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BAND DESCRIPTION What do you get when you cram five master musicians of divergent styles together in one band? In the case of Avalon Rising, the answer is: magic. To say they're the world's foremost practitioners of Celtic/Medieval progressive rock could be meaningless, given the scanty membership of the genre -- until you factor in just how damn good they are. Hearing them perform, one is hard-put to say just what kind of music they're playing -- just that it rocks, it screams, it soars, it whispers. Elements of classical, Celtic folk, French Medieval, psychedelic jam band and funk interweave, conflict, and finally coalesce into a stunning, surprising whole. One hears echoes of Loreena McKennitt, Dead Can Dance, the Grateful Dead, Fairport Convention, and the Pentangle. They're a motley assemblage. There's the beautiful Flower Princess on harp (not the harmonica, the big wooden thing with all the strings) who also plays flute and recorder and sings in a sweet, classically trained soprano. Then there's the blonde goddess in black velvet, sensuously bowing a purple, cat-headed 5-string electric violin. Does life get any better than this? But wait -- in front of a stack of tie-dyed amplifiers, in a bowler hat and John Cippolina t-shirt, pulling a stream of howling, lyrical, psychedelic riffs from a sparkly purple Stratocaster, is a genial bearded hobbit-man who sings in a honeyed tenor. Behind them all sullenly lurk the bassist and drummer, two candidates for Queer Eye who seem to think they're backing up James Brown or The Clash. Avalon Rising's new album, their second, is called Storming Heaven. Clocking in at a CD-maxing 74 minutes, it includes just about everything you're likely to hear in their current live show, with no less than 6 full-out Celtic rock tune-sets wherein a never-ending assortment of jigs, reels, and other traditional dance tunes are stuck together end to end and raced through like a Hummer on a Grand Prix course, knocking bricks off buildings and smashing statuary along the way. Songs include the lilting Irish Do You Love An Apple, the mystically psychedelic originals Jack Daw and Turning In Time, Papa John Phillips' lost masterpiece Dancing Bear and a handful of traditional British Isles songs. PRESS "Avalon Rising Storming Heaven: "Like many things that bubble up in an Irish cultural stew, Celtic music is simultaneously blessed and cursed. The music's passion, angst, and ethereal beauty can be truly astounding, but - like the blues - it can become cliched and almost laughable when embraced by dunderheads and dilettantes. Happily (at least for my ears), Avalon Rising drifts above the curse by being both real and adventurous. The band wisely lets violinist Cat Taylor and flutist/harpist Margaret Davis deliver the major Celtic vibe, and they are absolutely stellar musicians. The duo's soaring, almost achingly sensual phrasing gives age-old and original melodies near-cinematic impact. (Don't be surprised or embarrassed if you shed a tear when listening to their plaintive harmonic dances - it just means you're a living, breathing, feeling person.) The wilder bits are injected by guitarist Kristoph Klover, who employs a bratty Strat tone and an affinity for blues and psychedelia to modernize the standard Celtic formula without tanking the traditional melodic and rhythmic devices that make this music so endearing. Avalon Rising isn't the most trad or the most progressive Celtic-based band I've heard, but it's certainly the group I'd pick to lift up my spirits or drown me deeper into my Guinness." -- Mike Molenda, Guitar Player Magazine "...Meet your new arbiters of cool: Avalon Rising, the Bay Area's finest Celtic-prog band..." "Avalon Rising plays bright, bouncy Celtic pop -- lotsa tunes about shires and maidens and chimney sweeps -- with a dark undercurrent of technically precise trickiness, as though the Jethro Tull dudes had been sneaking into rehearsals...The chops and the songwriting on the band's latest, Storming Heaven, are stellar indeed..." -- Rob Harvila, Music Editor, East Bay Express "...Bands like Avalon Rising are few and far between...Storming Heaven is a jewel, plain and simple..." "Wonderful vocals by Margaret Davis and Kristoph Klover... This is a seriously talented band -- and after 10 years and hundreds if not thousands of shows, they are a tightly knit group of friends. The interaction is seamlcss on every track, leading to a perfect album. And with 15 cuts, you're getting your money's worth! ...Avalon Rising plays a lot of festivals and was chosen as the band for the official Lord of the Rings fan club Oscar party in Hollywood -- if you needed any more proof of how good they are, there you go...one of the year's best! Highly recommended." -- Michael Sullivan, Editor-Publisher, Here and There Ezine "A refreshing new-age approach to an old-world style -- You'll be left breathless and fascinated. The basis of this sound is in traditional English, Scottish and (mostly) Irish folk music, and there are continental renaissance-era