20 after 8 weeks!!
Thanks so much to everyone who made this happen for us.

The tour finished last weekend and we are enjoying some downtime 'til the festivals and summer gigs start to come in.

Have a great weekend!

Darren.