A Little Bit of Christmas with Darren....
Hey everyone,
Can you believe it's Christmas already! Crazy.
What a year it's been and it's not over yet! Way too many recent highlights to mention them all so what better way to recap than the Christmas blog.
The UK tour was a massive success, with London going down as a lifetime memory for HK. Thanks to the huge amount of fans that came out to see us. We are now firmly established as being at the forefront of the Irish folk genre in Britain.
The Irish tour is underway and mostly sold out.
2016 promises to be equally exciting with more tours and hopefully a new album.
Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2016.
See you out there.
Can you believe it's Christmas already! Crazy.
What a year it's been and it's not over yet! Way too many recent highlights to mention them all so what better way to recap than the Christmas blog.
The UK tour was a massive success, with London going down as a lifetime memory for HK. Thanks to the huge amount of fans that came out to see us. We are now firmly established as being at the forefront of the Irish folk genre in Britain.
The Irish tour is underway and mostly sold out.
2016 promises to be equally exciting with more tours and hopefully a new album.
Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2016.
See you out there.
To help you get in to the Christmas spirit, a couple of Original Christmas songs from Darren, co-written with his former Movin' Out band member and friend, Bryan Steele.
In December 2004, Darren was proud to be performing with The US Marine Corps Band at The White House Christmas Pageant for President and Mrs Bush.
Dublin Christmas Lights
Henry Street
“This evening at 6pm on Henry St Dublin, myself and the lads will be turning on the Christmas Lights!!
It's going to be a huge event so please get there early and join in the festive spirit.
Thanks to my buddy Brian Whitehead for the opportunity!
Ho Ho Ho....”
“The High Kings ready to switch on the Christmas lights in Henry St Dublin at 6pm!”
Photo copyright www.thehighkings.com
“This evening at 6pm on Henry St Dublin, myself and the lads will be turning on the Christmas Lights!!
It's going to be a huge event so please get there early and join in the festive spirit.
Thanks to my buddy Brian Whitehead for the opportunity!
Ho Ho Ho....”
“The High Kings ready to switch on the Christmas lights in Henry St Dublin at 6pm!”
Photo copyright www.thehighkings.com
Update from HKHQ in Henry Street during the performance.
“What a crowd! The Henry St Christmas Lights are on. Fantastic fun with a massive turnout for the event this evening. Thanks Dublin!”
Grafton Street
“This afternoon The High Kings will be turning on the Christmas lights on Grafton St. Festive fun and song all the way to get everyone in the mood!
Get in early as crowds are expected to be huge.”
From HKHQ in Grafton Street:
“What a great day! The High Kings switching on Grafton St Christmas lights and what a crowd! Amazing. Great fun.”
A little video snippet of the High Kings performing Hand Me Down Me Bible in Grafton Street, posted on Twitter!
What's On Magazine Award
"Wow! We have just been named "Artist of the Year" by UK's "What's on Magazine"!
Thanks so much guys! This is incredible."
UK Winter Tour
Bath
“Beautiful Bath”
“Bath...Thank you for the great welcome to your very unique city. We had a ball. Kicked off the HKUK tour in style. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us tonight.”
“Great to see our concert promoter and friend John Giddings before tonight's show.”
“Beautiful Bath”
“Bath...Thank you for the great welcome to your very unique city. We had a ball. Kicked off the HKUK tour in style. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us tonight.”
“Great to see our concert promoter and friend John Giddings before tonight's show.”
First show of the UK tour done in Bath!
Photos copyright Carol Billett
Photos copyright Carol Billett
Gateshead
“Looking forward to playing The Sage in Gateshead tonight! Love Newcastle. Very unique vibe here always.”
“Gateshead- Newcastle.
What a crowd. An incredible welcome yet again to your fantastic city. Best audience in yonks! You've set the bar for the rest of the UK tour. Thanks a million!
PS....thanks for singing along loudly to "Run for Home".
Lindisfarne forever!”
“Gateshead- Newcastle.
What a crowd. An incredible welcome yet again to your fantastic city. Best audience in yonks! You've set the bar for the rest of the UK tour. Thanks a million!
