My Scottish Heritage

Okay, so I've NEVER been one to talk about my Scottish heritage because I am was born in Virginia and raised in North Carolina. I will always been a girl from the Southeastern US and very proud of that. However,  I do have such a strong connection to Scotland because of my love for Highland Dance and Scots Gaelic music. I'll never forget the first time I arrived in Scotland. I was in the train station and as I walked out into the most beautiful city I've every seen (Edinburgh) I really felt like I belonged there. I can't describe that feeling, but I'll never forget it.

So maybe there is some connection due to my heritage...who knows. I must also recognize that my last name comes from my great-grandfather who came from Slovakia and the name itself is originally from Croatia. ( I THINK?) So maybe there is also an undiscovered passion for Croatian music too! HA!

Anyway, I just thought it was really fun to discover more about my Family Tree from Scotland. And then for those people who say "Why do you sing Scottish music? Licko isn't a Scottish name", I can now tell them that my great (4 times) grandpa came over to North Carolina on a boat from Scotland. ...hmmmm I wonder if he was a singer too????

The Guthries originally came from Scotland in the latter part of 1700. Four Guthrie brothers came by boat to the United States.  One of the brother's was the father of JOHN WESLEY GUTHRIE.  JOHN WESLEY GUTHRIE's father (John J Guthrie) got off the boat at Morehead City, North Carolina.

John J Guthrie MY GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPA
John Wesley Guthrie 1825 MY GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDPA
Thomas Hubert Guthrie 1854  MY GREAT GREAT GRANDPA
Mary Katherine Guthrie Kelly 1879 MY GREAT GRANDMA
Floie Estelle Kelly 1916 MY GRANDMA
Benjamin Shelton Licko 1947 MY DADDY
Jennifer Shelton Licko 1976  ME ME ME!

An Update On Jennifer's upcoming projects and tours

My youngest son recently turned one and I'm anxious to get back into playing music on a more full time basis again. I have enjoyed the freedom of having a career in music where I can take the time to be at home with my children as needed. 

Many people have heard me sing everything from Fleetwood Mac to the Irish Rovers. I just love music. I love entertaining and I always will.  With that said, my first musical love is Scots Gaelic music from the Western Isles of Scotland and bluegrass music which has it's roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music.  The projects I have planned for the next year are certainly steering in the direction my musical passions. 

I have spent the past few months working on this year's Celtic Christmas Concert tour. The dates and locations will be announced soon.  This year I'll be taking the Christmas concert to North Carolina again but I'll also be in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  We are super excited about the entire tour! 

I am also working with North America's leading Northumbrian Piper, Dick Hensold. Scotland’s Western Isles have preserved a wealth of traditional Scots Gaelic songs, as well as music for the pipes. This new duo combines these two ancient musical traditions, with forays into related music.  (such as Cape Breton music and Appalachian music)  This is a very exciting collaboration for me because I get to put to use all the Scots Gaelic songs that I've spent so many years studying and enjoying. Dick and I have performed together several times and I hope to be announcing more performance dates in the months to come! 

So the Celtic Christmas Concert tour is going great! I love playing music with Bob and Dylan...not to be confused with Bob Dylan, although that would be pretty cool also!

It is nice to have friendly and fun people on stage with me who also are passionate about getting the music to a high level of excellence. I'm VERY thankful for these guys with me on stage for the Celtic Christmas concert tour and I do hope to tour with them again in the near future!

There are three more shows on the tour if you haven't been able to catch one yet! 

Dec 6th, 2012 Cullman Hall in New Bern, NC 7:00 PM

252 639 3525

Dec 7th, 2012 The Country Squire in Warsaw, NC 7:30 PM

(910) 296-1727

Dec 8th, 2012 Carteret Co. Public Library, Beaufort, NC 8:00 PM

http://www.americanmusicfestival.org

www.jenniferlicko.com for ticket information

It has been brought to my attention that I have not posted for almost a year. Okay, so I've been a little busy with two boys under the age of 2, a move to Minnesota and planning this year's Celtic Christmas Concert!

I am excited to announce that the lineup this year includes three time all-Ireland fiddle champion Dylan Foley. We have seven dates scheduled for Eastern North Carolina from Nov 30, 2012 - Dec 8, 2012. Hope to see you there!

Celtic Christmas Tour

Nov 30, 2012 - RA Fountain, Fountain NC

Dec 1, 2012 - Community Arts Center, Wilmington, NC

Dec 2, 2012 - Seaside Arts Council, Swansboro, NC

Dec 4, 2012 - Cullman Hall, New Bern, NC

Dec 6, 2012 - Cullman Hall, New Bern, NC

Dec 7, 2012 - The Country Squire, Warsaw, NC

Dec 8, 2012 - Carteret Co. Library, Beaufort, NC

Celtic Christmas Concert

I am currently in the planning phase of our 2011 Celtic Christmas concert featuring former Irish Rover; Bobby O'Donovan and my producer/arranger/keyboardist; Bob Noble.
I am very excited about the small tour we will have in North Carolina!

Back to work after the baby!

Thinking my baby would arrive on or before his due date, I scheduled a gig for May 2nd. This would have given me a month to get used to a routine and recover from any type of delivery. However, Baby Antonio Benjamin came 10 days late and I had significant recovery to deal with from his delivery. I didn't feel ready to expose my baby to the outdoor crowds of a street festival, but he had to be with me to nurse, and I didn't feel ready to stand for long hours at a time in the heat to perform. But, with the help of my husband and his parents we were able to manage. Baby Antonio was wonderful and never even got fussy (even when I changed his diapers ...which is when he always fusses) I was so proud of how he behaved!
So now baby Antonio has been to his first gig of mommy's.

Sacramento, California

It has been a long time since my last blog. Our move to Sacramento, California from Porto Alegre, Brazil has been emotional, exhausting and exciting. With our baby on the way and the stress of the move, I have postponed my performances until after the baby arrives. However, I have focused on getting ready for the return to performing!

Along with the Irish and Scottish shows I provide for elementary schools, I am now ready to add a Brazilian performance which will also involve the students with interactive learning about Brazilian songs, instruments, dances, culture and language. More information is available on my website: direct link here.

In addition to the elementary school programs, I also created a program of concerts and workshops for universities, continuing learning centers, and educational professionals who are interested in using Celtic folk music in their own classrooms as a learning aid. More information on this also available on my website:direct link here.

I hope to hitting some of the pubs in the Sacramento region in the summer to enjoy a good Irish music pub night! Any baby sitters available?! ha!

Slainte,
Jennifer Licko