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Michael and his band playing at home in front of an enthusiastic Westport Bar audience. Band members are
Christopher Marra - guitars and vocals, Gregor Philp - Guitars and vocals, Calum Mackenzie - bass and vocals, Lloyd Anderson - drums and vocals, The Penny Daintees - backing vocals and Michael Marra - keyboards and vocals
Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
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Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
In 1983 a young Michael Marra, whilst living and working in London, was invited to do a session for Capital Radio.
Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
Michael's 1983 Capital Radio Sessions backed by The Men.
Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
To celebrate the fact that it is twenty years since Michael first released Gaels Blue we have a real treat from the archives - The Gaels Blue Orchestra play the music of Gaels Blue "live" from the Dundee concert on the night the album was officially released.
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Here is my review from the bands one and only appearance in Aberdeen at the Arts Centre - April 9 1985 - ( a couple of nights after the Dundee gig) when Michael fulfilled a long held ambition to play a date in Aberdeen with his big band. (Please excuse the hand made poster and note the ticket price.)
Michael Marra and The Gaels Blue Orchestra with support The Chillipeppers -
Playing in Aberdeen for the first time The Chillippers
are Gary Clark, Guitar and vocals, Alan McGlone on saxophone and Gerard Grimes on tea chest bass, yes tea chest bass and boy can Gerard play the thing. The three lads from Dundee only play together on an occassional basis as each have other full time committments, Gary and Ged Grimes in Spencer Tracy and currently getting rave reviews in the national music weeklies. Alan is a record producer and session musician. The set showed their great love of the popular song. Witness Nat King Cole's - Tender Trap, Bacharach and David's I Say A Little Prayer and I'll Never Fall In Love Again. Gary's voice is superb and his punchy rythm guitar was beautifully complimented by Alan's sax fills and breaks, all this was held together by Ged's lyrical bass and percussion courtesy of his feet. A short but classy set. You'll be hearing more from these guys!!
The Gaels Blue Orchestra's opening opus Flagrant Delicht was a tasty instrumental showing off the individual band member's musical prowess to great effect led by Mr Marra ,resplendent in white tuxedo, seated at the magnificent Steinway grand piano ................
Listen to them for yourself and imagine you were there. It's not difficult, close your eyes now .........
The setlist was as follows -
Flagrant Delicht
To Beat the Drum
Racing From Newburgh
When My Eyes Become Accustomed To The Light
3 Singing Headsquares
Mincing Wi Chairlhi
The Altar Boys
Gaels Blue
The Angus Man's Welcome to Mary Stuart
Black Babies
Happed In Mist
Peter
Barnyards O' Delgaty
General Grant's Visit to Dundee
Loving You [Is Sweeter Then Ever] {Encore}
The 11 piece band featured Michael Marra on piano and vocals, Derek Thomson on Keyboards, Christopher Marra on guitars, Kevin Murray on guitars and mandolin, Alan McGlone on saxophone, Ged Grimes on bass, Brian McDermott on drums, Gary Clark on percussion and vocals and The Three Singin' Headsquares, Alison Shearer, Frances Carlin and Pauline Rourke on backing vocals.
Remember to visit the section on the site and rate the songs.
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Another volume of the every increasing Marra Collection. Some more of Michael's home studio recordings, demos, a couple of live recordings taken from his Italian Tour, plus a song from Nan Garland - The Opera and a couple of new cover versions of Happed In Mist and Guernsey Kitchen Porter
Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
Remember to visit the music section on the site and rate the songs.
To celebrate Michael's recently announced Honorary Doctrate from the University of Dundee we have pulled together some songs written and performed by him which illustrate and reflect his great affection for his native city and his fellow Dundonians.
As Glasgow Herald reviewer Rob Adams wrote recently when reviewing one of Michael's performances "Michael Marra should be put on some sort of stipend by the City of Dundee's PR department. He reveals it as being populated and enlivened by people, habits and events every bit as rich as those of cities that fancy themselves as more characterful"
The collection of 15 songs can be found at -
Just in case you get fed up watching the TV over the Festive period we thought we would reprise the Lyric Quiz from a few years back for all the new Michael Marra fans. Nothing difficullt you understand, just things that you should know! The answers could be found within the site.
Email your answers to me, The Meenister, by clicking on my name in the top left hand corner of the page.
The Meenister's decision is final. OK! Answers to me by 31 January 2007. Prizes still to be decided.
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LYRIC QUIZ - courtesy of Dr Mary Masson
1. By his side his adze and compass
2. On the dark side of Dunoon
3. Due to isotopes of Thorium and Alpha types of ray
4. Deeved about the life they choose
5. Will you breathe our air and witness our efforts
6. I'd rather be in Elgin, it's a better class of cold and wet
7. The best laid plan between Men and Mice
8. Stalwart and brave Caledonian Hotel
9. Batten down the four leaf clover
10. That the gowd in the tike has taen a thin disguise
11. He takes a deep breath and he seethes
12. Let them gather up their brows and their old wives tales
13. The leaves kept falling before they were due
14. I want to dance with Jimmy Howie in the pale moonlight
15. They very seldom jump over the moon
16. Peace on earth and earth on piece
17. Did you think it was the quality or preference of beer?
18. I'd wheel my wheelbarrow up Kilimanjaro
19. His fingers painting what his soul receives
20. I'd sing a song of Thomas Paine
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To celebrate the end of the Marra Music Month and a hint of more to come. A brand new volume of Michael's home studio recordings, covers, demos and live recordings taken from The Candy Philosopy Tour.
Remember to visit the MUSIC page and rate the songs
Michael is a greater lover of the lyrics of Robert Burns and to celebrate the Bard's birthday we have pulled all the Burns related audio and video tracks together so you can enjoy your own Burns Supper.
Listen to Michael singing the songs of Robert Burns
Click on the links below, you will need the latest version of one of the following media players... Windows Media Player, Winamp, DivX, or Real Player.
Please be patient while the video files load as some of them are large and will take a wee minute. We Trust that it does not spoil you enjoyment of the performances.
A PARCEL O' ROGUES
AE FOND KISS
GREEN GROW THE RASHES