*Translations are located on this page after the bio Alan Chapman and Jennifer Licko together make a perfect combination on stage. Their music is lively, full of passion and there is always that element of fun! This is re-created on their new CD 'Language of the Gaels'. ALAN'S BIO The talented Alan Chapman is a self-taught musician growing up in his native town of Bundoran in county Donegal. Like many traditional musicians, he was influenced by the many local musicians he heard while working in the pubs. His first choice of instrument was the tin whistle (penny whistle). As a teenager he joined a local pipe band and played both drums and pipes. During the next several years he played in many local bands and while with the successful 'Breadan Feisa' he toured all over Ireland and Italy playing traditional music on the Irish tenor banjo. For the next 8 years he was best known as part of the popular duo "Phonsie and Alan". Their huge popularity was due mainly to their sense of humor (craic), Phonsie's ballad singing and Alan's versatility on the bass, acoustic guitar, banjo and whistles. Alan then moved to the US where he played the Irish pubs and festivals throughout Florida. After many years in Floria, Alan returned to Donegal where he and Jennifer played music together for two years. He is currently living in Ireland and playing music throughout the pubs in Donegal. JEN'S BIO Biography: Jennifer shelton Licko is a Celtic singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player, and a premier Highland Dancer. Coming from North Carolina, by way of Florida, New York, Scotland, and Ireland; she’s a proud reflection of North Carolina's Scottish & Irish heritage. Jennifer Shelton’s studies as a Scottish dancer (Jo Moore-Kalat school of Scottish dance), Gaelic singer (University of Edinburgh), music educator (from East Carolina University) and her experiences living in Ireland & Scotland, have shaped her into a performing artist for the Celtic culture in NC. However, Jennifer Shelton has toured throughout the world with her music along side of performers such as Award winning Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Jimmy Carton, Rickey Godfrey and Brendan Grace. Daughter of a Music teacher and niece of a Scottish Highland Dance teacher, Jennifer Shelton received training in both music and dance from a young age. Upon graduating with a music degree from East Carolina University, Jennifer Shelton traveled to Scotland to study abroad on a Rotary International and a St. Andrews society of NC scholarship . She continued to spend summers in Scotland studying Gaelic music and Dance with singers such as Mairi Mac Innes, Ishbel MacAskill and Roddy Campbell. She then moved to Ireland where she lived in Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim performing at pubs all over Donegal, Sligo, and Leitrim. The years she spend playing music with Irish musicians (and for Irish audiences) brought her to a deeper understanding of the Irish ballads. Her passion and love for Ireland, the hardship it has endured as a country, and the sense of humor the Irish have kept through it all, is evident in Jennifer Shelton's performances. Currently, Jennifer Shelton is based out of Eastern North Carolina where she performs Celtic folk music & dance for children in Elementary schools, concerts, festivals, and pubs all over the state to celebrate North Carolina's Scottish & Irish heritage. Canan nan gaidheal - Language of the Gael It wasn't the snow of the frost from the north It wasn't the cold snap from the east It wasn't the rain or gale from the west But the disease which has blanched from the south The blossom, foliage, stem and roots Of the language of my race and people. Chorus: Come along and join us in the west So that we will hear the language of the gael Come along and join us in the west So that we will hear the language eof the gael Fetch down the golden chandeliers, And set the white was candles in them Light them up in the chamber of sorrow The wake house of the old Gaelic language That's what the enemy said a long time ago But the Gaelic language still lives Although she has retreated from the glens, Though one hears her so seldom now From the Mackay far in the north Down to Drumochter of the cattle But even so, we need to have the sword and shield In our fists in the Western Isles. Puirt A Beaul Mouth music I would go smartly march I would go smartly smartly smartly I would go smartly and get myself ready I would go smartly to go and see Isabel. I would put on my best trousers and get myself ready Julia Julia she's my choice Julia Julia's such a fine woman Julia julia she's my choice Peggy daughter of William I could never accept. The spree we had at Christmas We didn't lack for liquor to make us drunk The revelry we had at Christmas Wont' cause us any more loss O world, Black world Who made us drunk World black world Who would hae us drunk as we were World black world Who made us drunk The spree we had at Christmas Won't cause us any more loss I'd play it on the pipes reel I'd play it on the pipes On the pipes, on the pipes I'd play the tune on the pipes About old donald douglas I'd play it on the fiddle On the fiddle on the fiddle I'd play it on the fiddle And repeat it on the jew's harp