Jonathan Ramsey

Yesterday, I learned about the John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund. After contacting the Fund, we agreed to have a bucket for donations, as well as donating 50% of all CD sale proceeds to the Fund, at Saint Charles Coffeehouse, this Saturday’s show.

Halverson is a father of three, living with leukemia. Recently, he’s found a match for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, such procedures are costly, and he doesn’t have health coverage to pay for it. Friends of John founded The John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund to raise funds for the transplant. They will run yard sales, bake sales, and other fundraisers to help the cause.

So, come on up to the free show, and drop what you can in the bucket. Enjoy an evening of Irish music with your friends and community as we rally behind a neighbor.

Benefit for John Halverson Bone Marrow Fund
Saturday, 6 June 2009 8PM-10PM
Live Irish Music
Saint Charles Coffeehouse
3821 McClay Rd
Saint Peters, MO 63376

(636) 922-1566

Google Map

Saint Charles Coffeehouse is a bit less than a mile north of MO-94 on Jungermann, then east on McClay, on the north side of the road.

See you there!

Ten Mile House w/ Blue, Jonathan Ramsey, Brian Hoehn, and Double Take. A night of acoustic music.

This is

I just ran across this on Myspace. It begins with the horrific story of how Saint Louis musician Dan Hamm lost his leg in a complicated series of vehicle events in January 2009. After losing control of his car in icy conditions, Dan got out of his car to check the damage. As he was stepping out of his car, it was struck by another car. Still okay, he went to look at the damage to his front end. Then, another car rear-ended his, pinning him between the car and a tractor-trailer. In the aftermath, he lost his leg.

Dan, 23 years old, is very active, and enjoys the outdoors. So, he needs to purchase a prosthetic leg capable of handling his activities. He plans to become a physical therapist to help others who face similar circumstances.

Now, Saint Louis band Madahoochi has joined forces with the Saint Louis Hoop Club to help Dan raise $30,000 to buy a prosthetic leg. 31 May 2009 they will host an event at Off Broadway Saint Louis with musicians Vitamin A and DJ Thumpasaurus. Saint Louis Hoop Club will perform, and there will be a pot luck dinner at 6pm. Attendees should bring hula hoops to hoop in the courtyard, and bring musical instruments to jam!

More info at the Madahooping For Hamm Myspace page.

If you like what I do, check out Tullamore. If you remember my days in Bully Ruse, you’ll remember Mary Hanover, now singing and playing whistles, percussion, and hammered dulcimer (arguably/classically yet more percussion) with Tullamore. In fact, Mary, Mark (Clavey), and I share even more history. If you go further back into the dark ages of the early 1990s, you’ll find dusty flyers, recordings, and memorabilia from when Mark and Mary, and later Mary and I, were in Maid in the Myddle. Yes, it’s a twisted family tree, much like the one of Fairport Convention from a few years ago. Add Rachel Gaither, though and you have the whole mix. If you’re thinking, “Gaither, huh?”, well, wait. Watch her interact with Mark, and you’ll know that she can do a endure far more than any other musical Gaither in the world of musical Gaithers.

Tullamore takes off from where our old groups excelled –in my humble opinion- beautiful, but dark harmonies. It’s a bit like Irish music meets acoustic Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and chambre music on speed. With all the movement of guitar, whistle, hammered dulcimer, and fiddle, it’s a frenzied fun.

So, make sure to head over to Tullamore and Tullamore on Myspace, and see for yourself!

Cheers!

If you like my music, you should definitely check out my friends the Kelly Band. Lead by Kelly Dougherty, they drive a very soulful, thoughtful sound. Kelly’s vocals produce a clean, classic sound, when they perform lyric airs, but I’ve heard her rip up the strong upbeat songs as well. I’m also been pleased to see her teamed up with my friends Mike Dugger and Gordon Bearss.

Kelly has a new CD, and will celebrate with a CD release party, Saturday, Sep 13 2008, at Kansas City Irish Museum & Cultural Center, in Kansas City, Missouri. That’s in Union Station, at Pershing and Grand. They’ll perform at 8:00 PM.

