Greetings Gunn Runners

What's worse than broken strings?

A broken voice.

It's been a rough month for my voice. I'm still struggling to get the power back in it.

I've always been proud of how strong my voice is when I sing. But right now, it's just not there.

So I sought professional help... my daughter's voice teacher.

I still remember when I first hired Krystal to teach voice lessons with my daughter. May was very indignant: "I don't need any help." But Krystal was incredibly patient.

A couple months after taking the lessons, May sang at a show with me and she too could hear the difference.

The big thing is breath control. That's what my lessons started with... how to breathe while performing.

It was immediately worth my time this weekend. I performed a Firefly Drinking Songs show at Stellar Fest on Friday. On Saturday, I had a Sci Fi Drinking Songs show there. Then I played a three hour show at The Lost Druid Brewery that same evening. And I talked to people throughout the day.

At the end of the day, I could still talk.
Yeah. My voice was a Little rough.
But I could tell the difference.

The second big change I made is I'm not pushing myself to sing loud. In fact, I'm trying to reign in my voice.

It turns out that's good for other reasons too...

Perhaps I'll break fewer autoharp strings.

I'm playing my autoharp softer so that my voice doesn't have to compete.

That's good because I just re-ordered over $600 of strings. All my string prices went up. My double wound, low end strings that break far too often, now cost me $10 each!!!

Hopefully, I'll start playing a wee bit softer, break fewer strings...

HUGE THANKS ALL OF MY PATRONS. I see you and your incredibly kind generosity. It means so much to this humble musician. It does wonders for my ability to keep making music.

Thank you!

"THE CELTFATHER" AT GEORGIA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

I'm back at Georgia Renaissance Festival starting May 9 through the end of the season. If you decide to catch my show, look for me as "The Celtfather" or "Hobbit Pub Songs", "Scottish Pub Songs"... well "Pub Songs" in general. LOL. I'm so excited to back to close out the festival.

BIG DAMN MOVIE IS OUT ON IN THE 'VERSE...

I LOVE the song I wrote for the latest In the 'Verse podcast. The lyrics have changed a bit already. But the uplifting feel of the song is there in full force. Now I just need to record it!

Listen and enjoy our In the Verse Firefly podcast website for details.

PUB SONGS & STORIES DATE CHANGE

Last week, I was thinking about Pub Songs & Stories. But I also remembered this Monthly update, doing my monthly finances, and a million other things. That's when I realized, I should be releasing this episode in the middle of the month. Not at the beginning. So that's what I'm doing. Stay tuned and Follow Pub Songs & Stories.a

UPCOMING SHOWS

• May 9-10: Georgia Renaissance Festival, Fairburn, Ga

• May 16-17: Georgia Renaissance Festival, Fairburn, Ga

• May 23-25: Georgia Renaissance Festival, Fairburn, Ga

• May 30–31: Georgia Renaissance Festival, Fairburn, Ga

• Jul 30-Aug 2: Gen Con, Indianapolis, IN 

  • Thu: Comedy Music Cabaret @ 7-9 PM

  • Thu: Sci Fi Drinking Songs @ 9 PM 

  • Fri: Hobbit Drinking Songs @ 9 PM

  • Sat: Doctor Who Drinking Songs @ 7 PM

  • Sat: Firefly Drinking Songs @ 9 PM

• Sep 3-7: Dragon Con, Atlanta, Ga with Brobdingnagian Bards

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

STATS

Mailing list subscribers = 1021

Celtic Music Magazine =  3245

YouTube Subscribers = 6473 up 6414. Big jump thanks to posting Shorts.

Facebook Likes = 4339 up 21 from 4318

Instagram = 2329 up 18 from 2311

May Will Bloom = 55

TikTok = 268 up from 234

May Will Bloom = 372

One video got 87k views

Spotify followers: 2959 up 10

# Number of streams on Spotify: 4997

LATEST SPOTIFY ALBUM STATS

Most-popular songs on Spotify, Last 28 Days:

• The Widow and the Devil 4655

• Hero of Canton 2958

• Doctor of Gallifrey 1517

• Hobbit Hornpipe 1130

• A-Working in the Garden 789

• Mingulay Brogue 770

• As Long As I’m Flyin’ 524

• Hobbit Polka 362

• Proudfoot Shuffle 352

• Brandywine River Reel 333

• Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster 166

• Reavers Malcolm 161

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits 136

• Heart's Ease 100

May Will Bloom

• I'll tell My Ma 214

Top albums on Amazon, Last 28 Days:

• Sci Fi Drinking Songs 18400

• Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits 460

• Firefly Drinking Songs 200

• As Long As I'm FLyin' 149

• Kilted For Her Pleasure 85

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

• Doctor of Gallifrey 1441

• Prancing Pony 166

• Hero of Canton 116

• The Shire Polkas 157

• Pan-Galactic 83

• Don't Go Drinking Hobbits 80

Spotify playlists:

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2024:  151

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2023: 164

• Irish & Celtic Music: Best of 2022: 230

• Top Irish & Celtic Music: 809

• Firefly Drinking Songs: 169

• Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers: 117

• Joyful Celtic Christmas Music: 164

• Fun Christmas Songs with Family: 1957

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 andy my blog.

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

Patreon Subscribers: 144 paid, 530 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