The Mountain Music Trail is a diverse group who are dedicated to:

Promoting and presenting the traditional music, dance, and folkways of the Allegheny Mountain region;
Promoting cultural tourism and sustainable economic development near the Highway 219 corridor in Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph and Tucker counties; and
Sharing a cultural experience that brings together visitors and residents alike, to enjoy and participate in traditional mountain folkways.

Vision:
To promote, present, and sustain opportunities for engagement in the authentic mountain music traditions of West Virginia.

	
Talkcha Productions is a collaborative partnership between a cadre of like-minded individuals. Our principal goal is to provide a platform for the independent music which is broadly representational of our own tastes and interests. We hope to offer an alternative soundtrack to the zeitgeist, focusing specifically on the music which defies traditional categorization, or perhaps does not fit cleanly into the existing channels of music coverage in Ireland. 

If you would like to know more about Talkcha Productions, or wish to contribute a track to a forthcoming compilation please contact us at:

illtalkcha@gmail.com

The economic situation is at best easily investigated, at worst impossible to avoid at present. While the resultant negative connotations hardly need to be mentioned, the upside, from our point of view, is a variety of motivated and talented individuals who are available to showcase their skills on a project such as this. Talkcha Productions operates in partnership with the following entities... 

Luminous Live Events

Harbottle Media

AudioAperture Photography

Dead Ostrich Audio & Visual Studios

Sean Zissou Videography

TASC is an independent progressive think-tank whose core focus is economic equality and democratic accountability. TASC’s mission is to produce policy analysis and present evidence-based proposals for the achievement of a more equal, flourishing society with accountable government and strong, responsible public engagement. TASC's work focuses in particular on proposals to reduce Ireland’s high and persistent level of economic inequality and to develop the genuine participation of people in decisions that affect themselves and their society, as well as an overall commitment to promote social equality.

Best-selling author Robert Whiting's weekly podcast discusses the past, present and future of Japan.   Current events and trends and the news makers who are shaping them are topics.

 Whiting, who penned the classic "You Gotta Have Wa" in 1989 and "Tokyo Underworld" in 2000, first came to Japan in 1962 and is regarded as one of the foremost experts on the social, political, economic and sporting landscapes of the country. 

The California native has written for many renowned publications in his long career, including the New York Times, The Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News and World Report. His first book, "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat," was named Time's "Sports Book of the Year" in 1977.

Over the years Robert has delivered speeches at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, Temple University, Occidental College and Michigan State University.

Listeners are welcome to submit questions for Robert to answer during the podcast at:

robertwhitingsjapan@gmail.com


Our mission is to educate and empower the community through sharing love of the arts, inspiring growth, building leadership, and influencing the perceptions and roles of women in hip hop for current and future generations.

We Found Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, links diverse communities, inspires ideas, influences behaviors, & encourages dialogues through art. We explore the historical, present & future context, dynamics, impacts, & potential of hip­hop music & culture on Women, by bringing together leading figures to produce media, music, film & educational opportunities aimed at creating cross cultural exchange focusing on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.

Ever wonder where all the women in Hip Hop have gone?  We did too so we decided to be proactive and honor the contributions of Women in Hip-Hop every week in an event we created in 2009 called “The Foundation: Celebrating Women in Hip Hop”. The social impact of Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, inspires ideas and influences behaviors.

Encouraging freedom of expression, healthy competition, independent thought, & positive self-identity, this weekly event as a movement focuses on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop. Our mission is to educate and empower the community through sharing love of the arts, inspire change and growth, build leadership, and influence the perceptions and roles of women in hip-hop for current and future generations. Hip Hop’s emergence in global cities through multiple, devastating wars (psychological, physical, and cultural) answers and questions global economic restructuring of our communities.

We bring together artists, activists and academics to stage new conversations about women of color and women of color feminisms across Hip Hop’s cultural forms. Using Media to address the role, images, and treatment of women in Hip-Hop we critique and disrupt status quo narratives and present investigations about value systems and structures of violence and human value, the politics of aesthetics, and women of color feminism.

Participants walk away with a greater understanding of the value of women in Hip Hop as a culture across disciplines.: Art (Graffiti/StreetArt etc.), Dance (B-Girling), Technology (DJing/Music Production/Video), Words (Emceeing/FreeStyling/Writing/Rhyming/Poetry), and Culture (the Knowledge Element of reading, observing video and listening to audio media, discussion)

I twang a bit, compose a bit and sometimes even let people hear the results...
Been a music fan as long as I can remember, early exposure to Joe Meek's sound (Telstar) had a fairly lasting effect. 
Further exposure to a wide range of Country, Folk and Rock (Classic and Prog) further shaped my inner musical landscape... 
Learnt the basics of how to make an  acceptable noise on a guitar.
Got my hands on a Commodore 64 in about '82 to experiment with sound. Things didn't progress much till an Amiga 500 and a copy of MED and eventually MusicX and a JV2080...ahh what fun.
The 90's were when things got to be really fun, The introduction of VST and cheap powerful PC's with decent soundcards changed things forever. No longer was expensive studio time required to create acceptable output...yippeee...
Still make an occasional bleep....Hopefully this Cloudy Thingy will spur me on to let more stuff out.

Amish Patel & Vandad Kardar, two Toronto comedians from India & Iran talk about colonialism, the British empire, western society and how we are all impacted whether we realize it or not. The empires have fallen, but the history remains important so they , shed light and understand the past so we can shape the present. Many are still in socio economic chains, most of us are still chained within, its time to decolonize the mind. Be good to yourselves

Master See is tuned into the natural mystic that Bob Marley sang about during the Golden Age of Reggae. “Reggae music’s popularity peaked during the 1970s and 1980s with artists who spoke out against political and economic injustice,” says Master See. “That’s what attracted me to people like Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse and many others.

His musical journey began when his former wife gave him a bass guitar as a birthday present. “Around that time, I listened to reggae constantly,” say Master See. “I really loved the melodic bass lines of great musicians like Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. I talked about it all the time. That’s why she bought me a bass guitar.”

Armed with his new guitar and a drum machine, Master See focused on developing his songwriting skills. “I realized very early on that my focus should be on songwriting so I could capitalize on my experience as a creative writer and singer. I worked hard and did a lot of research early on and it paid off.”
When asked to describe his music, Master See responded, “I call my style SoulBeat: A Dynamic Blend of Reggae and Soul. It’s important that original artists reflect their reality and not just be imitations of others. Growing up in the Deep South means that I stand on a powerful music tradition that created the blues, jazz, r&b, funk and soul. I take the Mighty U-Roy’s declaration to heart – “I originate! So you must appreciate! Others got to imitate, you know!” 

Powerful vocals and a charismatic stage presence have led some to compare Master See favorably to Peter Tosh, his all-time favorite reggae artist. “There’s nothing more inspiring than an original artist whose works are a true expression from deep within. Like Tosh, my songs are not calculations, they are revelations.”

A poignant lyricist, powerful vocalist and innovative producer, Master See is inspiring music lovers around the globe with his new CD ‘4EVA MUSIC’. “This latest CD project was completed during a very challenging time in my life; what you might call adverse circumstances. Yet, it is some of my best work. I really strive to create a musical environment that brings out a certain feeling of openness and empathy in the listener. Then, the lyrics can be written into their hearts and minds. Such is the power of music.”


Ella Ferne is following