Thank you to Brian for nominating little old me for Rockwired Artist of the Month! Polls close Friday January 27, 2012. Click on the banner (or this link) to vote! Yea! Thank you! :D

Welcome to Thistle Glen episode #49 - Gathering the past, Gathering the memories, let's look back! New app came out this year, Dragonfly is flying in The Real World, A Winter Gathering is here! New site, 12 Days of A Winter Gathering, Green Girl Music & Arts Fest, beautiful reviews - thank you!! Sweepstakes, new videos up now, interviews and a million thank you's for all the support and kindness with the music! See you next year! xoxo

'Tis another Christmas Eve ~ Thank you so much for all the support and love shown to A Winter Gathering ~ I truly am overwhelmed at the kindness and thoughtfulness. Wishing you a magical and joyful Christmas and Holiday!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by ShaunaBurns



Date: 23 December 2011
Listen LIVE at 12 noon PST today!

UPDATE: Thank you London for a great talk!

I'll be on the London Garcia Show today at 12 noon PST for chit chat about the new album! :D

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/londongarcia

Direct Link To Listen:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/londongarcia/2011/12/23/the-london-garcia-show-1

Thank you Theater Mania for the kindness of putting "Carol of the Bells" on Last-Minute Mixes! Remember you can grab A Winter Gathering here in the Shop Section or on iTunes. :)

'If you want to have beautiful Celtic flavored Christmas music playing during your holiday gatherings, I highly recommend “A Winter Gathering” by Shauna Burns. This compilation of Celtic holiday music is well arranged and her voice is simply stunning! Clearly one of the best winter music collections of the season!'

A big thank you to Cool Grrrls for the lovely feature of A Winter Gathering!

And thank you to Sound Spike for the kind mention! :)

UPDATE: Thank you Olivia for such a wonderful interview! :D

Listen LIVE with Olivia Wilder on blog talk radio right now! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/olivia/2011/12/19/holiday-memories-part-deux

You can now listen to an interview with Brian Lush at Rockwired.com! Hear the background of A Winter Gathering, behind-the-scenes of the recording and other chit chat. Thank you Brian!

Click over to the Shop Section to grab all you need for the holiday season! And thank you so much for your support and kindness! :D

Even more lovely reviews are coming in for A Winter Gathering ~ Thank you so much for the kind words! :)

~ Santa's Net Music Feature

~ 'An other-worldly Celtic feel with Burns on piano and vocals, emanates the softness of falling snow and the celebration of a quiet, peaceful winter holiday. Reaching and moving. Evokes a spiritual listening experience, probing and hypnotic. An extraordinary way to enjoy the musical pleasures of the holiday season. - Southwest Flair Music Feature and Blog Feature

~ 'Burns ethereal vocal delivery and perfect blend of the piano in sweeping movements seguing into quiet passages both inspire warmth and wonder. With tasteful percussion and drums, in addition to the other instruments that set the ‘feel’ of a welcome refuge from the storm, make this a fresh, yet old fashioned Christmas album. Give it a listen. A Winter Gathering with friends, family and neighbors is what the season should be all about.' - Robert Carraher from The Dirty Lowdown

~ 'I have reviewed a lot of holiday music over the last few years. From rock influenced songs to jazz and pop tinted songs, a lot of artists put their own spin on the classic tunes. But I never expected an album of holiday music from Shauna Burns. Her music is more of an earthy, expansive ethereal style. I've reviewed a couple of things from Shauna and found her music unique. That is why I was a bit surprised at her recording an album of Christmas / winter holiday songs... Shauna begins the album with an interlude that is typical of her style. Slightly heavenly and lilting, the title of the interlude is Winter Star. From there Shauna gives her own folk tint to the classic holiday song, Carol Of The Bells. The piano fits well as Shauna is a great pianist. The cello and the backing vocals bring a cool sound to the song. Parts of the song have an aching, heart rending tone. Breathy and gentle, Shauna does a good job with White Christmas... The song that I probably liked most was God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Shauna's vocals reminded me of Candice Night of Blackmore's Night... I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at Shauna Burns recording a winter holiday album. After all, we supposedly celebrate the birth of Christ to coincide with the winter solstice. The pairing of traditional holiday songs and Shauna's unique style makes this an album well worth listening to.' - Bruce Von Stiers

The new album is now a Holiday Editor's Pick at CD Baby and was featured in the 'Discover Music Newsletter: November 2011, Issue 3' ~ CD Baby is really giving A Winter Gathering some love! Thank you so much!!

Below are more of the beautiful and thoughtful reviews coming in ~ you can find more excerpts and links in the Press section. Much love and thank you for the kind words!

~ The Shopping Duck Feature
~ Southwest Flair Feature

~ 'Like her 2008 effort, 'The Moon and the Fire Circle,' Burns takes listeners on an almost mystical journey, complete with atmospheric Celtic influences that accentuate several traditional holiday favorites. From the piano driven 'Carol of the Bells' to the fast paced and lyrically different 'The First Noel,' Burns makes the standards sound fresh and alive. One of the strongest selections, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' features a unique and interesting vocalization that reminded me of singer Kate Bush. Shauna Burns possesses a vocal talent that exhibits a gentle strength, which is appropriate for the traditional holiday offerings highlighted on 'A Winter Gathering.' - Don, PopCultureGuy

~ 'This is the perfect CD to listen to during the upcoming holiday season. The instrumentals were very calming and soothing. Shauna’s voice was pitch perfect and fit nicely to the theme of the cd. My favorite songs were 'Luma' and 'The Gathering' because of all the emotion and feelings Shauna puts into the lyrics and the instrumentals... I am planning on playing this CD at my Christmas Party and I know it will bring a lot of holiday cheer to everyone. The CD is more on the traditional side, but I can’t get enough of Shauna’s voice and the relaxing instrumentals. The harp and piano really set the mood for the whole CD.' - Paul Arca, Shakefire

~ 'I have to give a nod to the production. Shauna Burns and James Clark, with Sean O'Dwyer, have given us a gem for the Christmas season. Without the vision and drive of the producers, an artist's work will not reach its potential. Not the case here - kudos to the producers. I highly recommend 'A Winter Gathering'. Once your Christmas tree is up, turn off the house lights and let the Christmas tree lights softly illuminate the room, queue up this abum, and enjoy it in the quiet solitude of a Christmas evening. For me, that describes the time and place for this amazing record.' - Merry and Bright!

~ 'From start to A Winter Gathering by Shauna Burns does exactly what it’s supposed to - put you in a festive mood for Christmas. It’s strong suit - how well Burns makes this Christmas classic her own via a truly brilliant musical interpretation of the songs. This is not a cheesy Christmas compilation that was cut and pasted together for the sake of Karaoke. It clearly goes beyond that. Note for note, song for song there isn’t really a weak piece on this entire catalogue. All pieces are short and sweet musical experiences, each one possessing its own signature groove and musical personality to call its own. The playing abilities of everyone involved is rock solid. Last but not least the vocal presence and impressive piano playing virtuoso of Shauna Burns just makes the whole thing work. She is an artist that clearly possess talent, but above all she knows how to play the piano, sing you a song, and occupy a very special place in your heart each and every Christmas. ' - Indie Music Digest

~ And thanks to WLSO.FM and 'Music of a Lifetime' for adding the music to their line up! :D