#Cleveland ConCOction

[dreamstates-music]

DreamStates is excited to be the featured band at Cleveland ConCoction 2024! There will be music, new merch, a meet and greet... not to mention all the other fun things going on at the con, so be sure to come out and see us! The convention runs this weekend (from March 8th to the 10th), so make your plans soon. See you there! :)

[shannoneichorn]

I talked about space opera on a podcast!

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookspeak/2024/03/14/brown-posey-press-show-the-voices-of-cleveland-concoction

[handeaux]

Byron H. Robb’s Pertinacious Gall Got Him Evicted From Cincinnati And Honored In Texas

In the long and sordid roster of Queen City scalawags, Byron H. Robb holds a prominent place. He was delightfully incorrigible, congenitally incapable of telling the truth and absolutely unrepentant when exposed.

Robb fabricated so consistently that it is often difficult to separate any facts from the overwhelming flood of mendacity in his wake. It appears that he was born around 1836 in or near Parkman, Ohio, a tiny hamlet east of Cleveland and northwest of Youngstown. His parents named him Harvey, but he found that name uninspiring and relegated it to a middle initial. He began calling himself Byron, after the British poet.

At the age of 19, Robb launched a lifelong career as a bamboozler, selling a concoction guaranteed to produce luscious curls when applied to the scalp. At least one unfortunate customer went totally bald when she saturated her hair with the stuff. He got into the oil business by purchasing a dry well, then pouring oil stolen from nearby tanks into it. He then fobbed the now “productive” rig onto some credulous farmer. During the Civil War, Robb raised a cavalry company he dubbed the “Geauga Rangers” and offered it for service, claiming the rank of lieutenant on the basis of his own fabricated experience as a Texas Ranger. The United States Army wasn’t that desperate.

Among Robb’s myriad victims was Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Mrs. Stowe ordered some “mammoth gourd seeds” from Robb to plant at her winter home in Florida. Robb claimed these seeds yielded gigantic gourds that could be used as washtubs. When her first shipment failed to sprout, Mrs. Stowe ordered another, and sent a letter inquiring what she had done wrong!

At various times, Robb popped up in St. Louis, New Orleans and a number of other locales, usually one step ahead of the law. When the constabulary sniffed too close to his fraudulent enterprises, Robb would “rent” another man’s name and resume business under that appellation until the coast was clear. During the 1860s, Robb paid a gardener named William Chappell $25 annually so he could advertise yet another hair tonic under the “Chappell’s Hyperion” brand.

It was reported that Robb dumped his first wife by encouraging her interest in another man. Robb sent her to Indiana to secure a divorce while he romanced an employee who would become the second Mrs. Robb.

Around 1875, Robb rented a house in Bellevue, Kentucky, establishing his business offices in Cincinnati. Entries in the city directories for the next half-dozen years indicate the constant churn of his schemes. At first, he listed himself as a “general agent,” which covered a multitude of sins. Next, he became the proprietor of the Monitor Manufacturing Company, then manager of the Monitor Lamp & Glass Works, and then President of the American and European Secret Service Company, then manager of the Electro Magnetic Hair and Flesh Brush Company.

Interestingly, at least two of these companies had some basis in actual inventions patented by Robb. In 1877, Robb was awarded a patent for a device that extinguished a kerosene lamp if it was knocked over. In 1879 and 1880, he earned patents for “galvanic” hairbrushes. Unfortunately, Robb preferred fraud to manufacturing. People who ordered his lamps often got nothing at all, while customers of his galvanic brushes received nothing but a cheap comb with a bit of copper wire wrapped around it.

It was his “Secret Service” company that achieved the pinnacle of Robb’s infamy. The American and European Secret Service Company placed hundreds of advertisements throughout the United States, offering to enlist any correspondent as a bona-fide detective, complete with a frameable certificate and a shiny new badge for the low, low price of only $3.60. After paying this fee, applicants were advised to keep their day jobs in order to remain undercover until an assignment came up. Young men throughout the country signed up in abundance – many of them career criminals who believed that an appointment as a detective offered a credible alibi. There are reports of bushels of mail arriving every day at Robb’s Fifth Street office, half containing money orders for $3.60 and half containing dunning letters from newspapers that were never paid for running Robb’s advertisements.

