Summer 2010 Update

I hope you are enjoying this glorious summer. We’ve had little or no rain at all in April but it was certainly a very welcome and wet May and June – we really needed it. The bears are plentiful and they keep the dogs busy, the fishing is fantastic with Pike, Pickerel and more Bass than you can shake a stick at.

We are getting ready for the Summer dates and I am pleased to say that Eamonn Dillon, one of the finest Irish pipers in the world will be joining us in Cleveland July 23,24 and 25. We have not seen Eamonn in a couple of years and it will be great to reunite with him for 3 days, He is a talent that should not be missed.

Over the past 12 months we have been working very hard on a project that is near and dear to me. We have received confirmation recently that McDermott House Canada will be a reality in 2011. More information coming soon…

The fall 2010 tour is a coast-to-coast affair, beginning on Vancouver Island and then heading off to Atlantic Canada. My guests this year are Cape Breton Fiddling sensation Rosie Mackenzie who will be joining up with us when we begin our east Coast tour in Moncton on November 18th and she’ll be with us for the remainder of the tour.

Also joining us will be legendary Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Hill, December 3rd through 5th and 15th to 22nd. After almost a decade away from the stage Dan is back on the road with the release of his newest most personal recording to date “Intimate” and his bestselling memoir I am My Father’s Son. We are really looking forward to performing with Dan and having him share his songs and stories with all of us.

I have always been truly fortunate to be supported by some of Canada’s finest musicians and this tour is no exception. My musical director is superb guitarist and vocalist Mr. Jason Fowler, guitarist and vocalist Brian “Hutch” MacMillan, Bluegrass fiddle and mandolin virtuoso Ray Legere, bass player George Koller (Holly Cole & Loreena McKennitt) and drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Gary Craig (Anne Murray).

As always we will be adding a few surprise guests and letting you know along the way.

NEW UPCOMING RELEASE

Tentatively entitled “An Evening at Hugh’s Room: with John McDermott and friends, Michael P. Smith, Dan Hill, Valdy & Russell deCarle”.

We just completed two shows at Hugh’s Room in Toronto with some wonderful guests: Michael P. Smith, Dan Hill, Valdy and Russell deCarle. We recorded both shows and will start listening and choosing the tracks for a CD to be released later this Summer. Both evenings were a blast and the band was sensational with George, Jason, Gary, Brian and Ray in fine form. We have so much great stuff to choose from that it choosing what to leave out will be the hardest part – but the final results will be worth it.

JOURNEYS TO RETAIL

I am happy to announce that Universal Music Canada will be releasing the CD Journeys across Canada in November of this year and distributing Journeys at the retail level for the first time. Journeys will continue to be available in our online store.

BUSY SUMMER

This summer has some great events on both sides of the border:

• We are back once again at the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival at the Berea fairgrounds July 23rd 24th and 25th. Take a look at the line up for this festival: Eileen Ivers, Cherish the Ladies, Maura O’Connell, Seven Nations and many more. It is one festival you really should try and come to. www.clevelandirish.org

• In Ontario this Summer we are back at the Elora Festival on July 31st. Visit their website for more details.

• And finally on August 7th we will enjoy our annual visit to the beautiful Algonquin theatre in Huntsville – for more info visit their website.