Greetings from UFO!

March is a big month for Celtic bands, of which you likely know we boast a few. So, St. Patrick's Day isn't just about March 17 for United For Opportunity and the Celtic artists on our roster, we actually spend the whole month wearing those funny green hats. Seriously though, there's touring, a new album out today, a single cut with U2, etc. so check it out below.

Label News

United For Opportunity's compilation album Now That's What I Call Irish Pint 2 is available for digital download as of today. The compilation is the follow-up to March 2007's very successful Pint 1 and features recent songs by UFO's various Celtic artists. Make it your soundtrack to this year's St. Patrick's celebration.

UFO is proud to announce Range Records is now part of our family of distributed labels. Range Records is a Philadelphia based indie label committed to making unique, concept-driven records that draw on the special history and community of musicians that call Philadelphia home. Their debut release is called "Rediscovering Lonnie Johnson," please see below for more information.

UFO expresses sorrow over the recent death of Buddy Miles. A prime mover in late 1960s psychedelic blues-rock and drummer in Band of Gypsys along with Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox, Buddy Miles was an important figure in music. UFO's sister label Innerhythmic was fortunate to put out a great record of silky soul and sizzling fatback rhythms by Buddy called "Hell And Back." The music lives on.

		BLACK 47 Iraq BUY

The new album by UFO newcomer and legendary U.S. Celtic Rock pioneer Black 47 hits stores today. Titled "Iraq," the patriotic concept album may be a bit of a detour from the usual St. Patrick's themes, but don't be misled. "Iraq" rocks out in Black 47's tried and true Celtic influence and melange of NYC styles.

The record has been picking up rave reviews at press over the past month, the most exciting of which may be David Fricke's Rolling Stone review for the magazine's March 6, issue. "Iraq is an unashamedly topical wallop of early-Seventies Jersey-bar E Street Band and the Combat Rock-era Clash, laced with the mourning siren of Uilleann pipes. The album is as blunt in its frontline detail as it is in title," wrote Fricke. For the full review visit UFOmusic.com

On St. Patrick's Day you can catch Black 47 performing on Fox News Channel major national morning program Fox and Friends, or if you live in the NYC area, at the band's annual B.B. King Blues Club gig.

Black 47 is also on tour, so check if they're playing in your town.

March 6 - Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building

March 7 - San Francisco, CA - Red Devil Lounge

March 8, 9 - Sonora, CA - Sonora Celtic Faire

March 12 - Columbus, OH - Byrne's Pub

March 13 - Palatine, IL - Durty Nellies

March 14 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom and Tavern

March 15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe

March 16 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

March 17 - New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club

March 21 - Holyoke, MA - Waterfront Tavern

March 29 - Roxbury, NY - Roxbury Arts Group

April 5 - Kingston, NY - Bridgewater Bar and Grill

April 12 - Kearney, NJ - Donegal Saloon

April 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Irish Festival

May 4 - Chatham, NY - Celebration of Celts

May 30 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Cente

Also check them out on Myspace at www.myspace.com/black47band.

		ENTER THE HAGGIS Northampton (Live) BUY

Enter The Haggis departed late last week for Ireland. The band is currently traveling the country along with 196 fans and fellow U.S. Celtic rock band The Elders. The band toured Ireland a few years ago, but last night was the ETH's Dublin debut at Whelan's.

Last month, Enter The Haggis made its way back to Toronto for two nights this time at Hugh's Room. Fans made their way through a surprise blizzard (1 foot of snow total) on Friday, February 1 and through slush, mess and cold on Saturday, February 2 for what turned into two very successful shows. There were just under 400 people in attendance over the two nights.

The band has 15 Northeast and Florida dates scheduled for the rest of March after it returns from Ireland. Trevor Lewington and Brian Buchanan dropped us a line from the airport last week, reflecting on the month ahead.

"It's nice for us to head over to Ireland before doing our U.S. St. Patrick's Month events to give the celebration some context. The holiday has become sort of a caricature of itself, and a trip to Ireland reminds us just what it is we're celebrating when we come back. Coming home to a few sold-out shows will be a fine way to end the winter, and will serve as fine motivation for us as we keep writing and rehearsing new material for the festival season!"

March 13 - S. Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

March 14 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street

March 15 - Orlando, FL - Wall Street Plaza

March 16 - Tallahassee, FL - Legion Hall Post 13

March 17 - Orlando, FL - Wall Street Plaza

March 19 - Boston, MA - Paradise Lounge

March 20 - Manchester, CT - The Main Pub

March 21 - Fairfield, CT - Fairfield Theater Stage One

March 22 - Phoenixville, PA - The Colonial Theatre

March 26 - Buffalo, NY - Nietzsche's

March 27 - Rochester, NY - German House Theater

March 28 - North Adams, MA - Church Street Center

March 29 - Troy, NY - Revolution Hall

March 30 - Newmarket, NH - The Stone Church

Also check them out on Myspace at www.myspace.com/enterthehaggis.