Eventually the postal inspectors caught up with Robb and he was subpoenaed to court. Robb procured the cream of the Cincinnati bar for his defense, including Stanley Matthews, later appointed to the United States Supreme Court, and George Hoadly, later elected governor of Ohio. His lawyers reviewed the evidence collected by the Post Office and informed Robb that he was undoubtedly going to lose the case. His best option was to plead guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the court.

Robb responded by firing his crack legal team. He then sent telegrams to a dozen or so of his “detectives,” directing them to take the next train westward, to proceed to some remote location and to apprehend a red-headed, one-eyed man missing one finger and walking with a limp. The young operatives, delighted to finally be on assignment, followed orders and reported back that no such man could be found. Robb thanked them for their diligence, paid their salary and expenses and told his proteges to await their next assignment.

In court, Robb produced several of these young men as witnesses. They testified under oath that they had applied to the Secret Service Company, paid the initiation fee, received their badge and certificate, and had received an assignment from Robb and had been paid for it. The Post Office case crumbled. No matter they could prove nothing in court, the United States Postmaster announced in 1880 that nine Cincinnati companies controlled by Robb were prohibited from using the postal service in any manner.

Byron H. Robb responded to this temporary setback with his usual flair. First, he went to court and had his name legally changed to Byron H. Van Raub, claiming it was the ancestral version of the family surname. Then he relocated to Texas and acquired some property he claimed was the famous Don Carlos Ranch, which it was not, and then got into the Shetland Pony business, and then the cowboy school business, and then the bloodhound dog business, and then the Buff Leghorn egg business and then the milch goat business. And he had the nearest Bexar County railroad whistle stop renamed Van Raub, after himself.

Every time Robb, or Van Raub, embarked on some new scam, newspapers around the country published scathing exposés of his extensive rap sheet. Newspaper owners were delighted to attack him because the one constant in Robb’s career was his reluctance to pay for advertising. Still, there was always someone willing to believe his folderol. One newspaper, reporting that Van Raub was seeking young men willing to become cowboys (and willing to send him $5.00 for particulars – sound familiar?) claimed he was a retired Prussian cavalry officer who insisted on stern discipline. When Robb died in 1913, the obituaries included some highly unlikely embellishments such as selling Shetland ponies to European nobility.

Amazingly, Robb’s bullshit endures to this very day. Out where Van Raub, Texas, once existed – by the 1920s, his namesake was nothing more than a ghost town – there is an official historic marker that reads in part:

“This community, named after Byron Van Raub, an English gentlemen rancher, was established along the route of the Kerrville Branch. It is said that this successful gentleman rancher developed the first dude ranch in Texas as a means to train fellow Englishman in the rigors of creating successful Texas ranching operations.”

The shifty little shyster from rural Ohio got himself memorialized as an English gentleman, capping a positively breathtaking life of unrelenting chutzpah.

[celtfather]

Top Celtic Folk Bands of 2025 to Watch #293

Today, I’m talking about… 9 Celtic Folk bands you want to watch in 2025. We also talk about simple actions we can take to combat climate change and improve our local community.

This is Folk Songs & Stories #293

0:17 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES

I am Marc Gunn. I’m a Celtic and Folk musician and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you’re new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather.

Happy New Year!

Climate change is a real issue, and it concerns me. I have two amazing daughters. I want them to have long healthy lives. I want them to continue to experience the great outdoors, going for hikes, and being a part of the beauty our world has to offer.

That’s one of the reasons I created the Album Pin. It’s a beautiful product that connects you to the music. It may even make you think about how we consume. I also want to help other musicians create sustainable music careers. I believe Album Pin is the way to do just that.