influences filled with those uplifting, bouncy compositions that will have you tapping your feet the first time you play it, and whistling along with the melodies every subsequent time. To appreciate this one your tastes will have to extend beyond just prog and rock. This music applies a progressive spin to retrogressive music and will be appreciated by hobbits and open minded music fans everywhere." -- Duncan Glenday, Progressive Ears "They are loud, they work hard and they are GOOD!" They rocked Pantheacon with a 2-hour concert -- supreme musicianship from all, but especially Margaret Davis. She plays flute, recorder, harp like a demoness, and she sings!! How can a single person have so many talents!! -- Richard Man, musician, fan "Avalon Rising inject traditional balladry with a churning rhythm section and a few sprightly touches of good old prog rock to create a sound that's a mixture of Tubular Bells, Dead Can Dance and that song Pippin sings in the film version of Return of the King. ... Storming Heaven is hot off the presses and full of Celtic-jammy vim and vigor." -- Sara Bir, North Bay Bohemian PHOTOS Click on thumbnails to download a higher resolution image MP3 SOUNDCLIPS FROM STORMING HEAVEN CD 1. The Hexamshire Lass 2. Hunt the Blarney Cat 3. Glasgow Peggy 4. The Chieri 5. Sidhe Set 6. The Lark in the Morning 7. Jack Daw 8. Congress Reel/Red Crow 9. Do You Love an Apple? 10. Turning in Time 11. Musical Pesto Set 12. Dancing Bear 13. Black Joke Set 14. Dulaman 15. Health to the Company BIOS Margaret Davis -- vocals, harp, flute, recorders Margaret wishes she'd been born in the twelfth century, where she would have sung, played the harp, flutes, and recorders...Coincidentally, that's what she does in Avalon Rising. Brocade is extra, as are gossamer wings. Kristoph Klover -- vocals, electric guitar, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars, octave mandolin Kristoph's real name is Bill. Don't ever use it -- you've been warned. Cat Taylor -- electric violin, vocals, bodhran Cat likes bags, but they've got to be black. Her stage gear takes up at least of dozen of them. When she's not busy packing or unpacking...well, frankly, that's about all there's time for. Call us next week. Mark Ungar -- vocals, electric bass, mandocello, doumbek Orphaned at birth by a pair of itinerant Neanderthals, Mark hibernated through the ensuing Ice Age until he was revived in 1973, just in time for the Second Disco Era. His love of the bass can be traced to a subconscious feeling that, with its size and heft, it'd make a dandy mammoth whacker. Scott Irwin -- drums Scott blah blah blah drums blah blah blah beer blah blah blah blah would you please speak up? Blah blah blah blah since he was thirteen. Not valid in some states, tax and license extra. BOOKING: Kristoph Klover: Email , phone (510) 569-0437 PAST & FUTURE PERFORMANCES 2007 Saturday, November 10th: St. Andrew's Guild Winter Feast, Tracy Saturday, October 6th: Stanislaus Pagan Pride Festival, Modesto Thursday, August 23rd: Concerts in the Park, St. Helena Friday, July 20th: The Bistro, Hayward Saturday, June 16th: The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa Sunday, June 10th: Health & Harmony Festival, Santa Rosa Saturday, May 5th: Sleeping Beauty Ball, San Mateo Thursday, May 3rd: Ashkenaz, Berkeley Sunday, April 22nd: Medieval Festival, Vacaville Saturday, April 21st: The Bistro, Hayward Saturday, March 17th: St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, San Francisco 2006 Friday, November 10th: The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa Saturday, October 20th: The Starry Plough, Berkeley Thursday, October 19th: The Bistro, Hayward Friday, October 13th: The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa Saturday, September 16th: Three Rivers Harvest Festival, Fair Oaks Wednesday, August 30th: Club Anton, Oakland Friday, August 11th: The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa Friday, July 28th: The Black Rose Pub, Santa Rosa Friday, July 7th: Cloverdale Friday Night Concert Series, Cloverdale Sunday, June 11th: Sacramento Celtic Midsummer Faerie Festival, Fair Oaks Saturday, May 27th: BayCon Science Fiction Convention, Doubletree Inn, San Jose APRIL 27 - MAY 8 - SHANDONG EURO-AMERICAN FESTIVAL, JINAN, CHINA Saturday, April 22nd: Vacaville Middle Earth Festival, Vacaville Saturday, April 15th: Placer County Strawberry Festival, Roseville Friday, March 17th: Mr. Pickwick's Pub, 2644 Clayton Avenue, Concord Saturday, February 18th:Pantheacon Convention, Doubletree Inn, San Jose Wednesday, February 8th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, January 27th: The Starry Plough, with Tempest, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Wednesday, January 11th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. 