		DAMIEN DEMPSEY To Hell Or Barbados BUY

Damien Dempsey recently recorded a benefit single and video alongside other major Irish musicians for Ronnie Drew, founder/former leader of The Dubliners and renowned Irish singer and folk musician, who is currently suffering under the affliction of cancer. Damo spent two days at Dublin's Windmill Studios with the likes of Bono, The Edge, Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Andrea Corr, Sinead O'Connor and Moya Brennan among others.

Produced by John Reynolds, "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" was released digitally on February 22 and a CD single followed on February 29 in Ireland only. Profits from the release will go directly to the Irish Cancer Society.

Award winning director (Once) and ex-Frames bass player John Carney directed the video for the song, which can be viewed here.

Damien Dempsey has been invited stateside near St. Patrick's day to perform at The 10th Annual Craic Festival Music Series. He'll be playing at The Mercury Lounge in NYC's Lower East Side on at 10:00 p.m. March 7, alongside other Irish and Irish-American acts. The Film Fleadh Foundation produces The Craic Festival annually to present Irish cinematic and musical culture to the New York City and tri-state region.

Damien will travel to Australia after the U.S.

March 7 - New York, NY - Craic Festival at The Mercury Lounge

March 15 - Fremantle, AU - West Coast Blues & Roots Festival

March 18, 19 - Sydney, AU - State Theatre

March 21 - Byron Bay, AU - East Coast Blues & Roots Festival

March 22 - Brisbane, AU - Convention Centre

March 23 - Portsea, AU - Point Nepean Festival

March 25 - Melbourne, AU - Palais Theatre

March 26 - Sydney, AU - State Theatre

Visit Damo on Myspace at www.myspace.com/damiendempsey.

		BLUES ANATOMY WITH JEF LEE JOHNSON Rediscovering Lonnie Johnson

Lonnie Johnson is credited by serious historians as being the first person to record a single note guitar solo. Period. Before anyone else laid one down, there was Lonnie, leaning against the door staring back and saying "I was there first." That is quite a distinction and strangely as monumental as it is, almost nobody seems to know it. In releasing Rediscovering Lonnie Johnson it is hoped that the record, so to speak, will finally be set straight.

The album features a talented cast of musicians, nearly all of them with roots in the Philadelphia music scene. This is where Lonnie spent the penultimate chapter of his life and additionally was the place where he reemerged after a long hiatus toiling in obscurity as a porter in a downtown hotel. Blues Anatomy, a staple of the local landscape was selected to perform on the majority of the tracks. But in that most essential role of lead guitarist, Jef Lee Johnson, a semi-reclusive legend among musicians around the world was asked to take center stage. Jef jumped at the chance to do justice to a fellow Johnson from Philly and the electrifying results speak for themselves. In addition to this core ensemble another Philly guitar legend, Joe Mass, composed a slide guitar composition specifically for the album ("Ben Franklin Hotel Blues"). Finally, after consulting with fellow producer Joe Boyd, Aaron Levinson brought in (the Lonnie Johnson inspired) Geoff Muldaur to lend his inimitable magic to the blues classic "He's A Jelly Roll Baker."

Available March 25, 2008. For more information visit Rangeentertainment.com

INVASION GROUP NEWS AND NOTES

HAMELL ON TRIAL BUY

Hamell On Trial London debut last month was greeted with rave reviews.  Hamell performed The Terrorism Of Everyday Life for a sold-out Soho Theatre each night February 12-16 and 18-23 in West London.

Laughriot gave The Terrorism Of Everyday Life a brilliant five star review, noting, "This show is honest, truthful, direct and puts Hamell next to Hicks in a disturbingly short, but important, list of comedy/music artists that you must see."

Hamell's upcoming DVD titled Rant 'n' Roll is currently in editing and expected for a June release.

March 16 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios

March 18 - Bellingham, WA - Green Frog Cafe Acoustic Tavern

March 19 - Seattle, WA - Conor Byrne Pub

March 21 - Homer, AK - The Downeast Saloon

March 22 - Anchorage, AK - Sydney Laurence Theatre

March 25 - Tacoma, WA - NPCC

Check out Hamell's blog for Comedy, political commentary and social musings, and catch the man on tour.

Please support our artists and visit us at www.UFOmusic.com to join the evolution.

United For Opportunity
133 West 25th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10001 USA
http://www.UFOmusic.com
http://www.UFOmusic.org