This year on Folk Songs & Stories, as well as my other podcasts, I have three goals. First, I will introduce you to some great Celtic and Folk musicians that I encounter as part of my travels or from through my Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. We’ll dig a little deeper into their music. Second, I hope to share simple, practical tips on how to live life more sustainably. And finally, I will promote my music, because that’s ultimately what this podcast has always been about.

I am currently planning monthly releases of this podcast. However, when I get the urge, I might release more. And this summer, I have a 10-part series promoting my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD which was officially released 20 years ago.

20 years ago. This is also my 20th year as a podcaster and full-time musician. We’re gonna start the year off by counting down 9 bands that you should keep an eye on in 2025 along with some of my favorite songs from the year.

But I also hope that you will consider one change to support climate change efforts. Here are three that you can choose from. Just pick one.

Buy fewer items with single use plastic

Buy from small, local sustainable businesses, that includes bands.

Talk to them about album pins and Patreon

Together we can make a difference

5:00 - Marc Gunn “Come Adventure With Me” from Come Adventure With Me

Vote:  Favorite songs on Come Adventure With Me?

9:28 - UPCOMING SHOWS

MAR 1: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GA @ 6-9 PM

MAR 7-9: Cleveland Concoction, Cleveland, OH

MAR 15: The Wings Cafe & Tap House, Marietta, GA @ 3-7 PM

APR 25-27: Jordan Con, Atlanta, GA

JUN 21-28: Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland

SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KY

Sherwood Forest Faire TBD

10:12 - LATEST NEWS

See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland’s Whiskey

Merch: Did you listen to the Celtic Top 20 of the 2024 episode of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast? The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast launches a Kickstarter in a couple weeks for a new CD and Album Pin where you can own and archive some of the best Celtic music of last year. There will be only 100 CDs printed. No more than that. This is a great way to celebrate your love of Celtic culture through music.

THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON

Your generous support on Patreon is how I make a living with music. It is patronage that allows me to create new music and podcasts that help others out.

Sign up as an official Gunn Runner for as little as $5 per month. You’ll get exclusive, unreleased songs. You’ll get podcasts, blogs, and you’ll enjoy access to a huge archive of video concerts.

If you can’t support me financially right now, that’s okay, take care of yourself first. You can join the club for free and get weekly photos of my Celtic invasions and regular updates of my musical adventures.

Email follow@celtfather to get more details!

10:52 - The Langer's Ball "Irish Rover" from The Singles Collection 2023-2024

Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather

15:53 - TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos.

In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com.

16:31 - 9 CELTIC FOLK BANDS TO WATCH IN 2025

20:08 - The Haar "Wild Rover" from Where Old Ghosts Meet

24:38 - 9 CELTIC FOLK BANDS TO WATCH IN 2025 (continued)

28:07 - Kinnfolk "Roanoke Puirt à Beul" from Star Above The Mountain

31:13 - CREDITS

Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I’m performing.

Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor.

And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community.

Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com!

#folksongs #celticsongs #topcelticfolkbands

  Check out this episode!

[transformwithnatasha2]

Ghee Coffee: The Creamy Boost to Your Morning Routine

Ghee coffee, a spin on the popular “bulletproof coffee,” has been making waves in the world of health and wellness. Packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and the richness of clarified butter (ghee), this creamy concoction offers an energizing start to your day. Whether you’re on a ketogenic diet or just curious about new trends, ghee coffee could be your next morning go-to.

But, like any trend, it’s essential to weigh the benefits against potential risks before diving in. Let’s explore the positive effects of ghee coffee on health and address the types of consumers who should proceed with caution.

What is Ghee Coffee?

Ghee coffee is a blend of brewed coffee and ghee (clarified butter). It’s often included in high-fat diets like keto due to its rich content of healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins. The process involves blending ghee into black coffee to create a creamy, frothy beverage that provides sustained energy and mental clarity.

Ingredients:

1 cup of brewed coffee

1–2 tablespoons of ghee

Optional: MCT oil or coconut oil for an extra fat boost

The Positive Health Effects of Ghee Coffee

Sustained Energy Without the Jitters

One of the biggest selling points of ghee coffee is its ability to provide sustained energy. The combination of caffeine and fats leads to a slower release of energy, reducing the risk of a caffeine crash. Unlike sugar or carb-heavy breakfasts, ghee coffee taps into fat as a steady fuel source, ideal for those who follow low-carb or ketogenic diets.

