Rant Maggie Rant returns to British Columbia to perform at Heriot Bay, Islands Folk Festival & Butchart Gardens

Media Advisory: 

Rant Maggie Rant returns to British Columbia to perform at Heriot Bay, Islands Folk Festival & Butchart Gardens -- Cowichan Valley Resident Glen Dias’ Voice Captivates. 

Stratford, Ontario (July 19, 2012) – Rant Maggie Rant, one of Canada’s most exciting Celtic fusion ensembles, is pleased to be returning to British Columbia to perform, as the band wraps up its northern U.S. and western Canadian tour. The quintet’s remaining concert dates are as follows:

July 20: The band will be performing at 9:00 pm at the Heriot Bay Inn, located on idyllic Quadra Island, one of the Northern Gulf Islands, and just a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River off the central east coast of Vancouver Island, BC.

July 21 & 22: The quintet will be entertaining audiences at the Cowichan Valley Islands Folk Festival, held at beautiful Providence Farm near Duncan on Vancouver Island, BC. They take to the Islands stage at 5:00 pm on Saturday and the St. Anne’ Spirit stage at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

July 23: Rant Maggie Rant is playing in Victoria’s beautiful Butchart Gardens at 8:00 pm, as part of the Butchart’s Summer Festival music series.

Audiences always have a rousing and rollicking good time at Rant Maggie Rant concerts. From their energetic on-stage presence, to the band’s ability to really connect with its audience, it is self-evident that Celtic music is in the fibres of the band’s heart.

Rant Maggie Rant is a band that likes to mischievously colour outside the prescribed lines. The ensemble moves effortlessly from Irish jigs to Galician munieras, from Scottish marches to Breton an dros, driving them with exotic and syncopated hand-percussion, blues/rock guitar backdrops, revved up tempos, surprising time changes, and unique rhythmic attacks. During their concerts, Rant Maggie Rant will deliver a beautiful traditional ballad, chase it up with an Appalachian-style groove and end with a killer jig or reel.

Traditionalists love their approach, as they respect the time-honoured styles. Drawing on the music from the seven Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, and the lesser known Isle of Mann, Galicia (Spain) and Brittany (France), as well as from Quebec and Canada's Maritime Region, a legion of new Celtic music listeners and fans are drawn to Rant Maggie Rant's fusion of World influences, including Latin, Middle Eastern and African hand percussion and rhythms.

Rant Maggie Rant brings together five supremely talented musicians: Mark Fletcher (whistles, tenor mandola, accordion, Scottish small pipes, guitar, bodhran, background vocals), Lindsay Schindler (fiddle, background vocals), Glen Dias: (lead vocals, recorders, percussion), Rob Larose: (percussion - drum kit, cajon, djembe, dumbek, congas, background vocals) and Barry James Payne (guitars, harmonica, background vocals).

Glen Dias, who hails from Cowichan Valley, BC, recently discovered his first and last names are a perfect anagram for “sings lead.” Dias is living up to that anagram as the lead vocalist for Rant Maggie Rant, which is the fuel that drives his engine and gives him the greatest amount of happiness. Dias, who has been singing all his life, including part of the original Canadian cast of Les Miserables and Napoleon.

Led by Mark Fletcher, the band has recorded two albums: World’s Edge (2009 studio recording) and Frost & Fire: A Celtic Christmas Celebration! (2011 live recording). Both recordings are infused with Irish whistles, fiddle, tenor recorder, acoustic and classical guitars, accordion, drums, as well as an array of hand percussion and powered by lead singer Glen Dias’ captivating vocals. The repertoire ranges from traditional Irish tunes to original, spirit-raising and dance-inducing instrumentals, perfect for the all night kitchen party.

Based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Rant Maggie Rant has been wowing audiences on the road for the past three years at festivals, concert halls and symphonic stages in Canada and the U.S. with their outstanding artistry and on-stage vibe. A tight, coherent unit, Rant Maggie Rant takes audiences on a unique journey through Celtic music, appealing to both traditionalists and those who enjoy the evolution of sound.

JUST THE FACTS

Event: Rant Maggie Rant in concert

Dates, Venues & Times:

July 20, 2012: Heriot Bay Inn, 9:00 pm

July 21 & 22: Islands Folk Festival, 5:00 and 1:00 pm

July 23: Butchart Gardens, 8:00 pm

More info, including tickets: www.rantmaggierant.com

Testimonials:

“I can truly say that you were the surprise ‘WOW’ band this year – so much great feedback about your music.” – Sheila Graziano, Saline Celtic Festival, Saline, Michigan

“RMR is a great band. They packed the house and the audience left dancing. I can't wait to have them back.” – Holmes Hooke, Hughs Room, Toronto, Ontario

“One of Canada’s most exciting Celtic fusion ensembles . . . “ – Robert Reid, Arts & Entertainment Reporter, Waterloo Region Record, Waterloo, Ontario

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Mary-Lou Schagena

Publicist, Rant Maggie Rant

Telephone: 519-584-7628

Email: mschagena@sympatico.ca

Website: www.rantmaggierant.com

Twitter: @RantMaggieRant

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rant-Maggie-Rant/105490402396

CBC Artist Profile: http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Rant-Maggie-Rant