PS....thanks for singing along loudly to "Run for Home".
Lindisfarne forever!”
Aberdeen
“In honour of us heading up to Aberdeen today, here's a little snippet of a song my mam used to sing to me as a kid.”
“Thanks to a great audience tonight in Aberdeen. Really cool city and people. Also thanks to our Swedish fans for flying in especially for the show. That's dedication!”
Liverpool
“Ready to go on stage in Liverpool. Epstein Theatre.
Completely sold out!”
“Off the scale! The loudest folking crowd we've played to in ages. What a pleasure to walk onto the Epstein Theatre stage last night to such volume.
Thanks a million Liverpool!
As always....class.”
Photos copyright Carol Billett
Union Chapel London
"Holy s*** (literally)
We've sold this place out tonight!"
"Holy s*** (literally)
We've sold this place out tonight!"
“Without a doubt one of the greatest nights ever!! Possibly the greatest night since The High Kings began. An absolutely massive sold out audience at Union Chapel London and a seriously unprecedented reaction. We are totally buzzing after that. So many lump in the throat moments from Red is the Rose sung on the pulpit,the sea of iPhone lights during Brian's Rare Aul Times, to the standing ovation after "The Town I loved so well'. Incredible. We are so grateful to Everyone who came out tonight and blessed us with a lifetime memory.
To all those who flew in from Germany, Denmark, Greece, Canada and the USA....you guys are unreal.”
Photos copyright Carol Billett
To all those who flew in from Germany, Denmark, Greece, Canada and the USA....you guys are unreal.”
Photos copyright Carol Billett
Photos copyright Anja Mueller
“What a crowd! Thank you London!!”
We showed you the reaction of the Union Chapel crowd filmed from the stage. Turning the camera round, this is the view of Darren on the stage filming the crowd. Look at the smiles on their faces!
Darren described the High Kings show at Union Chapel London as "Without a doubt one of the greatest nights ever!! Possibly the greatest night since The High Kings began." Their performance of Red is the Rose on the pulpit was definitely one of the most unique and special moments of the night.
Darren received a fantastic reaction and a standing ovation for Town I Loved So Well
Exeter
Tonight's venue in a wet and windy Exeter! The SOLD OUT Phoenix!
Tonight's venue in a wet and windy Exeter! The SOLD OUT Phoenix!
“After a final stormer in Exeter, just want to say a big "Thank you Britain". A very enjoyable run of shows!
See ya next time.”
See ya next time.”
CLICK HERE for a playlist of more videos from the UK Tour
Irish Radio Promo
Midlands 103
We have recorded the High Kings on Midlands 103 chatting to Will Faulkner. You can listen on this link, including in studio performances of Ride on and the first verse and chorus of Hand Me Down My Bible. Enjoy! CLICK HERE
Midlands 103
We have recorded the High Kings on Midlands 103 chatting to Will Faulkner. You can listen on this link, including in studio performances of Ride on and the first verse and chorus of Hand Me Down My Bible. Enjoy! CLICK HERE
Photo copyright Midlands 103.
South East Radio
Listen to the High Kings chatting to Alan Corcoran on South East Radio. Includes in studio performances of All Around the World, RIsing of the Moon, and first verse and chorus of Hand Me Down My Bible. Enjoy! CLICK HERE
Irish Tour
Listen to the High Kings chatting to Alan Corcoran on South East Radio. Includes in studio performances of All Around the World, RIsing of the Moon, and first verse and chorus of Hand Me Down My Bible. Enjoy! CLICK HERE
Irish Tour
Limerick
“A fantastic sold out Limerick audience helped us to kick off the HK National tour tonight at University Concert Hall. Still buzzing. Great Craic. The bar has been set in style.”
Castleblaney
“Iontas Theatre Castleblaney.....that was a fantastic night! Thanks for braving the terrible weather to fill every seat in the house. We had a ball.”
Athlone
“What a crowd. Athlone...that was fantastic. The bar is set even higher yet again. Massive volume all night long. Thanks a million to everyone who came out to see us!”