Supports Gut Health

Ghee contains butyrate, a fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties and is known to support gut health by helping to nourish and regenerate the lining of the intestines. While the concentration of butyrate in ghee may be small, it’s still a positive addition for those looking to support their digestive system (Coffee Affection) (Cleveland Clinic).

Packed with Essential Vitamins

Ghee is a nutrient powerhouse, containing fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, and K. These vitamins are important for vision, immune function, skin health, and bone strength. Since fats help transport and absorb these vitamins, ghee is an efficient carrier (Coffee Affection).

Rich in Healthy Fats

Ghee is high in omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids. These fats are known for their role in supporting cardiovascular health, brain function, and reducing inflammation (Coffee Affection). For individuals on high-fat diets, ghee coffee provides a good way to increase fat intake without introducing sugars or processed creamers.

A Friendly Option for Dairy Sensitivities

While traditional butter contains lactose and casein, ghee is largely free of these dairy components. The refining process removes most milk solids, making it a great option for people with mild lactose intolerance (Coffee Affection).

Final Thoughts: Ghee Coffee—A Health Boost or Just a Trend?

Ghee coffee offers a unique way to enjoy your morning brew with added nutritional benefits. For those on high-fat or ketogenic diets, it can be a great source of healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins. However, it’s crucial to be mindful of its saturated fat content and potential impact on cholesterol levels.

To Know More    https://transformwithnatasha.com/ghee-coffee-the-creamy-boost-to-your-morning-routine/

[argocitycosplay]

Returning to ConCoction?

  Yes, you read that right. There’s actually a happy ending to the story… but perhaps we should recap. You may or may not recall, last year was all set for the triumphant return of the Cleveland ConCoction. It’s been one of my favorite shows for the better part of a decade, but it was also hit very hard by the lockdowns. They were the first To have to cancel, and really, the last to finally come…

[freehawaii]

KE AUPUNI UPDATE - JANUARY 2024

The Return of Our Nation... One hundred and thirty-one years ago, on January 17, 1893, hiding behind 162 heavily armed U.S. troops, and the cannons of a U.S. warship in Honolulu Harbor, the peaceful, innocent Hawaiian Kingdom was ruthlessly pirated by a gang of greedy white businessmen proclaiming themselves to be the new heads of the government for the Hawaiian Kingdom... THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM By the mid-Nineteenth Century, the Hawaiian Kingdom was a progressive, literate, flourishing, peaceful, independent, Christian nation, conducting lively trade and discourse among the nations of the world. In the 1840s Hawaiʻi’s enlightened leaders transformed Hawaii into a highly literate nation and instituted a constitutional form of government. In 1843 the Hawaiian Kingdom became the first non-Eurocentric nation to be formally recognized by the great colonial powers of Europe as a fellow sovereign, independent nation state. By the 1890s the Hawaiian Kingdom had numerous treaties with foreign nations and more than 130 diplomatic posts around the world. Hawaiian monarchs had traveled the globe, establishing formal relationships with crowns and heads of states in Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific. The Hawaiian Kingdom initiated a confederation of Pacific Island nations. ILLEGAL INTERVENTION In January 1893, without provocation and without warning, a company of fully armed United States Marines suddenly landed in Honolulu to support a coup dʻetat by a cabal of white businessmen to unseat Queen Liliʻuokalani and seize control of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. To avoid escalation into a bloody war, the Queen made a conditional yield — not to the insurgents, but to the United States — diplomatically protesting the United States’ military intervention as an illegal act of aggression (an international wrongful act) and placing the responsibility to repair the illegal act squarely upon the shoulders of the President of the United States. Months later, after conducting an official investigation, U.S. President Grover Cleveland admitted the U.S. committed a wrongful act of aggression and informed the U.S. Congress that the United Statesʻ armed intervention amounted to an illegal “act of war” against a friendly, sovereign nation. Cleveland indicated the U.S. had a moral and legal international obligation to repair the wrong by restoring Queen Liliʻuokalani and the lawful government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. President Cleveland and Queen Lili’uokalani agreed to terms to settle the matter, but the U.S. Congress failed to implement the settlement. It remains unfinished business to this day. WRONGFUL TAKING Instead of honoring that 1893 agreement, the United States, in 1898, did the exact opposite. Under then-President William McKinley, and under cover of the infamous Spanish-American War, the U.S. concocted and staged a quasi “annexation” and took possession of the Hawaiian Islands calling it the “U.S. Territory of Hawaii”. In 1959, that fake “Territory of Hawaii” was converted into the fake “State of Hawaii”. Today, 131 years and 24 U.S. presidents later, there have been decades of dedicated, sacrificial efforts by countless Aloha ʻĀina (Hawaiʻi patriots) to bring about a graceful and peaceful end to the belligerent occupation of our homeland. Thankfully, the return of the Hawaiian Kingdom is now in sight. As we take the time on January 17, to attend the Peace March from the Royal Mausoleum at Maunaʻala and the ʻOnipaʻa Rally at ʻIolani Palce, to reflect on the events of the past and advancing our Lāhui into the future, let’s remind ourselves, our ʻohana and our friends, that we are the legacy — the evidence and heirs — of the living Hawaiian Kingdom... Ua Ola Ke Ea! Sovereignty Lives!

