Celtfather Monthly May 2025 (Patreon)

Greetings Gunn Runner

The Hills of Tanchico! HEY! The Hills of Tanchico! HEY!

I had another wonderful Jordan Con. I also learned a new song for the convention, "The Hills of Tanchico".

Jordan Con is a convention for fans of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time book (and now TV series). I have also listened to most of the audiobook for the first book in the series. But I have been mostly watching the TV series myself.

In season 3, some characters end up singing "The Hills of Tanchico" in a pub. So the week leading up to the convention, I learned the song. It turns out the song was written as a drinking song. As you know, that is my specialty.

What I found inspiring was that while it was written as a drinking song for the show, it was NOT written as an actual drinking song. A good drinking song is not necessarily about drinking. It's about being a fun sing along or shout along. The TV version had some "HEYs" randomly thrown in. But it had space for a rewrite, which is what I did.

When I sing "The Hills of Tanchico", you shout, "HEY!"

That's how you turn this fun song into an actual drinking song.

I took it to the convention, and it was the HIT of the con. I got it stuck in a lot of people's heads, including my daughter, Kenzie's! Of course, when you sing it 30 times over the weekend, that makes sense.

The other big hit of the con was "MUSHROOMS". That's the new song from Brobdingnagian Bards new album, Another Faire to Remember. Guess we can start there...

KICKSTARTERS & BROBDINGNAGIAN BARDS

Last week, I mailed out the last of the Celtic Forever albums. Whew! It was difficult. If you don't see it in the mail later this week, let me know (unless you're international).

This week, I start mailing Brobdingnagian Bards' Kickstarter CDs. So stay tuned.

Andrew and I had a great time at Sherwood Forest Faire last week. Two shows daily on the second weekend. One show was a Hobbit Drinking Songs show, which always goes over great. The other was a Best of the Brobdingnagian Bards or what I like to call the "Mess with Andrew Set".😉

Seriously though, it was a lot of fun to play music again with Andrew. But it was also weird Bards shows. I feel like we're the Monty Python of the musical world. Just a little off kilter (pun intended). The flow of the show is so much different from my solo drinking songs shows or even Andrew's Ren faire shows.

Speaking of his shows, this was the first time I really sat through an Andrew McKee, The Irish Bard show. He finally found his voting and his voice. It's never been stronger. I can't wait to hear his new music when he finally releases it.

ALBUM PINS FIRSTS

I don't remember when I started the album pin idea. Three years ago? Four years ago? It's undergone a LOT of changes in that time. The latest is the album pin jacket.

It's funny when you walk through a dealers room at a convention. You see enamel pins neatly displayed on a board. People walk up and let their eyes explore the many offerings.

That doesn't seem to happen as much with my new pins. At Jordan Con, people look through the Album Pins standing on the table and look at the covers, much like they would do with CDs. I feel like these are finally coming together.

My only challenge left is how to store the pins. Dragon Con and Gen Con are coming. So I need to find a quick and easy way to sell them. Stay tuned for that I guess...

FOUR NEW PIN DESIGNS

I ordered three new pin designs from my new printer. All are made of wood. They look amazing! I am really excited to migrate to wooden pins instead of enamel. So far, the new pins are becoming my most popular designs.

Now when will they be available?

That's a good question. I'd like to say I will have them ready for Bandcamp Friday, May 2. But I'm not gonna hold my breath. I still have a lot of stuff to Kickstarter orders to mail.

CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

I know. You too are probably waiting to hear about where the Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland is going. I should have new details next week.

UPCOMING SHOWS

• MAY 3: Maggie McGuinness Pub, Huntsville, AL

• May 4: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GA @ 4-7 PM

• JUN 21-28: Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland

• JUL 19: Fiddler's Green Coffeehouse Concert series @ 8 PM

• JUL 31-AUG 3: Gen Con, Indianapolis, IN

• SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KY

If you want to see the latest places I'm performing at, make sure you check my homepage.

Here's a complete list of What I'm Doing Now.

STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 988 up 10

Celtic Music Magazine = 3327 up 2

YouTube Subscribers = 6300 up 8

Facebook Likes = 4274 down 6

Instagram = 2173 up 2

Spotify followers: 2754 up from 2731

# Number of streams on Spotify: 5395

LATEST SPOTIFY ALBUM STATS

Most-popular songs on Spotify, Last 28 Days:

• The Widow and the Devil (7382)

• Hero of Canton (4633)

• Doctor of Gallifrey (2592)

• Hobbit Hornpipe (1249)

• A-Working in the Garden (1133)

• Calton Weaver (802)

• Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (768)

• Reavers Malcolm Reavers (258)

• Hobbit Polka (204)

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits (201)

Top albums on Amazon, Last 28 Days:

• Sci Fi Drinking Songs (2803)

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits (656)

• Kilted For Her Pleasure (155)

• Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion (152)

• As Long As I'm Flyin' (130)

Most-popular songs on Amazon Music, Last 28 Days:

• Doctor of Gallifrey (1578)

• Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (641)

• Isn't It Grand Boys to be Walking Undead (203)

• The Widow and the Devil (130)

• Elves (125)

Spotify playlists:

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2024:  153

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2023: 167

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2022: 230

• Top Irish & Celtic Music: 794

• Firefly Drinking Songs: 162

• Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 114

• Joyful Celtic Christmas Music: 161

• Fun Christmas Songs for Kids & Families: 1983

YouTube playlists:

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2025 views: 924 up from 459

GUNN RUNNERS CLUB ON PATREON

Thank you to all of my Patrons in the Gunn Runners Club who support my music for as little as a buck a month. Even with the low posts on Patreon, I feel like the club still offers a ton of value. I hope you're enjoying the podcasts, albums, exclusive songs and my blog.

If you haven't done so, please Subscribe now!

Patreon Subscribers: 148 paid, 416 total members

BREAKING DOWN THE SUPPORT

Thanks as always for supporting my music.

• Streaming music gives you a quick and easy way to sample all of my music.

• Digital sales keep my business running.

• Tips, CD sales, and album pins allow me to tour.

• Kickstarter funds physical products like CDs, shirts, pin and other merch.

• And Patreon funds my livelihood as a musician!

Join the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon to support my songwriting. You will step behind-the-scenes with new music, bonus podcasts, videos, and live concerts. 

Thank you for supporting Sci F'Irish music!

#CFMonthly