Photo copyright www.thehighkings.com
“A fantastic sold out Limerick audience helped us to kick off the HK National tour tonight at University Concert Hall. Still buzzing. Great Craic. The bar has been set in style.”
Castleblaney
“Iontas Theatre Castleblaney.....that was a fantastic night! Thanks for braving the terrible weather to fill every seat in the house. We had a ball.”
Athlone
“What a crowd. Athlone...that was fantastic. The bar is set even higher yet again. Massive volume all night long. Thanks a million to everyone who came out to see us!”
Photo copyright www.thehighkings.com
Killarney/Carrick on Shannon
“Two more great audiences this weekend. Thanks to INEC Killarney and Landmark in Carrick on Shannon for bringing the party. Great stuff.”
National Concert Hall Dublin
Since the update in our last newsletter, we have been sent a couple of photos from backstage at the NCH charity event.
“Two more great audiences this weekend. Thanks to INEC Killarney and Landmark in Carrick on Shannon for bringing the party. Great stuff.”
National Concert Hall Dublin
Since the update in our last newsletter, we have been sent a couple of photos from backstage at the NCH charity event.
Little Bit of Christmas with the High Kings
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.
Other Updates From Darren
“I remember the summer of 1980. Turning 8 years old and spending every second either playing in the hurling field in Mooncoin, or watching The Moscow Olympics on TV. I remember my dad opening the door one day to a salesman who was selling a 3 cassette package of 'The Beatles Greatest Hits'. Dad bought them and handed them to me. I literally played them until they broke. Climbing onto the roof of our shed with the wireless every day and playing 'Across the Universe' over and over and over. I was hooked.
I remember waking up on Dec 9th, coming down for my breakfast before school, and hearing ' Imagine ' on WLR and my mam said " They shot poor John Lennon last night".
I knew he was a Beatle. I knew it wasn't right. His songs were on heavy rotation on every station for the next few weeks and each time one came on, I wanted to cry.
Even at 8 years old, I knew something profoundly awful had happened, and the world was forever changed.
My kids now listen to The Beatles and John Lennon.
Just tonight as I tucked them in, I told them that it was going to be 35 years since he died in New York. After we said a little prayer for him, we turned on "Imagine" and sang along. That's the magic. All these years later and the music and message is still vibrant, important and unfortunately appropriate.
35 years gone today. I remember.RIP John.”
I remember waking up on Dec 9th, coming down for my breakfast before school, and hearing ' Imagine ' on WLR and my mam said " They shot poor John Lennon last night".
I knew he was a Beatle. I knew it wasn't right. His songs were on heavy rotation on every station for the next few weeks and each time one came on, I wanted to cry.
Even at 8 years old, I knew something profoundly awful had happened, and the world was forever changed.
My kids now listen to The Beatles and John Lennon.
Just tonight as I tucked them in, I told them that it was going to be 35 years since he died in New York. After we said a little prayer for him, we turned on "Imagine" and sang along. That's the magic. All these years later and the music and message is still vibrant, important and unfortunately appropriate.
35 years gone today. I remember.RIP John.”
"Huge Congrats to the Notorious Conor McGregor on become the undisputed featherweight UFC Champion after a 13 second KO of Jose Aldo in Las Vegas. Vegas turned Green, White and Gold as Irish celebrations reached fever pitch.
Myself, Brian, and Billy Farrell, released an anthem to McGregor earlier this year, and we are proud to post it again”
Myself, Brian, and Billy Farrell, released an anthem to McGregor earlier this year, and we are proud to post it again”
That's all the news for now, we'll be back with more news and updates in the new year as the High Kings Winter Tour continues and plans for 2016 are announced.
We hope you have enjoyed all our News Updates with photos, videos, and interviews, during 2015 and look forward to another very busy and exciting year ahead.
As always thank you all for your continued support, it is much appreciated.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Darren and the DH Team
Darren and the DH Team
People who works there are some of the sweetest people I've met. Save yourself some time and just go there. Everyone at the convention center is sweet and ask how you've been, even though normally staff keep their heads down.
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