“Love of country is deep-seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station.” — Queen Liliʻuokalani ---------- Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono. The sovereignty of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

------ For the latest news and developments about our progress at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, tune in to Free Hawaii News at 6 PM the first Friday of each month on ʻŌlelo Television, Channel 53. 

------ "And remember, for the latest updates and information about the Hawaiian Kingdom check out the twice-a-month Ke Aupuni Updates published online on Facebook and other social media." PLEASE KŌKUA… Your kōkua, large or small, is vital to this effort... To contribute, go to:  

• GoFundMe – CAMPAIGN TO FREE HAWAII • PayPal – use account email: info@HawaiianKingdom.net • Other – To contribute in other ways (airline miles, travel vouchers, volunteer services, etc...) email us at: info@HawaiianKingdom.net  “FREE HAWAII” T-SHIRTS - etc. Check out the great FREE HAWAII products you can purchase at... http://www.robkajiwara.com/store/c8/free_hawaii_products All proceeds are used to help the cause. MAHALO! Malama Pono,

Leon Siu

Hawaiian National

[tymberwolf02]

Okay, so... since I want to make more Care Bears comics in the future, and Jack Thunder's out of the game since I spun him off into his own original series, I decided to revive an old villain from the franchise... by basically turning him into what Jack Thunder was in WTE.

    Professor Coldheart began his life as Nathaniel Childer. Smart but socially awkward, Nathaniel was bullied throughout school and had few friends. Even in his adulthood, kids from the neighborhood continued to torment him. Needless to say, he didn't like children much, even when he was a child. Later in his life, he got a degree in robotics and a career as a professor at a local university. He lived alone, as his dislike of children turned off many potential suitors who wanted kids. Even so, things seemed to be looking up for him.

    Unfortunately, that all changed one fateful evening. Nathaniel had in his study an experimental engine coolant that he was analyzing. At the end of the day, he placed the jar of coolant on a high shelf. At that moment, a rogue baseball from one of the neighborhood kids smashed through the window and knocked the jar of coolant off the shelf and on top of Nathaniel. He rushed to the shower and frantically washed it all off, but the coolant had already seeped into his skin, changing him from the outside in. His hair bleached white and his skin turned blue as his body temperature dropped drastically. Even worse, the coolant had mutated his appearance, making him resemble a malicious elf with blazing red eyes.

    For the next two days, Nathaniel called in sick to work. He was, in fact, quite ill; he couldn't stop shivering for all that time. By the third day, he was feeling well enough to chance going back to work, but not without donning a heavy coat and scarf (the ones he would become infamous for wearing). As he was driving, the neighborhood kids began to mock him. "Hey, geezer! It's way too hot to be wearing a coat out! What a loser!" 

