The Maine Celtic Celebration Present their 2nd Annual CELTIC CONCERT

The Maine Celtic Celebration are holding their 2nd Annual Celtic Concert on March 27th in Belfast Maine. There will be lots of great music and dance. Frank Taylor "The Flying Scotsman" from New Brunswick Canada will be there to join in the evening's Ceili.

I have personally attended a couple of their events and had a blast. Hopefully some you can make it along. Here is a list of the specific time, location and a link to their Facebook page.

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: The Hutchinson Center
Street: Route 3
City/Town: Belfast, ME

Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=374048564516

English, Irish and Scottish Pubs in Maine..

I am trying to put a list together of English, Irish and Scottish pubs in Maine. As far as I know, there are no Scottish pubs, maybe I will open one up some day. If you are ever in Chicago, I highly recommend the Duke of Perth. It has a great atmosphere and they make the best fish and chips. I digress, back to Maine, if you know of any other pubs feel free to post them in the comment section and I will update the blog accordingly.

The Jolly Drayman (Bethel Maine) English Pub
http://www.briarleainn.com/

Whales Tooth Pub & Restaurant (Lincolnville, Maine)
Not exactly a British bar but they do the best British style Fish and chips I have found so far in Maine.
http://www.whalestoothpub.com/

Leary's Landing (Bar Harbor, Maine) Irish Pub
http://www.learyslanding.com/

Byrnes Irish Pub (Bath, Maine) Irish Pub
http://byrnesirishpub.com/

RiRa (Portland, Maine) Irish Pub
http://www.rira.com/index.php?id=7

Geaghan's Restaurant and Pub (Bangor, Maine) Irish Pub
http://geaghanspub.com/home.html

Paddy Murphy's Pub (Bangor, Maine) Irish Pub
http://www.paddymurphysbangor.com/

Fin's Public House (Ellsworth, Maine) Irish Pub
http://www.fenceviewer.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19304:Enjoy%20a%20Pint%20and%20Shepherd%E2%80%99s%20Pie%20at%20Finn%E2%80%99s%20Public%20House&catid=980:food&Itemid=153

Awful Annie's Irish Saloon (Portland, Maine)
http://www.myspace.com/awfulannies

Bull Feeney's (Portland, Maine)
http://www.bullfeeneys.com/index.html

Surely Not More Nostalgia?

I could watch 80's adverts all day.

Love the shampoo commercial in the first one...

More Nostalgia....

Can't believe it was the 50th Anniversary of STV in 2007. Here is a little look back at the 50 years.

Feeling Nostalgic....

I present the legend that is, Glen Michael!. If I remember right Cartoon Cavalcade was on a Sunday morning. Even the theme tune brings back loads of memories, hope it does the same for you. Kids TV at it's best......

I Should Hate This Band.........

I'm confused, the band is called Mumford & Sons. Everything about this band got my alarm bells ringing. They are inspired by folk, country and bluegrass, three words which send shivers down my spine. The band is from England, yet inexplicably the front man sings in a fake Irish accent. All this against them and I still I have to admit I actually like their album "Sigh No More". Thanks again Damo for the lead, you are indeed my eyes and ears back in sunny old Scotland.
Here are a couple of clips of Mumford & Sons to wet your appetite......

Bring Home the Bacon!

As we all know, American bacon is basically just fat with a sprinkling of meat. If you have a hankering for British bacon, you have two choices. Either fly to Britain, buy copious amounts of bacon and strap the packets to your person. This could land you in big trouble, or even worse, mauled by an overly zealous airport security dog. The shame and humiliation as it tries to chomp through your trouser leg to reach that porky goodness, is just not worth it. Or you could take a far more civilized route and check out these guys.

http://www.britishbacon.com/comersus7f/store/comersus_index.asp
Here is their blurb about the bacon:

"We are able to reproduce British Back Bacon using American pork loins and curing them using the famous "Wiltshire Cure" method which produces some of the best bacon in the UK. Our bacon is up to 70% leaner than the leanest American style bacon. William''s back bacon makes breakfast worth eating again. It is also great as a bacon butty."

They sell an array of goods. The British bangers look fantastic but I must make a disclaimer. I have never actually ordered anything from this company. I plan to and if anyone beats me to it or has ordered items in the past, let me know how it went.

Frightened Rabbit's New Album

Frightened Rabbit are streaming their new album "Winter of Mixed Drinks" on Myspace. I have listened to it and I am not convinced yet, it's definitely not as catchy as Midnight Organ Fight. I had such high hopes, maybe it will be a grower. You be the judge.......

http://www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit

Man I wish I could play guitar like this...........

