Cead Mile Failte!
The Selkie Girls have quickly and firmly established themselves as one of the premier folk music acts in the North Texas region. The band (Alli Johnson: guitar, vocals, Jaycie Skidmore: penny whistles/flutes/vocals, Dave Ervin: guitar/mandolin/vocals, Joel Black: upright and fretless acoustic bass, Martin McCall: percussion, and Linda Mudd: harp have performed at the most sought-after - events throughout the state, with featured performances at the North Texas Irish Festival, Austin Celtic Festival, Texas Scottish Festival, the Kimbell Art Museum, and some of the premier local pubs as well. With so much great music in the DFW area, it’s worth noting that the Selkie Girls offer a unique perspective on Celtic and folk music. Their take on the Celtic music tradition built upon lush vocal harmonies and dynamic instrumental arrangements, always captivates their audiences. The band’s repertoire includes ancient laments, contemporary ballads, traditional Irish tunes, Scottish Gaelic folk sung in the native tongue, and foot-stomping jigs and reels.
The Selkie Girls have recently released their third Cd, Pirate Queen. Many of the songs recorded for this Cd focus on strong women in history, like Grace O'Malley or Princess Louise. Their debut album, The Parting Glass, has been very well-received both critically and commercially, with the title track garnering international attention. Their sophomore album, Long Time Traveling, expanded the group’s sound with more intricate arrangements, further pushing the envelope of contemporary Celtic music. All three albums have received rave reviews (from fans and press alike) and have been selling steadily at live shows and online via iTunes and Amazon, with numeroustracks receiving airplay on stations throughout the world.
The Selkie Girls have quickly and firmly established themselves as one of the premier folk music acts in the North Texas region. The band (Alli Johnson: guitar, vocals, Jaycie Skidmore: penny whistles/flutes/vocals, Dave Ervin: guitar/mandolin/vocals, Joel Black: upright and fretless acoustic bass, Martin McCall: percussion, and Linda Mudd: harp have performed at the most sought-after - events throughout the state, with featured performances at the North Texas Irish Festival, Austin Celtic Festival, Texas Scottish Festival, the Kimbell Art Museum, and some of the premier local pubs as well. With so much great music in the DFW area, it’s worth noting that the Selkie Girls offer a unique perspective on Celtic and folk music. Their take on the Celtic music tradition built upon lush vocal harmonies and dynamic instrumental arrangements, always captivates their audiences. The band’s repertoire includes ancient laments, contemporary ballads, traditional Irish tunes, Scottish Gaelic folk sung in the native tongue, and foot-stomping jigs and reels.
The Selkie Girls have recently released their third Cd, Pirate Queen. Many of the songs recorded for this Cd focus on strong women in history, like Grace O'Malley or Princess Louise. Their debut album, The Parting Glass, has been very well-received both critically and commercially, with the title track garnering international attention. Their sophomore album, Long Time Traveling, expanded the group’s sound with more intricate arrangements, further pushing the envelope of contemporary Celtic music. All three albums have received rave reviews (from fans and press alike) and have been selling steadily at live shows and online via iTunes and Amazon, with numeroustracks receiving airplay on stations throughout the world.
What's a Selkie?
Selkies (also spelled silkies, selchies; Irish/Scottish: selchidh, Scots: selkie fowk) are mythological creatures found in Scottish, Irish and Faroese folklore. Similar creatures are described in the Icelandic traditions. The word derives from earlier Scots selich, (from Old English seolh meaning seal). Selkies are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land. The legend is apparently most common in Orkney and Shetland and is very similar to those of swan maidens. If you'd like to learn more about selkies, here is a link to the wikipedia site where the above information comes from - www.wikipedia.org
About the Band
Alli Johnson - Vocals, Guitar
Alli began formally singing in school choirs at age 10. Her natural talent quickly recognized and cultivated, she was soon winning regional solo competitions. By the age of 16, Alli began performing professionally, singing and playing guitar in venues around the Dallas area. Since then, she's worked as a demo singer and played in numerous bands, largely focusing on acoustic-driven music. With both Irish and Scottish blood in her heritage, she's long been enraptured with Celtic history, tradition, and art. Though she's a capable rhythm guitarist, it's her smooth, emotive voice that most often captivates an audience.
Jaycie Skidmore -Vocals, Flutes and Whistles
Jaycie began playing the flute at age 12 but was surrounded by music from birth. She grew up in a musical household and thrived in her church music programs, particularly the choir and handbell ensemble. Jaycie earned a flute scholarship to Baylor University and earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2007. Since then, she has taught private flute lessons and done freelance work throughout the DFW metroplex. She is currently the Principal Flutist with the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra. Jaycie has performed in such auspicious venues as the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Bass Performance Hall, and most notably, Carnegie Hall as a member of the National Wind Ensemble. She has been under the tutelage of such flutists as Helen Ann Shanley, Marianne Gedigian, Jill Felber, Dr. Bradley Garner, and Terri Sundberg. Although relatively new additions to her instrumental arsenal, the penny whistle and Irish flute have quickly become some of Jaycie's favorites and she enjoys playing them immensely.