    By this point, Nathaniel had had enough. In a flash of rage, he whipped his car around and floored it, aiming straight for the kids in the road. They managed to dive out of the way in time, but their Frisbee had been left behind, and was crushed and cracked in two when Nathaniel ran over it. Rather than driving off, Nathaniel stayed back to watch the aftermath. He watched as they all ran home crying. Seeing those little brats get comeuppance for their behavior delighted Nathaniel very much.

    From that day on, Nathaniel put his robotics skills to work to get revenge on the brats that had tormented him throughout his life. From freeze rays that encased anyone who dared to step onto his property in ice to lawn ornaments rigged with low-powered Tesla coils to terrible toys that had a habit of biting ears, he concocted a new punishment for the neighborhood children each day. He became known to them as "Professor Coldheart" due to his deformity, but more due to his sadism. Nathaniel took a liking to the nickname, and it stuck.

    Coldheart was able to get away with his actions for the longest time because no one believed a word that the children said. Freeze rays? Electric scarecrows? Ear-biting toys? All of it sounded absolutely ridiculous! But that would all change soon. The Care Bears had gotten wind of the situation, and they helped the neighborhood children foil the mad doctor by turning his own inventions against him and exposing him to the whole neighborhood. Coldheart swore revenge as he made a run for it, never to be seen by anyone in that neighborhood again. He currently resides in a once-abandoned mansion in the middle of a cold, desolate swamp that he calls "Coldheart Castle." They may have won this time, but he'll never stop trying until he's gotten his own back against those fuzzy-wuzzies! When he's done with them, no one will ever be bothered by children again! NYA-HA-HA-HA!!!

Care Bears belongs to Those Characters from Cleveland. Professor Coldheart belongs to DiC. Character interpretation is mine.

[ask-lovecraft]

Stephen Hickman!

[geekwatchone]

This issue finds us back at Cleveland Concoction. The last time we recorded from this fan run convention it was two years ago, and  a LOT has changed! This time around we talk about the history of the con, what’s coming up for us, and we interview Cleveland Concoction Guest and cosplayer Knightmage! And you know that we have all of the geeky news that you can use! Listen now!

News – More Black Dynamite may be on the way, Black Panther cleans up at the Oscars, The Trailer Park Boys get animated and a 12 year-old creates a fusion reactor!

Interview – Knightmage shares how he got started and why cosplaying for a cause is so important to him. He discusses the difficulty in finding the balance professional and personal life and making it all work. He gives the journey of where he’s been, where he is and where he’s going and bringing his followers along the way.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news, shoot us an email at geekwatchone@gmail.com with thoughts on the show and check out our blogs on geekwatchone.com!

[thenerdgirlcosplays]

I’ve been asked by the awesome people who run Cleveland Concoction to come back as a guest this year! And of course I said yes. I love this con and getting to return as a guest is so, so, so exciting. Concoction is a totally volunteer and fan run convention that has everything you’d want out of your con experience. Tons of gaming and amazing programming tracks to keep your entire family or geek family busy all weekend. Filk, fantasy, art, writing, it’s all here.

I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest at Concoction a few times before and it’s been a blast watching this con grow, so I’m extra excited to be going back after they’ve relocated to a new home. I know we all have different tastes and expectations from cons, but by far my favorite kind of con is the small intimate fan-run con where you can bump into guests at any moment and have a great conversation. And no matter what you leave the weekend feeling like you have an entirely new family. This is that kind of con.

I’m especially excited because Concoction has let me offer a workshop. If you’re interested in a new hobby, stop by for my needle felting workshop. It’ll be super fun and you’ll end up with supplies to take with you at the end of class. So what is needle felting? It’s the art of combining wool fibers to create cool art. Honestly, it’s the most fun you’ll have repeatedly stabbing something and not getting arrested. I love it. Check out some samples of my work. And that’s all done with wool. Pretty neat.