I wish I could play guitar, full stop. But I was blessed with digits shaped like smoked sausages and if you have ever tried to play the guitar with smoked sausages instead of fingers, you will know it's no mean feat. Thanks Damo for the heads up on this one. Do you remember a band called Faithless?. If you do you might remember their debut album Reverence, released in 1996. On that album there was a song called "Insomnia". That leads me to this very cool clip of an acoustic guitar cover. It's a bit slow to begin with but once it gets going, hold tight!..... :)



Any other cool clips, of course let me know...

Tribute to the Neds.....

Couple of funny videos I found online just in case you miss the neds.

WARNING: Foul language





I will always remember the day I was walking down Sauchiehall St in Glasgow and a gentleman of the ned persuasion crossed my path and inquired as to whether I perhaps had some spare change which was burning a hole in my pocket. I of course obliged and just as my hand entered that fabric cave, I heard these immortal words "Dig deep big man, dig deep!". It was so direct and funny, it sticks with me to this day.

We Get It!

I thought we had finally seen the back of this generations Status Quo. Alright a bit harsh, they did have two classic albums. That's right I am talking about Oasis. Liam Gallagher accepted the award for best British album of the last 30 years. I know, I know, it shows the credibility of the farce that is the Brit Awards.
He swaggered up, walking like a chimp. In fact I take that back, that is offensive to chimps, they carry themselves with more grace and panache. He rambled a bit and threw his mike and award into the crowd. We get it, you have attitude, you're crazy!. Please enough already, it's so cliched it's cringe inducing. Peter Kay summed Liam up right at the end. Check it out and get your cringe on......

Florence and the Machine

I have been listening to this band a lot recently, specifically the album Lungs. She has an amazing voice which is reminiscent of Kate Bush but with bit more sass. That's right I said sass!. Check out some of the clips below, let me know what you think.

The first one is a cover of "You Got the Love" by The Source and Candi Staton


MTV live session "Cosmic Love"



Same song but acoustic, really shows off just how good her voice is....



Lastly a performance with Dizzee Rascal at the Brit Awards. Not a fan of Dizzee but thought the pairing worked.

Why would a Scot move to Maine?

This is why....

List of Highland Games and Celtic Celebrations

I am trying to put a list together of Highland Games and Celtic Celebrations in Maine. If you know of any others please add them in the comments section.

http://www.topshamfair.net/

Held at Topsham Fairgrounds. August 21st 2010.....

http://www.mainecelticcelebration.com/

Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast. They also hold other events. I went to the Burns supper this year and had a great time.

News

A lot of you may know about this website but thought I would give it a mention.

http://www.ananova.com/

Nice simple interface, allows you to keep up with the latest news and the quirkies are enough to brighten anyone's day.

Here is an example of one of the quirkies:

Brewer fights back with 41 per cent beer

A Scottish brewery is reclaiming the title of the world's strongest beer from German rivals - with a 41% brew named Sink the Bismarck.

Sink the Bismark /BrewDog

BrewDog, of Fraserburgh, made headlines last year when it unveiled a 32% beer called Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

However, just two weeks ago, Schorschbrau beat the record with the release of the 40% strength Schorschbock.

BrewDog said its newly released 41% Sink the Bismarck would cost £40 for a 330ml bottle and would only be sold online.

The beer is said to be a "quadruple IPA" that contains four times the hops, four times the bitterness and is frozen four times to create a staggering 41% ABV, stronger than whisky or vodka.

Alcohol Focus Scotland has previously expressed concerns about BrewDog's approach.

But BrewDog's managing director James Watt said the company was doing all it could to promote a new and responsible approach to beer drinking.

He added: "Beer has a terrible reputation in Britain, it's ignorant to assume that a beer can't be enjoyed responsibly like a nice dram or a glass of fine wine. A beer like Sink the Bismarck should be enjoyed in spirit sized measures.

"It is important that you be careful with this beer and show it the same amount of sceptical, tentative respect you would show an international chess superstar, clown or gypsy."

BrewDog was previously branded irresponsible for an 18.2% beer called Tokyo, which it then followed with a low alcohol beer called Nanny State, before launching Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

British music website

Love this music website, they have great reviews, news and much more.

http://www.themusicmagazine.co.uk/

nice alternative to NME.