Dave Ervin - Vocals, Guitars
Dave grew up playing music in a family where every member was musical, from his grandfather who was a classically trained tenor, to uncles and cousins performing in local plays and jazz bands, Dave has had music in his blood as long as he can remember. He began his musical education playing clarinet and bass clarinet in the middle and high school orchestras but quickly realized his love for guitar too strong to resist and has been playing it ever since. Besides rock and folk bands, Dave's most recent celtic experience was as a member of the Dallas Based celtic band, Brothers3.
Joel Black - Vocals, Upright Bass, Electric Bass
On stage since age 7, Joel has performed vocally and instrumentally in venues from the Majestic Theater to Mardi Gras and from Branson to Hollywood. Trained in voice as well as jazz and classical guitar, he picked up the bass more than 20 years ago and it quickly became his instrument of choice. Accomplished on 5 string electric, fretless acoustic and upright acoustic bass, Joel provides the foundation for the Selkie Girls, while contributing tenor vocals. Joel has played on multiple CD projects and off-Broadway musicals as well as in Jazz, R&B, Swing, Country, Blues, Rock, Variety and Gospel bands and ensembles. Joel has added his sound to a number of bands throughout the years including the vocal trio Pure Desire, rock recording artist Jason Davis of the Jason Davis Project, Christian pop band Racing Gravity, country recording artist Tommy Snyder, and Christian bluesman Brian Howard. He released an instrumental CD in 2007 with long time jazz band Patton Leather Rhythm.
Martin McCall - Drums and Percussion and Involuntary Yodeling
Born in 1854 in Lamar, MO, Martin McCall left as soon as possible. Spirited away by people who claimed to be his parents, he became a world traveler before first grade. He lived a year in Taiwan giving him a propensity to bow instead of shake hands.
Martin has had the good fortune to rub shoulders with some of the “greats”. On drum set he has done performances with world renowned guitarist Larry Coryell. He has performed multiple times with Mark O’Connor, three time national fiddle and mandolin champion and member of the famed Dixie Dreggs. Jerry LaCroix who wrote and performed many of the pieces on Edgar Winter’s “White Trash” album and was in the “Blood, Sweat and Tears horn section had Martin as his drummer for a year before Jerry retired due to health issues. Martin has also been in bands with major label players such as Patrice Pike (Sister 7), Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan, Ricki Lee Jones , and Brad Houser (Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians). He has also done a performance with Sara Hickman and another with Dolette McDonald (backing vocalist for The Police and Sting).
Martin has also had the pleasure of performing with many good local musicians.
Bands of local notoriety include guitar virtuoso Rhett Butler, Japanese drumming Taiko groups Kobushi and Taikodelic, Celtic fusion bands Brothers 3 and The Selkie Girls, jazz poll winner in Guitar Player Magazine Joseph Lee as well as a guest appearance with the Turtle Creek Chorale.
On drum kit, he has performed multiple styles. To name a few, rock, jazz, country, blues, reggae, soca, world fusion, zydeco, Latin, new age, pop, funk and Celtic.
Martin has also performed on a variety of world percussion instruments such as taiko (big Japanese drums), bodhran (Irish frame drum), congas and bongos (Latin and other styles), zydeco rubboard (washboard), African djembe (large hour glass shaped drum), doumbek (Middle Eastern hour glass shaped hand drum), kanjira (East Indian frame drum).
He is also the winner of the Carmine Appice drum contest and voted in as a Buddy Magazine “Texas Tornado”.
He holds a paisley belt in Drum Fu.
Martin plays no Chinese music.
"http://www.martinmccall.com"
Linda Mudd - Harp
Linda began her musical career as a pianist/accompanist but grew to love the harp and the Celtic tradition and has gradually transitioned to full time harp playing all around the Dallas metroplex performing at weddings, churches, senior centers, and anywhere they love the beautiful sound of the harp. Linda also is part of a five member harp ensemble called Harp Essence.
Alli Johnson - Vocals, Guitar
Alli began formally singing in school choirs at age 10. Her natural talent quickly recognized and cultivated, she was soon winning regional solo competitions. By the age of 16, Alli began performing professionally, singing and playing guitar in venues around the Dallas area. Since then, she's worked as a demo singer and played in numerous bands, largely focusing on acoustic-driven music. With both Irish and Scottish blood in her heritage, she's long been enraptured with Celtic history, tradition, and art. Though she's a capable rhythm guitarist, it's her smooth, emotive voice that most often captivates an audience.