If you’re interested in attending my workshop, sign ups are now! Check out the registration information and get yourself signed up. Space is limited and filling up!

Guest Announcement Coming at Ya! I've been asked by the awesome people who run Cleveland Concoction to come back as a guest this year!

[dreamstates-music]

photos from last week (at Cleveland ConCoction), taken by Jasper Martin! big thanks to everyone who came to a show, the panel, or bought a CD or sticker!

[clevelandconcoction]

Cleveland ConCoction 2017 is this weekend (March 10-12, 2017) - Are you going? 

[fictosphere]

The Fictosphere is pleased to announce that we'll be at Cleveland Concoction from March 10-12. This is our first convention, so if you live in the Cleveland area, please come and support us.

[celtfather]

Live Pub Songs from Dragon Con 2024 #292

Here's a holiday gift. It’s a live concert from Dragon Con 2024.

This is Pub Songs & Stories #292

0:09 - Marc Gunn & Mikey Mason “Hero of Christmas” from Browncoat Christmas

2:26 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES

I am Marc Gunn. I’m a Celtic and Folk musician and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you’re new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.

Today, I’m sharing a live concert from Dragon Con 2024.

Each episode has a timestamp and chapter marks. You can click those to straight where you want in each episode. Just head over to the show notes.

3:10 - LATEST NEWS

New Show Title: Folk Songs & Stories

Did you vote for your favorite song on Live at the Cactus Cafe?

See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland’s Whiskey. Next Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland is on June 21-28, 2025.

Merch: Dancing with Hobbits is on sale. Get the "I Went Dancing With Hobbits" album pin.

Kickstarter: Launching a new Kickstarter for Irish & Celtic Music Podcast in January. Sign up to the Pre-Launch Page.

5:33 - TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I lead a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos.

In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. This lesser known Celtic Nation is located in the Northwest corner of the country. It’s secluded in the mountains. So Julius Caesar never invaded this country. It survived with its own unique linguistic dialect and its own unique style of bagpipes.

Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com.

7:46 - UPCOMING SHOWS

JAN 11: Maggie McGuinness Pub, Huntsville, AL

MAR 1: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GA

MAR 7-9: Cleveland Concoction, Cleveland, OH

MAR 21-23: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX

MAR 29-30: Sherwood Forest Faire, Paige, TX

APR 25-27: Jordan Con, Atlanta, GA

JUL 19: Fiddler's Green Coffeehouse Concert series @ 8 PM, First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta. 470 Candler Park Dr. NE / Atlanta GA 30307. 404-378-5570. Presented by Atlanta Area Friends of Folk Music (AAFFM)

JUN 21-28: Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland

SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KY

8:50 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON

The ads on this podcast pay for the hosting and podcast editing. My time producing the show is paid for by my…

A big thanks to all of my patrons who’ve been supporting me for months and years. When you join the community, you get access to exclusive videos and podcasts. You get some free early-release songs, blogs, and lots more. Email follow@celtfather !

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9:36 - LIVE AT DRAGON CON

1:07:59 - CLOSING

1:08:51 - Marc Gunn “Christmas in the Shire” from Celtic Christmas Greetings

1:12:34 - CREDITS

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[cma-prints]

The Witch (Night Piece), Jan van de Velde, 1626, Cleveland Museum of Art: Prints

This nocturnal scene depicts a bare-breasted sorceress concocting her evil brew in the company of bizarre beasts. She stands within a "magic circle" scratched into the ground, the supernaturally consecrated space for witchcraft-a likely inspiration for the circular forms of Rosa's paintings. She overturns a horn into her cauldron engulfed in billowing flames; mixing with the powder are two streams of ash that spew forth from pipes held in the anus of a somersaulting demon at left. The swirling, decorative composition and the variety of grotesque creatures making knowing and silly faces at the viewer add elements of whimsy and farce to the ostensibly serious, occult subject. Size: Framed: 39.4 x 51.6 cm (15 1/2 x 20 5/16 in.) Medium: engraving

https://clevelandart.org/art/1943.635