Saturday, 20 December 2014

Merry Christmas, People of the Year Awards & More

 
 
Darren's Christmas Message


Hey everyone,

It's Christmas and time for the last of this years newsletters!

As per usual, things are in full flow and this year has proven to be the busiest in ages. Next year is shaping up to be something similar so hold on tight.

Thanks to you all for your continued support of me and The High Kings. I appreciate it.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015.

God Bless.
 
 

 
 
 
People of the Year Awards

“This Saturday night The High Kings will open The People of the Year Awards on RTE 1.
It's a huge honour for us to be part if this special show. Tune in after the main evening news.”

“Looking forward to tonight's "The People of the Year Awards" at the City West.
We will be opening the show with "Ireland's Call"
Always an inspiring event.
Tune in to RTE 1 at 9.30pm.”
The High Kings all dressed up and ready to go at City West!
 
 

The High Kings were proud to be invited to perform Ireland's Call to open the 2014 People of the year Awards at Citywest Dublin. The event was hosted by Grainne Seoige and broadcast live on RTE One worldwide.

 

 
 
“With the legendary Paul McGrath”
 
 
 
'Maybe This Christmas' Release
 
“The official video for "Maybe This Christmas" has just been released. Proud to be part of this great song and hoping that "Childline" and "Make a Wish Ireland" benefit hugely from it. Great job Sile Seoige
Song is released on December 5th.
Christmas number 1?
It's up to you.”

 
 
Maybe This Christmas is available in Irish record stores and from iTunes worldwide NOW, released 5th December. Please help Sile, Darren and Brian, and all involved, in their support of Childline and Make-A-Wish Ireland.

CLICK HERE

“Getting ready to open The Saturday Night Show with the "Maybe This Christmas" gang. Hanging with Brian and Barry Devlin”


Darren and Brian singing along on the Saturday Night Show with Sile Seoige and friends for the TV debut of ‘Maybe This Christmas’.
 

“Proud to be part of the "Maybe This Christmas" charity single tonight on The Saturday Night Show.
Amazing job by Sile Seoige!
Kiddies and musicians were great and always good to see friends from the industry.
Brian Dunphy Billy Farrell Brian Kennedy Keith Shanley Rachel Pilkington Mervyn Rundle, Caroline Henry”

 
 
 
 
Irish Winter Tour Gets Underway
 
Update from the studio from HK HQ “Final day of rehearsals! Get ready for some brand new tunes tomorrow night Dublin!!”
 
 
 
Bord Gais Dublin

“Good morning all from HKHQ, it's an early start for us all today as the Four Friends Live Tour begins tonight in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin, expect some new song plus all the old favourites, our first stop this morning is on John Murray Show on RTE Radio 1 between 9am and 10am for some song and chat, don't forget to tune in
And let's not forget all our very dear friends in the USA who celebrate Thanksgiving today, we hope you all have a very happy and peaceful holiday and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2015.”

“On route to RTE Radio 1 to go live on The John Murray Show after 9am.”

The High Kings in the studio with RTE Radio 1 presenter Shay Byrne, who was covering on the day for John Murray.
 
 
It was an early start for Darren and the lads, in the studio at RTE R1 chatting and performing a couple of songs with Shay Byrne.
You can listen with an option to download on this link. CLICK HERE

This is official RTE video footage of their studio performance of Marie's Wedding.

 
“Stage almost set for tonight's opening show of the tour at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.”

 
“Wow Dublin! What a night. Nothing like a couple thousand rowdy punters to start off a national tour. Great fun.
Thanks so much to everyone for kick starting the tour with such a bang.”
There was no photography allowed during the show at the Bord Gais Theatre, but here is a photo of them at the end of a very busy signing!
Photo copyright Carol Billett
 
 
Radio Promo

Listen to Darren chatting to Paul Dower on TCR FM.



UCH Limerick

“Stage set at University Concert Hall, Limerick.
Onstage at 8pm.”

 
"Amazing crowd tonight at UCH Limerick.
Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. Great fun."
Mullingar

“Mullingar. Epic. Fantastic crowd and great buzz!
Looking forward to opening The People of the Year awards tomorrow night on RTE 1.”

Photos copyright Anja Mueller


 
Athlone

Update from HK HQ “Athlone! Are you ready!! Only a few hours until showtime folks, The Radisson Blu Hotel is the venue, doors at 730pm and showtime at 8pm!! We will of course be around after the gig to meet and greet anyone who wants to swing by to say hello!!”

A clip of the High Kings performing ‘Oh Maggie’ in Athlone.
 

 
Killarney

“Stage getting set for tonight.”

 
“Thanks to fantastic crowds in Athlone on Friday and the INEC Killarney last night. Great buzz. Good times.
'Tis a frosty morning and we're on the road again.”
"What a view to wake up to."
#ChristmasinKillarney
 

A Few Christmas Treats

Just a few annual Christmas treats from Darren and the High Kings to get you in the festive spirit! Firstly a couple of original Christmas songs, co-written and performed by Darren.



 
Back in 1976, long before any thoughts of becoming a High King, a little lad went to see Santa to tell him his Christmas wishes.
 
 
A few years later, in December 2004, that little lad was proudly performing with The US Marine Corps Band at The White House Christmas Pageant for President and Mrs Bush!
 
 
Finally a couple of festive treats from the High Kings! These two songs were recorded for the Celtic Woman 'Celtic Family Christmas' EP released in 2008, sadly no longer available.
 
 
 
 
A Final Few Words From Darren....
 
“Spinach really does work!”
 

That's all the news for now, Darren and the lads will have a few days off for the Christmas holidays before continuing with in to the New Year with the Irish tour. 

We hope you have enjoyed the round up of all the news from the past couple of weeks and the Christmas treats from Darren and the High Kings.