British Comedies

I don't know about you but when I want to lift my mood I put on the British Office or I'm Alan Partridge. Two of my favorite comedies of all time.
I am always on the look out for new British comedies. Two of my current favorites are Peep Show on the BBC and The Inbetweeners on Channel 4. BBC America has started showing The Inbetweeners on a Wednesday night. I am sure they will bleep a lot out but still worth a watch.

Here are a couple of clips:

Warning: Foul Language

The Inbetweeners

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqr8yPipfJ8

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnSW2a_H80

Peep Show

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATWnqhYmJlg

Let me know if there are any comedy shows that you love at the moment.

Other Britsih TV shows worth checking out

I have been enjoying Secret Millionaire on Channel 4. It just has a great feel good factor. Apparently in the latter shows people are starting to get savvy as the show has been on for a while. The concept is simple:

Each week a millionaire leaves his/her luxurious life behind, takes on a secret identity and lives undercover in a deprived area of the country for a week to ten days. Living on a limited budget with no modern conveniences they must forge their own way in the community – working and volunteering alongside the locals and finding individuals or projects whom they think deserve a cut of their fortune. On their final day, the millionaires come clean and reveal their true identity to the people they have chosen, surprising them with overwhelming gifts of thousands of pounds or dollars to improve their lives.

Another show I like at the moment is called Tower Block of Commons on Channel 4. Politicians swap their comfortable homes and move into council estates across the country, encountering first-hand the reality of residents' lives. It's nice to see them finally get a dose of reality.

Location Location Location is another great show on Channel 4. They basically help prospective home buyers find a house. It's interesting to see the current cost of property around the country. It gives me a nice reminder of how expensive it is to live in Britain.

Let me know if you have any recommendations.

Celebrity Big Brother

If you end up using one of the services mentioned below to watch British TV, be sure and watch Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 4. I know it's cheesy but it's a guilty pleasure and there was some real characters in it this year. Vinnie Jones was exactly how you would expect, a complete bully to everybody. Stephanie Beacham was very hoighty toighty and Stephen Baldwin was just a basket case. The others on the show were as follows:

- Alex Reid

Alex Reid (born 21 August 1975) is an English professional mixed martial arts fighter, best known for being the current husband of Katie Price following her split from Peter Andre.

- Dane Bowers

Dane Bowers (born 29 November 1979) is an English pop singer, songwriter and record producer. Most famous for being one of the founder members of Another Level who had a UK number 1 single in 1998.

- Heidi Fleiss

Heidi Fleiss (born 30 December 1965) is an American "Hollywood Madam"

- Ivana Trump

Ivana Trump (born February 20, 1949) an ex-wife of real estate developer Donald Trump, is a Czech-American fashion model and socialite

- Jonas Altberg

Jonas Altberg, better known as Basshunter, (born 22 December 1984) is a Swedish record producer and singer-songwriter.

- Katia Ivanova

Ekaterina "Katia" Ivanova (born August 1988) is a Kazakhstan-born Russian[14] model best known for being the ex-girlfriend of The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood.

- Lady Sovereign

Lady Sovereign, known as Sov in the House, (born 19 December 1985) is an English rapper and grime artist.

- Nicola Tappenden

Nicola Tappenden, also known as Nicola T, (born 2 December 1982) is an English Page 3 Girl, and glamour model.

- Sisqó

Mark Althavean Andrews, known by his stage name Sisqó (born 9 November 1978), is an American R&B singer, best known for his hit single Thong Song in 2000.

As you can see, not the most famous bunch but their characters more than made up for their lack of fame. Just a real good laugh. Also it's the last one but I heard Channel 5 may be picking up the format.

Your top five Scottish actors?

I have got to go with:

1. Sean Connery (Of course!)
I could wax lyrical about Sean but there is no need.

2. Ewan MacGregor
(I still remember being a student when Trainspotting came out, all those orange and white posters around Glasgow. It was an exciting time. I went down to the premiere and like a giddy school girl watched the stars walk past. That and Shallow Grave put MacGregor on the map.

3. Robert Carlyle
(This Johnie Walker advert is class)



All in all just a great actor.

4. James McAvoy

Not been around that long but I thought Last King of Scotland was great. Atonement was decent and I am embarrassed to admit I kind of liked Wanted.

5. Dougray Scott

Just for the shear fact he is from Fife :)

What's your top five?

Craig Fergusons book "American On Purpose"

Just finished this book the other day and it was a great read. I have personally never been a fan of Craig Ferguson but was interested in how he made the transition from a Scot to an American Citizen hosting the Late Late Show.
The book is basically an autobiography. Some of it is self indulgent and at points he comes across as a little full of himself. But overall it's a great read, full of debauchery, laughs and he manages to encapsulate the feelings that many of us Expats have towards the U.S. and our homeland.

