Greetings! You have reached the media page of Celtic Machinations (orginally Jim and Holly Lawrence), a trio that has performed at pubs, festivals and other social gatherings from Maryland to North Carolina. Together, we have a history of over 15 years of performance and recording.
The trio consists of: Jim Lawrence - vocals, guitar, bouzouki, octave mandolin and bodhran Lauren Smith - vocals, fiddle, cello and ukelele Holly Breivik - vocals, guitar, whistle, bodhran
Below you will find information on their recordings and links to live performances taken at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and a link to an interview that appeared local Fredericksburg Free Lance Star.
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Recorded at Wally Cleaver's Recording, this was a collection of ballads and fiddle tunes by Jim, Lauren and Holly.
The Water is Wide features Lauren and is a very enchanting take on the classic tune. Holly guests as lead vocal on Frog in a Cocked Hat, a precursor to its American cousin, Froggy Went a Courtin' and adds back up vocals to Ding Dong Dollar, a comtemporary Scottish tune regarding a visit from an American nuclear submarine at a Scotland loch. Jim also sings Ca the Yowes, The Kellyburn Braes and Scots Wha Hae, all classic tune by the immortal Robert "Rabbie" Burns.
Also feautured on the Cd is Bill Reese of Moch Pryderi fame (mandolin on The Kellyburn Braes) and engineer Jeff Covert adds bass to several tracks.
Recorded and mixed by Jeff Covert at Wally Cleaver's Recording, Frederickburg, Va.
The CD was nomimated the orginial Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for best folk album the year it was released.
Caledonian Shadows was conceived as an homage to our Scottish heritage. Featured on the cover is photo and art by Jacob Lawrence, who depicts, from left to right, Robert Burns, The Green Man of Knowledge, The Fairy Queen from Tam Lin, a Brownie (perched in Holly's hand) and in front, The Wee Wee Man. All are featured on the CD.
The CD is not solely a traditional one and includes a 16 minute setting of Tam Lin, divided into eight separate acts with music writen by Jim. The Green Man of Knowledge is an original take, also by Jim, on the fearsome denizen of the wood.
Recorded and engineered by Paul Sturm, who adds addtional guitar on The Lowlands of Holland, at Sound Decisions in Gordonsville, Va.
Video Links
Greetings!
A 2020 interview by Mark Walker of the Free Lance Star, Fredericksburg, Va.'s local newspaper (press the button to view).
Jim and Holly's second effort feature, Celtic Harmonies, features traditional and contemporary covers of primarily Irish music, including an a capella version of Skibbereen and lovely versions of Dublin in the Rare Auld Times and Song for Ireland, more recent tunes of Eire. Jim and Holly render on point two part harmony on the English Scarborough Faire and Mark sports some fiddle and mandolin chops on the rousing Sailor's Hornpipe and Rights of Man. Filling out the lineup is Mark Davis, who rounds out the group with superb fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
Recorded and mixed by Paul Sturm at Montfort Recording, Orange, Va.
Many of these track may be found on Spotify or other streaming platforms.
Some friends of ours caught us in live mode! Just click on the button to watch!
Recordings
News Media