We will be back with more news in the New Year.
 
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Thanks for your continued support!

Darren and the DH Team
 
 
 

Monday, 8 December 2014

Four Friends Live, Aviva, Maybe This Christmas

 
'Maybe This Christmas' Childline/Make a Wish Single
 
 
“On route to Windmill Lane Recording studios to join an array of industry folks and record the new Childline Make a Wish single.
Great cause! Looking forward to seeing some folks for a long overdue catch up.”

“What a fantastic experience tonight was and great to see so many friends and colleagues respond to the call from Childline and Make a Wish foundation.
Sile Seoige, respect to you for pulling us all together for such a great cause.
Good to see Jenny Buckley , Brian Kennedy Paul Byrne, Jack L, Mervyn Rundle, Rachel Pilkington, Niall Morris, Shane Byrne, Billy Farrell, Kathryn Thomas, Valerie Roe, Keith Shanley and indeed our own Brian Dunphy”
 
 
Darren and Brian are both involved with this charity single, recorded last night. Please drop by and like their Facebook Page and support this worthwhile cause.
 
It has been confirmed that the single 'Maybe This Christmas' will be made available for download worldwide on iTunes from 5th December.

Irish Independent Article

Sile Seoige's chat with Paddy McKenna on 2FM and the first official radio play of Maybe This Christmas!
Share & spread the word!
Make-A-Wish Ireland & CHILDLINE need your help!
Available TO BUY in Irish stores and on iTunes Worldwide December 5th.

Click to listen to the interview and song

 
The High Kings Get Ireland's Call Again!
 
“On an already busy week, we are delighted to announce we will sing at the Ireland v Australia International rugby match this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.
To my Australian friends, we will also be performing "Advance Australia Fair" so turn your TV's up.
Ireland.....you know what to do when we sing "Ireland's Call".
MAKE IT LOUD!”
 
Rehearsal for the big game, photo courtesy of Brian
 
 
Final rehearsals for the anthems at The 51 Bar
 
 
 
"Shoulder to shoulder"
 
 
"Great day! Come on Ireland!
 
 
The High Kings were honoured and proud to be invited to sing all the anthems before the rugby match between Ireland and Australia at the Aviva Stadium. The cameras unfortunately remained focused on the teams, but you can listen to them sing "Advance Australia Fair" "Abhran Na bhFiann" and "Ireland's Call" on this link with an option to download.

Aviva Anthems Audio
 


Rugby fan video of The High Kings singing the Irish anthem.



Late Late Show
 
“Tune in to tonight's Late Late Show on RTE 1 Folks.
We will launch our brand new album and DVD with a live performance.”

“Great to see Saoirse Ronan again last night at RTE.”
 

The High Kings launch their new album and DVD 'Four Friends Live' performing McAlpines Fusiliers on RTE One's prime time show the Late Late Show 14 November 2014.
 
 
 
'Four Friends Live' Available NOW!
 
 

The brand new High Kings CD/DVD bundle is on sale now for free worldwide shipping direct from Celtic Collections for €20.
 
CLICK HERE
 
Also available the Celtic Woman Emerald CD/DVD and High Kings Four Friends Live CD/DVD as a combined bundle for €30.
 
CLICK HERE
 
 
'Four Friends Live' Radio Promo
“Promo week for the new album and DVD starts at Spirit Radio after 10am this morning, followed by East Coast Radio at 11.30am and finally a trip home to Kilkenny for a chat and tunes on KCLR FM at 3.30pm.”
 
All interviews are available to listen and download on the links
 
SPIRIT FM - with Wendy Grace, includes live performances of McAlpines Fusiliers and Be Thou My Vision.

CLICK HERE

Download Be Thou My Vision

Video footage of the High Kings performing McAlpines Fusiliers in the studio.

 
 
 Coffee break at East Coast FM, photo courtesy of Brian
 
 
 EAST COAST FM - with Declan Meehan, includes studio performances of Whisky in the Jar and Marie's Wedding.

CLICK HERE
 
Tippcorkmusic.com - Darren’s telephone interview with Willie talking about the release of Oh Maggie, the new CD/DVD, and the forthcoming High Kings tour.

CLICK HERE

“Coffee break on the promo trail this morning.
Heading to Tippfm to chat with Fran Curry after 11am.”
 
TIPP FM - with Fran Curry, includes performances of McAlpines Fusiliers and Go Lassie Go . They played out with the new live version of Town I Loved So Well from the CD, but as this is downloadable, we have left you the intro and audience reaction to the song as a taster.

CLICK HERE
  
SOUTH EAST RADIO - with Alan Corcoran includes performances of Marie's Wedding, Go Lassie Go, and McAlpines Fusiliers.

CLICK HERE

“About to go live on Midlands Radio 103FM.”
 
 
 
MIDLANDS 103 FM - with Will Faulkner, includes performances of Marie's Wedding and McAlpines Fusiliers.

CLICK HERE

WLR FM - Darren’s telephone interview with Geoff Harris.

CLICK HERE
 
 
From the Archives
 
“2003 American magazine advertisement for "Blood and Smoke" my first US single after signing with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 label with Universal Records.
#‎TBT
 
  
BLOOD & SMOKE

 Promo photo of Darren taken at Sarasota Beach 2007.



“Throwback Thursday.
1995.
Backstage with Boyzone on the first tour we did together.”

 
 
The High Kings performing with Young Voices at the LG Arena Birmingham, includes the song Gaudette.
  
 
 
Finally From Darren.....

“RIP Jimmy Ruffin. One of the Motown greats.”

“A genius has retired from our great game.
Thanks for the wonderful memories Tommy Walsh.”


That's all the news for now, we'll be back with all the news from the Irish Tour soon.


Thanks for your continued support

Darren & the DH Team