Jaycie Skidmore -Vocals, Flutes and Whistles
Jaycie began playing the flute at age 12 but was surrounded by music from birth. She grew up in a musical household and thrived in her church music programs, particularly the choir and handbell ensemble. Jaycie earned a flute scholarship to Baylor University and earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2007. Since then, she has taught private flute lessons and done freelance work throughout the DFW metroplex. She is currently the Principal Flutist with the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra. Jaycie has performed in such auspicious venues as the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Bass Performance Hall, and most notably, Carnegie Hall as a member of the National Wind Ensemble. She has been under the tutelage of such flutists as Helen Ann Shanley, Marianne Gedigian, Jill Felber, Dr. Bradley Garner, and Terri Sundberg. Although relatively new additions to her instrumental arsenal, the penny whistle and Irish flute have quickly become some of Jaycie's favorites and she enjoys playing them immensely.
Dave Ervin - Vocals, Guitars
Dave grew up playing music in a family where every member was musical, from his grandfather who was a classically trained tenor, to uncles and cousins performing in local plays and jazz bands, Dave has had music in his blood as long as he can remember. He began his musical education playing clarinet and bass clarinet in the middle and high school orchestras but quickly realized his love for guitar too strong to resist and has been playing it ever since. Besides rock and folk bands, Dave's most recent celtic experience was as a member of the Dallas Based celtic band, Brothers3.
Joel Black - Vocals, Upright Bass, Electric Bass
On stage since age 7, Joel has performed vocally and instrumentally in venues from the Majestic Theater to Mardi Gras and from Branson to Hollywood. Trained in voice as well as jazz and classical guitar, he picked up the bass more than 20 years ago and it quickly became his instrument of choice. Accomplished on 5 string electric, fretless acoustic and upright acoustic bass, Joel provides the foundation for the Selkie Girls, while contributing tenor vocals. Joel has played on multiple CD projects and off-Broadway musicals as well as in Jazz, R&B, Swing, Country, Blues, Rock, Variety and Gospel bands and ensembles. Joel has added his sound to a number of bands throughout the years including the vocal trio Pure Desire, rock recording artist Jason Davis of the Jason Davis Project, Christian pop band Racing Gravity, country recording artist Tommy Snyder, and Christian bluesman Brian Howard. He released an instrumental CD in 2007 with long time jazz band Patton Leather Rhythm.
Martin McCall - Drums and Percussion and Involuntary Yodeling
Born in 1854 in Lamar, MO, Martin McCall left as soon as possible. Spirited away by people who claimed to be his parents, he became a world traveler before first grade. He lived a year in Taiwan giving him a propensity to bow instead of shake hands.
Martin has had the good fortune to rub shoulders with some of the “greats”. On drum set he has done performances with world renowned guitarist Larry Coryell. He has performed multiple times with Mark O’Connor, three time national fiddle and mandolin champion and member of the famed Dixie Dreggs. Jerry LaCroix who wrote and performed many of the pieces on Edgar Winter’s “White Trash” album and was in the “Blood, Sweat and Tears horn section had Martin as his drummer for a year before Jerry retired due to health issues. Martin has also been in bands with major label players such as Patrice Pike (Sister 7), Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan, Ricki Lee Jones , and Brad Houser (Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians). He has also done a performance with Sara Hickman and another with Dolette McDonald (backing vocalist for The Police and Sting).
Martin has also had the pleasure of performing with many good local musicians.
Bands of local notoriety include guitar virtuoso Rhett Butler, Japanese drumming Taiko groups Kobushi and Taikodelic, Celtic fusion bands Brothers 3 and The Selkie Girls, jazz poll winner in Guitar Player Magazine Joseph Lee as well as a guest appearance with the Turtle Creek Chorale.
On drum kit, he has performed multiple styles. To name a few, rock, jazz, country, blues, reggae, soca, world fusion, zydeco, Latin, new age, pop, funk and Celtic.
Martin has also performed on a variety of world percussion instruments such as taiko (big Japanese drums), bodhran (Irish frame drum), congas and bongos (Latin and other styles), zydeco rubboard (washboard), African djembe (large hour glass shaped drum), doumbek (Middle Eastern hour glass shaped hand drum), kanjira (East Indian frame drum).
He is also the winner of the Carmine Appice drum contest and voted in as a Buddy Magazine “Texas Tornado”.
He holds a paisley belt in Drum Fu.
Martin plays no Chinese music.
"http://www.martinmccall.com"
Linda Mudd - Harp
Linda began her musical career as a pianist/accompanist but grew to love the harp and the Celtic tradition and has gradually transitioned to full time harp playing all around the Dallas metroplex performing at weddings, churches, senior centers, and anywhere they love the beautiful sound of the harp. Linda also is part of a five member harp ensemble called Harp Essence.
The Selkie Girls are Martin McCall, Allison Johnson, Jaycie Skidmore, Dave Ervin, Joel Black and Linda Mudd
