I have enjoyed the phenomenon of Celtic Rock for over ten years. And in that time, I’ve seen individual bands grow and become more and more successful. They’ve obtained corporate sponsors. They can pay for hotels when they travel, instead of relying on hosts like they did in earlier days. And they’ve not only been able to produce a number of CDs, but concert videos and DVDs, as well. Some were even created for airing on Public Television. By word of mouth mostly, these bands have garnered larger and larger groups of loyal fans who sometimes travel great distances to see them, and rarely miss any show that comes close enough. Like myself, many people have seen these bands play live at least a dozen times each. Celtic Rock has an undeniable appeal to young and old from a great many walks of life. In the entire ten years past, I cannot recall a single time I’ve ever known someone to not come away loving the music after hearing it. It has all the right elements to stand on its own beside the Nickelbacks and Velvet Revolvers on the top music charts today. But with fiddle and bagpipe, and a seasoning of Celtic tradition, it has a flavor that sets it apart…and in my opinion, above. But there still exists a barrier that is keeping this genre from stepping onto the main stage of the mainstream music industry. The doors to major record labels remained closed against this “different” and “untried-in-the-marketplace” music. And in addition to treating such a different style with a turned back, there is also the practice of the music industry business machine of being the decision making device by which popular music is directed. The only way to make the business machine notice Celtic Rock would be for a mass appeal to take hold. Yet, this is a difficult task to manage because of the genre’s isolation. Though most of the genre’s top bands do travel widely across the U.S., and even outside the country, there just aren’t enough of them to blanket the public with the knowledge of their existence. Many people who have seen even one of these bands believe that the band is a unique fluke unto itself. They are not aware that this type of music is a genre. And there are large portions of the country that have never seen any of these bands, and so an enormous percentage of the population has no clue that this type of music even exists. I’ve done my part to introduce as many people as possible to Celtic Rock. I’ve explained the concept to a great many individuals…as I’m sure many other fans have done. But this is still word of mouth….and it still isn’t enough. What else can possibly be done? There’s no convincing the music industry without a proven price tag. So….create the price tag. Reach the public…all of it…all at once. We know a great many of them will love it once they hear it. We’ve all seen it happen over and over again over the past decade. There’s no reason why we should expect anything less from a national audience…at least a large percentage of it. When considering what kind of film to write, I discarded many ideas. A dramatic film would not spark any tinder. Making a straightforward film about the genre would seem preachy and too much like advertising, which would put any viewers on their guard about being fed something new. So I decided on a comedy. A completely crazy film with no excuses. A road romp. This kind of film could be enjoyable enough in itself for the right demographics – the popular rock music buying demographics – to accept it at face value, with no guards preventing equal enjoyment of the music. A multi-band soundtrack would accompany the film, hopefully loosening the locks on those major record label doors. I hope to create a film that could easily join the ranks of cult favorites.
The basic concept I'm working with is: A few centuries ago, quite a bit of the Appalachian was settled heavily by Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought not only their customs, but their music. The descendents of these first immigrants continued to play their fiddles and bagpipes in the old traditions, but it eventually evolved into what we now know as Bluegrass. But then the sounds of Bluegrass spawned a newer musical sound that captured the hearts and dancing feet of the nation. Country music became the grandchild in a direct line of descent. Then, in the mid 1950’s, someone decided it would sound different to put the accent on the 4th beat of a country riff, and Rock ‘n’ Roll was born. From its first baby steps, Rock ‘n’ Roll has gone through many changes – hard rock, acid rock, punk, heavy metal, hair band, grunge, modern rock and so on. Yet, through it all, three elements have remained a constant: a guitar, a bass guitar and a drum kit. And Celtic Rock has them all. Electric guitar and bass, and full drum kit. But where Celtic Rock differs from the others is that it also includes bagpipe and fiddle. The sound isn’t country, it isn’t Bluegrass and it’s more than just plain rock. It’s as if Rock has reached back through time to take the hand if its own ancestor to complete the circle and create a sound like no other.
The story itself would follow a disgruntled Scottish college drop out as he comes to America to pursue adventure and his ultimate goal of working in the American music industry. Along the way, he will encounter Celtic rock and the bands who play it. It would be a mix of standard story scenes mixed with concert/studio (documentary-style) and candid band sequences where the band members are actually interacting with the main character. The college student's story would not only include band encounters, but a frustrating love story, wierd new friends and zany on-the-road hijinks and mishaps. In the end, I plan a lead character triumph, as well as a triumph for the music. But it'll be damn funny, too.
It would also be my hope to get as many Scottish and Irish big name actors to cameo in the film, to increase the humor.
This project is currently in the planning stage, as I gather the bands and plan the songs to be used. I'm also currently scounting for film companies/agents and producers.
ROCKIN THE KILT
Is an original screenplay idea for an outrageous road-romp that would feature the music and actual appearances of Celtic Rock's top musical acts.