I would definitely recommend it.....

Check out what others think on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Purpose-Improbable-Adventures-Unlikely/dp/0061719544

Keeping an eye on Google Earth

If your like me, sometimes when I am homesick I open up Google Earth and traipse around Scotland. I know it's sad but with Street View I can look at my old stomping grounds in Glasgow.
They are starting to slowly make their way into the lesser known areas. Glasgow and Edinburgh have been there for a while but they are now as far up as Invergordon.
I am personally waiting for them to upload Fife. I know what you are thinking and no, it's not to spot sheep. Apparently the Google car was spotted in the area where I grew up about six months ago but nothing yet. Obviously I am counting the days, marking them off on a calender and letting out a little despondent sigh. I jest of course but if you have a little time to kill, why not have a wander.

Zoot Coffee Camden Maine

If your in Camden and fancy one of the finest coffee's in Maine check out Zoot Coffee.

http://www.zootcoffee.com/

Owned by a fellow Scot.....

British TV in the U.S.

Here is a link to two services which allow you to watch British TV in the U.S.


http://www.ukproxyserver.co.uk/

and


http://www.tvproxy.co.uk/

Enjoy!

Coming Soon!

How to watch British TV in the U.S.

I am gathering info together on easy ways to catch up on British TV, check back soon......

If you miss your nights out in Scotland.......

I love checking out this webcam when I yearn for a booze up in Scotland. The webcam seems to be down at the moment but I will let you know as soon as it comes back up. The bar is called Belushi's in Edinburgh. There is nothing better than watching drunk Scottish people bust the moves.......

http://www.belushis.com/webcams/edinburgh-webcam

Scottish Music

I love music and like to keep up with latest bands coming out of Scotland and the U.K. One of my favorites at the moment is Frightened Rabbit, from Selkirk. The Midnight Organ Fight was top class and I love their recent single:



Other bands from Scotland worth checking out:

- Franz Ferdinand (I think only one is Scots but they formed in Glasgow)
- Snow Patrol (A couple of Scots, formed at the University of Dundee).
- Belle and Sebastian
- Teenage Fanclub
- Arab Strap
- Travis
- Mull Historical Society
- Mogwai
- The View
- The Fratellis
- Primal Scream
- 1990's
- Biffy Clyro
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- The Beta Band
- The Delgados
- Idlewild
- Camera Obscura
- The Twilight Sad
- Boards of Canada
- Aereogramme
- Orange Juice
- Urusei Yatsura
- BMX Badits
- The Vasilines
- The Yummy Fur
- The Gentle Waves
- Aztec Camera
- Fire Engines
- Dogs Die in Hot Cars
- Glasvegas
- The Reindeer Section
- Foxface
- Cocteau Twins
- The Proclaimers
- Calvin Harris
- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (Lead singer English, rest of the band Scottish, based in Glasgow)



Let me know if you can think of any others.....

Oh and of course Wet Wet Wet, yeah right :)

Looking to Meet Fellow Brits in Maine?

There is a great Facebook page run by Andy Peacock called Brits in Maine.......

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Brits+in+Maine&init=quick#!/group.php?gid=7595644747&ref=search&sid=1040491531.2123624021..1

They have about twenty members so far, not too bad. Every now and then they have a get together, go ahead and join!.

Craving some British Food?

I know of a couple of places in Maine that sell British goods. Feel free to share your knowledge......


Bridghame and Cook, Ltd (Located in Freeport) http://www.britishgoods.com/

Hope General Store (Owned by a Scot, Andrew Stewart, located in Hope)

http://www.hopegeneral.com/

Groups in Maine of Interest to us Scots.

The St. Andrew's Society of Maine http://www.mainehighlandgames.org/

Maine Celtic Celebration http://www.mainecelticcelebration.com/

They hold some nice events if you are in the Midcoast area.


There must be more than this!............

Scottish News Sites

A little selection to get yer news fix!

http://www.scotsman.com/

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/ (Classy, right?)

http://www.ayrshirepost.net/

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/

http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/


Let me know if you have any others........

Scots in Maine

This blog is intended to be a wee place for the Scots, specifically those in Maine. Find out about upcoming events, other Scots in your area, news from back home, music, gossip and anything that can be tenuously linked to one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Feel free to comment, send links, news, anything that takes your fancy...........