Welcome to the official web site of Celtus
 


Join the Celtus Mailing List.

Simply enter  your email address below and we'll
e-mail you the latest news and tour dates.


Celtus, (Pat McManus, John McManus and Dan Axtell) infuse folk, rock and roots styles with uncanny brilliance, their songs capture your mood and lift your spirits into new uncharted waters.

Celtus - John, Dan and Pat...

Home

Albums

Tour Dates

Contact Us

----------
Reviews

-----------
Reflections and Echoes

------------
Guest Book

------------
Webmaster

cur.jpg (1070 bytes)

Reflections and Echoes

A personal place for fans from all over the world to share their experiences of Celtus including their photo's.


What goes Around by Lynn Jones
Click on Me
What goes Around by Vicki Smith
Click on Me
REFLECTIONS & ECHOES OF THE WHITCHURCH FESTIVAL - 4 AUGUST 2000 - FROM:  VICKI SMITH, NORTHAMPTON
Click on Me
Lynn and Elise Jones, "We first saw Celtus last November when the Jimmy Nail tour came to Poole Arts Centre..." next page here. new3_small.jpg (2907 bytes)
Click on Me
Dave Grist and Ashley, a great story of discovery form these two. "We first encountered Celtus when I bought the Moonchild album...." next page here. Dave and Ashley from Portsmouth, England.
Click on Me
Patricia and Caroline, Avid fans from Switzerland, present us with their personal view. "We have known the Boys for nearly nine years (May 1991); we were thirteen years old when we first met......" next page here. Patricia and Coroline
Click on Me
Vicki Smith, with her personal view."The Reflections & Echoes section is absolutely made for people like me. After any of the shows, I'm absolutely bursting........" next page here. Vicky and John
Click on Me

"MAMA'S BOYS" from Lynn Jones from Bournemouth

Having enjoyed all of the Celtus material so much and like to play it on a very frequent basis, I got to wondering what Mama's Boys sounded like. I had read the information provided by the Celtus fan club and I was sufficiently intrigued to test the water. I must admit I have tried and enjoyed many types of music over the years and I have been surprised at the impact Celtus has had on me personally. Thankfully they have revived my interest in music that had been very 'take it or leave it' of late, and given something fresh and new that always really 'hits the spot'.  So I was curious to discover how they sounded originally. So far I have tried "Live Tonite",   "Judgement Day" and "Plug It In".  With Celtus music I find it difficult to have favourites because I love everything.  I've given Mama's Boys several plays to get the 'feel' of it and some have appealed instantly and others have taken a few more plays to 'grow'.  But grow they certainly have. The first most instant hit for me was a track entitled "Life's a Bitch" from the "Judgement Day" single, quickly followed by "Runaway Dreams",   "Fallin'" and "My Way Home" - then I find it difficult again because there wasn't anything that I disliked. So what can I tempt you with?  Groovy guitar, dynamic drums, funky fiddle and yes the wonder whistle is in there too.  The more I hear, the more I like it and my admiration grows at the talent therein.  It's amazing stuff full of contagious energy.  I can only suggest that you be brave and give it a try - I most definitely recommend Mama's Boys as an experience not to be missed! My teenage daughter is equally enthusiastic of the "McManus Magic" both early and current - so don't be frightened that it is something that your mother wouldn't like - this mother certainly did!  I am just pleased that I followed my instinct and decided to give Mama's Boys a try; it's another welcome treasure to add to the collection.


Yoko Honda, Japan

I first saw Celtus on Time Out Magazine in Jan 98, and I just bought Moonchild...since then I've been addicted. I've been to their shows about 15 times. Some of my friends in Japan also love them when they saw their live concerts in UK. I can't explain what I love about them but their music just hit my heart. I've met a lot of nice people through them and I'm so proud of being their fan. Best of luck to them for the future.


Katy Dibley

I think that Celtus are excellent!! I first heard them on 18 November 1999 at Poole arts centre, England, where they were the support band for Jimmy Nail. I met them after they had finished and they gave me their autographs. I went out on the Saturday after the concert and bought both the albums as I thought they were so good.  I hope they will come to Poole again! Thanks for the best concert ever.

Katy age 14.


Mrs Sue Cookson
Had some questions for the boys.

Q: "Please could we have some personal info on the boys. i.e. Married? Kids? what they do in their spare time? if they have any spare time!"

A: The boys like to keep their 'private life' private and hate really  personal  questions..Neither have any desire to be celebrities. Quite the  opposite.  However both are married.  Pat has 1 daughter. John has no kids. Dan  is single.

Spare time is quite rare as they are always doing something in music. Pat adores football, John adores filming with his video camera, & Dan loves his computer. I hope that answers your question Sue, The Folkmaster for Folking.com


Jacqueline Brikkels
Wanted to know how the idea for the song "Cathedral" was born, so she dropped a line to Pat McManus and asked...