The bands that have already agreed to particiapte in the project are:
Seven Nations http://www.sevennations.com/home.php
Enter the Haggis http://www.enterthehaggis.com/index.php
The Kildares http://www.killdares.com/
Brother http://www.brothermusic.com/
I have enjoyed the phenomenon of Celtic Rock for over ten years. And in that time, I’ve seen individual bands grow and become more and more successful. They’ve obtained corporate sponsors. They can pay for hotels when they travel, instead of relying on hosts like they did in earlier days. And they’ve not only been able to produce a number of CDs, but concert videos and DVDs, as well. Some were even created for airing on Public Television. By word of mouth mostly, these bands have garnered larger and larger groups of loyal fans who sometimes travel great distances to see them, and rarely miss any show that comes close enough. Like myself, many people have seen these bands play live at least a dozen times each.
Celtic Rock has an undeniable appeal to young and old from a great many walks of life. In the entire ten years past, I cannot recall a single time I’ve ever known someone to not come away loving the music after hearing it. It has all the right elements to stand on its own beside the Nickelbacks and Velvet Revolvers on the top music charts today. But with fiddle and bagpipe, and a seasoning of Celtic tradition, it has a flavor that sets it apart…and in my opinion, above.
But there still exists a barrier that is keeping this genre from stepping onto the main stage of the mainstream music industry. The doors to major record labels remained closed against this “different” and “untried-in-the-marketplace” music. And in addition to treating such a different style with a turned back, there is also the practice of the music industry business machine of being the decision making device by which popular music is directed. The only way to make the business machine notice Celtic Rock would be for a mass appeal to take hold. Yet, this is a difficult task to manage because of the genre’s isolation. Though most of the genre’s top bands do travel widely across the U.S., and even outside the country, there just aren’t enough of them to blanket the public with the knowledge of their existence. Many people who have seen even one of these bands believe that the band is a unique fluke unto itself. They are not aware that this type of music is a genre. And there are large portions of the country that have never seen any of these bands, and so an enormous percentage of the population has no clue that this type of music even exists.
I’ve done my part to introduce as many people as possible to Celtic Rock. I’ve explained the concept to a great many individuals…as I’m sure many other fans have done. But this is still word of mouth….and it still isn’t enough. What else can possibly be done? There’s no convincing the music industry without a proven price tag. So….create the price tag. Reach the public…all of it…all at once. We know a great many of them will love it once they hear it. We’ve all seen it happen over and over again over the past decade. There’s no reason why we should expect anything less from a national audience…at least a large percentage of it.
When considering what kind of film to write, I discarded many ideas. A dramatic film would not spark any tinder. Making a straightforward film about the genre would seem preachy and too much like advertising, which would put any viewers on their guard about being fed something new. So I decided on a comedy. A completely crazy film with no excuses. A road romp. This kind of film could be enjoyable enough in itself for the right demographics – the popular rock music buying demographics – to accept it at face value, with no guards preventing equal enjoyment of the music. A multi-band soundtrack would accompany the film, hopefully loosening the locks on those major record label doors. I hope to create a film that could easily join the ranks of cult favorites.
The basic concept I'm working with is:
A few centuries ago, quite a bit of the Appalachian was settled heavily by Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought not only their customs, but their music. The descendents of these first immigrants continued to play their fiddles and bagpipes in the old traditions, but it eventually evolved into what we now know as Bluegrass. But then the sounds of Bluegrass spawned a newer musical sound that captured the hearts and dancing feet of the nation. Country music became the grandchild in a direct line of descent. Then, in the mid 1950’s, someone decided it would sound different to put the accent on the 4th beat of a country riff, and Rock ‘n’ Roll was born. From its first baby steps, Rock ‘n’ Roll has gone through many changes – hard rock, acid rock, punk, heavy metal, hair band, grunge, modern rock and so on. Yet, through it all, three elements have remained a constant: a guitar, a bass guitar and a drum kit.
And Celtic Rock has them all. Electric guitar and bass, and full drum kit. But where Celtic Rock differs from the others is that it also includes bagpipe and fiddle. The sound isn’t country, it isn’t Bluegrass and it’s more than just plain rock. It’s as if Rock has reached back through time to take the hand if its own ancestor to complete the circle and create a sound like no other.
The story itself would follow a disgruntled Scottish college drop out as he comes to America to pursue adventure and his ultimate goal of working in the American music industry. Along the way, he will encounter Celtic rock and the bands who play it. It would be a mix of standard story scenes mixed with concert/studio (documentary-style) and candid band sequences where the band members are actually interacting with the main character. The college student's story would not only include band encounters, but a frustrating love story, wierd new friends and zany on-the-road hijinks and mishaps. In the end, I plan a lead character triumph, as well as a triumph for the music. But it'll be damn funny, too.
It would also be my hope to get as many Scottish and Irish big name actors to cameo in the film, to increase the humor.
This project is currently in the planning stage, as I gather the bands and plan the songs to be used. I'm also currently scounting for film companies/agents and producers.