2005 Wednesday, December 14th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, November 9th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, October 26th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Saturday, October 15th: The Bistro, 1001 B St., Hayward. (510) 886-8525 Sunday, October 2nd: CELTIC STORM Benefit for Katrina Victims, Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco Friday, September 30th: The Wallace Arms, Antioch Saturday, September 24th: Jasper OíFarrellís, 6957 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol Saturday, August 27th: Black Rose Pub, 3074 Armory St., Santa Rosa Saturday, August 13th: Heart of the Forest Faire, Novato Friday, July 28th: Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa Friday, July 15th: The Tradewinds, 8210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati. Wednesday, July 13th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Friday, July 1st: The Metro, 201 Broadway, Oakland, CA Saturday, June 11th: Celtic Midsummer Festival, Fair Oaks, CA Saturday, May 28th: BayCon Convention, Doubletree Inn, San Jose Wednesday, May 25th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Friday, April 29th: The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley Saturday, April 9th: The Bistro, 1001 B St., Hayward. (510) 886-8525 Monday, March 28th: Sacramento Theatre Co. Cabaret, 1419 H St., Sacramento Tuesday, March 22nd: The Tradewinds, 8210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati. Friday, March 18th: Jasper OíFarrellís, 6957 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol Thursday, March 17th: Edinburgh Castle St. Patrick's Day Celebration, 950 Geary St., San Francisco Wednesday, March 16th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, February 23rd: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, February 9th: The King's Head, 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Saturday, January 15th: The Bistro, 1001 B St., Hayward. (510) 886-8525 2004 Friday, December 31st: HOGMANAY New Year's Party at Edinburgh Castle. San Francisco Thursday, December 16th: The King's Head. 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Saturday, November 20th: The Old Rogue, 33rd & Taraval, San Francisco 8:39 PM - midnight. Call (415) 566-9122 for more info. Thursday, November 4th: The King's Head. 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Wednesday, October 27th: the Tradewinds, 8210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati. Friday, October 8th: Napa Valley Brewing Company, Calistoga Saturday, October 2nd: The Bistro, 1001 B St., Hayward. (510) 886-8525 Sunday, September 26th: Sacramento Pagan Pride Harvest Festival. Sacramento. Thursday, September 16th: The King's Head. 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Saturday, September 11th: The Old Rogue, 33rd & Taraval, San Francisco 8:39 PM - midnight. Call (415) 566-9122 for more info. Thursday, August 19th: The King's Head. 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Saturday, August 7th: Marin Renaissance Faire afterhours show, Stafford Lake, Novato. Saturday, July 17th: The Old Rogue, 33rd & Taraval, San Francisco 8:39 PM - midnight. Call (415) 566-9122 for more info. Thursday, July 8th: the Tradewinds, 8210 Old Redwood Hwy, Cotati. Saturday, July 3rd, afternoon: outdoor festival sponsored by Pete's 881, 721 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael. Saturday, June 19th: The Village At Squaw Valley's Celtic Solstice Festival. Thursday, June 17th: the Starry Plough. CD release party! 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. Sunday June l3th, 1:00PM: the Health and Harmony Festival, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa Thursday, June 10th: The King's Head. 201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell. Sunday May 30th, 11 pm: BayCon 2004 (Science fiction convention) at the DoubleTree Inn, San Jose. Tuesday, May 18th: The Old Rogue, 33rd & Taraval, San Francisco 8:37 PM - midnight Saturday, April 24th: Napa Valley Renaissance - A Renaissance-Themed Fundraiser for River Middle School, at Villa Amarosa, the Calistoga castle of vintner Daryl Sattui. Saturday, Mar 27th: Official CD release party! at The Bistro, 1001 B St., Hayward. (510) 886-8525 Sunday, Mar 14th: the 21st Annual Dublin St. Patrick's Day Festival, Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin, CA. Sunday, Feb 29th: "lnto The West", New Line Cinema's Lord of the Rings fan club Oscar night party, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Saturday, Feb 14th: Pantheacon Pagan conference, Doubletree Inn, San Jose. Friday, January 16th: the Starry Plough, Berkeley - with Tempest. Fundraiser for 4th annual Pagan Parade. 2003 Saturday, December 6th: Avalon Rising 10th Anniversary show at The Bistro, Hayward. Sunday, September 28th: The 21st Annual Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco. Saturday, August 2nd: afterhours show at the Heart of the Forest Faire, Novato. Saturday, July 2nd: A Royal Afayre renaissance fair, Discovery Park, Sacramento. Saturday, June 28th: Shanachie Pub, Willits. Saturday, June 21st: the Squaw Valley Village Celtic Festival and Solstice Celebration Other festival performances include the the High Sierra Music Festival, the Mammoth Lakes Celtic Festival, and the Avery Ranch Folk Festival.