This is Pat's response

Hmmm..

Reason being because of the several 'scandals' in Ireland with priests who had hidden illegitimate children, and also the child abuse case - made me cross because of the hypocrisy & that's basically what inspired the song. The reverence in which priests were held - no longer exists in the same way, by the public. That's my view anyway...

This is Jacqueline's response

Dear Pat, thanks for the answer on Cathedral. I am glad you have the guts to sing out loud about 'sensitive' issues that need to be addressed. I thought it quite brilliant Portrait and Cathedral deal with the present, past and future situation, but the way you have worded them, there is no blame or finger pointed at anyone in particular. Thanks again for the explanation, I needed to be sure. Take care and keep on making music, it's great.


  Jane Misquitta

I went to the concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall last night and it was really exciting. Five of us went and my friends thought Celtus were amazing and would love to see them perform again. The music was even better live. Are they playing anywhere on St Patrick's Day or will they be at The Fleadh in Finsbury Park this summer?


Dave Palmer

Of the Heavy Metal Resource - St. George, Utah. A fairly small town of around 50,000 residents. I am 115 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada.

It might seem awkward to some Heavy Metal fans to see Celtus on my site. You know what? Who cares? The McManus brothers had their place in metal history. They deserve the space as I think they are really doing what they do best.... Writing great songs.


A QUESTION FOR JOHN PLEASE:

 WHICH PIPE/WHISTLE DO YOU USE TO PLAY THE AWAKENING?

 My daughter Laura, age 7, and I enjoy playing the melody using the
recorder.  However, we get frustrated as we can't play along with the CD as
the key is different, and the range of notes too limited.  Our knowledge of
musical theory is very basic.
 We don't manage to fit in as many notes as you do John, but we enjoy
trying anyway!!
 Many thanks, Vicki Smith

 
AN "OBSERVATION" FOR PAT PLEASE:

 I have never "truly noticed" the guitar in any particular way prior to
Celtus.  It has only ever, for me anyway, been a pleasant part of the
background.  HOWEVER, I FEEL VERY DIFFERENTLY NOW!!  I had no idea that with
a musician with Pat's skills playing it, it could have so many wonderful and
varying sounds.  For example, Heart & Hand and Wasteland.

 Thank you Pat for opening up a whole new world of sounds to me.  I've
always loved the violin/fiddle, however, you play it beautifully!

 From Vicki Smith.

John's reply

It's played on an Overton Low whistle in the key of F & if you are
interested in getting one, you'll find it in most folk shops.

John.


Mrs Lynn Jones

Many thanks for signing CD insert at London 13/03/2000. Concert was absolutely brilliant, well done and thanks. Have also seen you on Jimmy Nail tour @ Poole & Portsmouth. Pat thought I was mad to come from Bournemouth, but it's always so great to see you perform - you are all so talented and deserve to have great success.


Robert Rimmer

Cracking website, good on yer, keep spreading the news about this excellent band. They have all the magic of Yes, brilliance of the best of the Moody Blues and acoustics reminiscent of Led Zeppellin. Never thought these jaded ears would here such sounds again. Music lives on.


Ricardo Castellano - Spain

Well I've talked to Lindy about how hard its been for me not only to get in touch with you, but also to know simply what had happened to the three of you (I didn't know Tommy's decease...I'm so sorry for that). John, its been great for me to hear your voice again (Keith and Mike...their voices...you know what I mean...). I'm Mamas Boys main ambassador in Spain (no doubt about it), and I've been waiting for 15 years to be able to tell you so. I'm 32 years old, and there has been no other group for me in the past two decades better than yours. The melodies of your songs were much closer to the best AOR American groups than to the noisy European HM bands, keeping though a hard approach to rnr. Using a common expression, your records have been my life's soundtrack. I just want to thank you for being so good musicians, for having let me go through so good times (undoubtedly, "Lonely Soul is an anthem", and it sounds so well in a car with a girl initially beside you...) and hope to meet you if ever come back to Spain to play. Fortunately, I also like Celtic music a lot, and I promise I wont miss a concert of Celtus anywhere close to Madrid...

Keep on making it

Ricardo


Sue and Will Morson from Dudley in the West Midlands

Just a message to say how much we enjoyed Celtus at Ronnie Scott's in Birmingham last night. We first heard their music when we went to see Jimmy Nail last year and thought they were fabulous. They deserve to be successful and we wish them all the best. Their songs have depth and are a reflection of their talent.


Celtus Fan Club
P.O. Box 2525
LONDON
W1A 2GG

Last Updated:
28 March 2001
© 2000 Folking.com

 

Thanks for all your support,The Folkmaster for Folking.com 9th April 2000

| Folking.com | Albums | E-Mail |

© 2000 Folking.com