Thegither an' a'
Thegither an' a', (Scots for Together and all), 2000, 17 tracks and 13
performers on this inspired and impressive collection of songs and tunes,
showcasing traditional Scottish classics, seamless originals, and
contemporary gems, with help from an assembly of Celtic, folk, rock and
jazz musicians.
Maria & Megan have completed Thegither an’ a’, a collection of Scottish
and Scots inspired songs and tunes, at the reknowned Z'gwon,th Studio in
Lawrence, Kansas. The CD consists of 17 tracks in a pleasing range of
styles: sweet and simple, haunting and wild, delightfully tuneful, and
irresistibly upbeat. There are well-known (and not-so-well-known)
traditional numbers, and some contemporary gems. There’s a Gaelic lament,
and a buoyant pop version of an old Jacobite favourite. The originals fit
seamlessly alongside the other tracks. “Mackintosh” is a high point, a
brilliantly orchestrated epic and a sensitive portrayal of the life and
art of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald, who
lived and worked in Glasgow. Another standout song is the sensual and
evocative “Hey, Soldier”, which delivers a grim, yet touching view of
World War II. The two performers are joined in the studio by a wealth of
musical friends, both old and new, a real coming “together and all”.
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What they say about Thegither an’a’:
“A deeply beautiful and mature work...one of the best new world music releases.."
-Barry Lee KKFI-FM Signal to Noise
What they say about Maria and Megan’s other group Uncle Dirtytoes:
“Their music is a real treat! It has all the inspiration, nuances and
optimism that remind me of why I got into writing and performing music
myself so many years ago. Long live real music!”
-Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull
Maria Anthony is founder and leader of the Midwest folk-rock group Uncle Dirtytoes, and has produced and recorded four CD releases. She specializes in Scottish traditional and contemporary songs, and a lifelong love of Scottish culture and extensive travels have resulted in an extraordinary knowledge of all things Scots, especially the language. Maria is on the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Roster, presenting Celtic music, folklore, costume and Gaelic language in schools and art centers throughout the region. Maria is also a visual artist, with occasional exhibits at regional galleries. In the 1990’s she co-founded the River Valley Celtic Society with Liam Riggs, establishing the tradition of Robert Burns Celebrations in Lawrence. In 2003, Maria received a Kansas Arts Commission Fellowship award for her work “Kentigern: St Mungo of Scotland” a Celtic/ liturgical /fock-rock/ choral drama in English, Latin, Gaelic and Broad Scots. Aside from her Celtic pursuits, which often involve partner Megan Hurt, she currently enjoys performing in "Vera, Chuck and Dave", presenting the music of the Beatles. Maria is also pursuing a long-time interest in Indian/Raga music by learning to play the sitar.
Of all her recordings Maria is most happy with Thegither an' a, (which translates as Together and All). It has a great sound, thank to recording engineer Colin Mahoney, and utilizes the talents of over a dozen wonderful players - not all on every track, but hence the title. Aside from the obvious traditional and contemporary Scottish material, there are inspired originals and an amazing array of orchestrational variety. Without ever truly leaving the Celtic sphere, the instruments include guitar (acoustic and electric), violin, flute, traditional and trap drums. electric and standup bass, piano and Hammond organ, and even tabla drums and clarinet play their parts. Having been greatly influenced by the like of Pink Floyd and the Beatles, there are interesting, evocative and sometimes eerie sound effects and cool segues. Franklin Roosevelt even shows up with his "I hate War" speech on the poignant "Hey Soldier". There's a song in Gaelic "Macrimmons Lament" that gets a vintage arena rock treatment with hammond and blistering guitar, and a truly unique Jacobite Pop version of "Will ye no Come Back Again". Learn about Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the River Clyde, and it's alright to weep over "Take My Heart to the Holy Land" , the dying words of King Robert Bruce, after you have thrilled to his victory in "The Bruce-Sword of Bannockburn"- complete with horses and battle cries.
Maria Anthony – Maria is founder and leader of the Midwest folk-rock group Uncle Dirtytoes, and has produced and recorded four CD releases. Maria is also a visual artist, with occasional exhibits at regional galleries. In the 1990’s she co-founded the River Valley Celtic Society with Liam Riggs, establishing the tradition of Robert Burns Celebrations in Lawrence. In 2003, Maria received a Kansas Arts Commission Fellowship award for her work “Kentigern: St Mungo of Scotland.” She currently enjoys performing in "Vera, Chuck and Dave", presenting the music of the Beatles. Maria is also pursuing a long-time interest in Indian/Raga music by learning to play the sitar. Best of all she enjoys playing music with Megan.
Megan Hurt loves music of all kinds and rocked, folked, and professional-studented
from the late 80s through the 90s, until middle-something stepped in with the time and energy demands of high school teaching. Louis XIV may've said, "L'état, c'est moi.", (Iiiii am the state.), and Mlle Hurt says, "La faculté de français, c'est moi." Et oui. So, in the Oughts, each musical moment is a gold nugget panned from the stream of everyday...
Current musical pursuits include: Uncle Dirtytoes, Maria & Megan, infrequent
jazz lessons with Jack Carraher (years of practice required to master only one lesson), occasional new Celtic tunes, and summer fiddle camp in Monarch, MT. Formerly, Darrell Lea and Megan Hurt were a long-playing duo, she was a founding member of the Switch, a hmm... power-pop band, and of the Sirens, a group of women singer-songwriters playing together.
Musical forays have included: In the Garden with Kevin Richey, The Bi-Bi Babies
with Keith Martin, né Ashman, Nemesis and the Furies, Avalon, and playing with
Tom Krause (Starbrow Configuration), Barry Barnes, San Gordon, Carol Dressler,
Chris Evans, Celia Shacklett, Alison Faling, and Larry Bulawsky. With Darrell,
Meg has opened for Marshall Crenshaw, Leo Kottke, and Pete and Maura Kennedy
(once as a trio with Maria); with San, for Patty Larkin and Janis Ian; and with
Maria, for Connie Dover and Roger Landes. The Toes have shared the bill with
Austin's Velvet Hammer and many local bands. (don’t forget backing the legendary Tiny Tim!) Performances have taken her, (most frequently, with Maria), to Utah, New York, Arizona, Arkansas, and numerous venues in Missouri and Kansas.
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