Check out more of Kelly at…

• Kelly’s MySpace
• Kelly’s Official Site

I was checking out my friend Eolai’s blog, earlier, when I realized how important it is that you all check it out. I especially enjoy his coverage of Irish film and video, in whatever denomination it occurs. This week, it’s Best Short Film at the Irish Film and Television Awards, Joyriders.

Eolai’s ironic wit just makes me yearn for my own family’s lost sarcastic patriarchs. The younger of us haven’t preserved that tradition as well as they did, and Eolai reminds me of its place in my mind. Of course, Eolai’s wit is less likely to warrant some good old American therapy, so serve it up.

Check out Eolai at Irish KC.

My daughter had a photo session with Saint Louis photographer, Laura Siebert. She was incredibly nice, and did a great job with Cohen. Krysta and I watched as she led Cohen up and down the streets of the erstwhile garment-, now artist- district of downtown Saint Louis.

Notably, she has an extensive wardrobe for all ages in her loft studio. In fact, one of Cohen’s outfits was all but one piece from Laura’s wardrobe rack. It was so fun to watch Laura and Cohen work together.

If you seek a talented photographer with an incredible rapport with children and families, I highly recommend Laura. If you don’t live in, or near, Saint Louis, Missouri, it’s a quick flight from anywhere, Man!

Check her work out at, and contact Laura, via her websites:

• Eye Smiles Photography – Children and Family.
• Commercial Children’s Photography.
• Laura’s Blog.

Tonight and tomorrow night, 9 November and 10 November 2007, my good friends from Kansas City, The Elders, are playing at The Dubliner Saint Louis.

The Elders are known for their infectious original songs, and lively shows.

The Elders are:

• Ian Byrne – Vocals and Percussion
• Norm Dahlor – Bass, Banjo, Guitar and Vocals
• Brent Hoad – Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards and Vocals
• Joe Miquelon – Keyboards and Saxophone
• Steve Phillips – Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
• Tommy Sutherland – Drums and Percussion

The Dubliner is at 1025 Washington St, St Louis, MO. That’s on the northwest side of downtown Saint Louis.

Check them out! I may make it there, Saturday night.

My friend Lynn of Reality Exploits fame is having a contest. For her contest “Be Like Criss Angel For A Minute”, she’s giving away copies of “Criss Angel: Mindfreak Season 2″ on DVD and/or a copy of his book, “Criss Angel: Secret Revelations”. All you have to do is create a video, one minute or less in length, of an illusion, a parody of an illusion, or any other such magicks, or facsimile thereof. Make it entertaining enough, and you could win one or both of these fabulous prizes!

Go to Reality Exploits to check out the details, enter, and win great stuff!

Tags: criss+angel reality+tv magic illusions video contest

Count me among Eddie Delahunt’s biggest fans. I’ve known Eddie for most of two decades, now, and have enjoyed watching him perform, performing with him, and just hanging out with the man. Occasionally, I even perform a song or two that I must admit I learned, not from my granddad nor from a musty chunk of vinyl, but from Eddie.

Now, after years in Kansas City, our ballad-rendering friend has been garnering a good sum of well-deserved press. As I mentioned in an article a few months ago, our man, and one of Dublin’s Top Expatriots in Kansas City, Eddie opened a coffeehouse in the West Plaza neighborhood last year. The business has been building, and Eddie has two baristas on staff. In addition, some of my other friends, and many other musicians, have been popping in to perform in the courtyard. Artists have included Eddie and his band, Kelly, Roger Landes and Chipper Thompson, and many other local and regional bands.

So, next time you want a bit of cráic, a scone, and a nice cup of java, check out Eddie Delahunt’s Cafe & at 1811 W. 45th St, Kansas City, MO. Also, check out Eddie at http://www.eddiedelahunt.com.

Cheers!

Tags: eddie+delahunt coffee coffeehouse cafe irish+music kansas+city+entertainment kansas+city+irish+music