Melbourne based duet, Mandy Keating & Helen McLachlan have played music together for over a decade. Originally from Geelong, they have played together in celtic bands (Paddiwack, Dandara, Finn McCool) and Keating's Brew and are now playing as a duet. They have a unique sound, revealing subtle anglo-celtic melodies, moving lyrics, warm and inviting harmonies and rhythmic influences of bluegrass, celtic, folk and gospel.
Mandy and Helen are both talented musicians & songwriters, they play around seven instruments between them. They refer to their music (which is both originals and covers) as contemporary celtic. In their performances, they have created a unique diverse sound by combining their talents on guitars, banjo, whistle, mandolin, percussion and vocals.
In 1996, Mandy produced a solo CD titled ‘Hide Your Eyes’, which included a bonus track by Helen.
As a duet Mandy and Helen have recently finished their first CD titled ‘Our Town’ which contains both traditional and contemporary music, in addition to a couple of originals.
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Want a copy of 'OUR TOWN'-
Melbourne based duet, Mandy Keating & Helen McLachlan have played music together for over a decade. “Our Town” is their first release as an acoustic duo, and covers a range of bluegrass, celtic, folk and gospel standards as well as an original apiece. The recording has an honest homegrown singalong quality to it, with Mandy and Helen sharing vocals as well as several instruments, including guitar, banjo, whistle, mandolin and percussion
The album opens with the Appalachian folk of ‘All My Tears’, featuring Helen on banjo, followed by a sprightly version of Kate Rusby’s ‘Cobbler’s Daughter’. The warmth of the vocal harmonies really comes to the fore in songs like Cheryl Wheeler’s ‘Summerfly’ and the celtic lilt of Christy Moore’s ‘Back Home In Derry’. The southern gospel classic ‘I’ll Fly Away’ gets a treatment that captures the singalong spirit of the Gillian Welch version. Mandy Keating’s original ‘Cook’s Secret’ is a fine effort in a celtic/bluegrass mould, again putting the banjo to good use. ‘Pretty Saro/Seamus Cooleys’ is a sweet set that showcases Mandy’s whistleplaying and a splash of bodhran.
This is unabashedly simple folk, heartfelt and warm, no frills playing and a consistently pleasant listen that could well suit a lazy summer afternoon.
review by Bradfield Dumpleton, for indie-cds.com 2007
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Mandy Keating & Helen McLachlan's Friend Space (Top 15)
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Incubator Recording myspace discount for "Rocktober"! Book now for flat rate at Incubator during the month of "Roctober"(October) only. The offer: $300 for a 9 hour recording day. Monday thru Sunday not transferable to other months.This is a saving of up to $140 per day. This is a myspace Incubator friends only offer. New studio photos just updated, come see inside the Incubator and look at the creative working spaces, the stomp boxes, microphones and instuments. Visible at the website www. incubatorstudio. com. au Call Adrian, the Engineer at Incubator, to book your recording project in the month of "Rocktober". To get the discount Phone 9480-1211 mention the myspace "Incubator Roctober offer".
Hello you 2 talented people! Your music is now on our play list, in case you didn't know. indie-cds takes good care of their people, it seems. G'donem! Awesome stuff you do, proud to have you as part of the family!
Just dropping in to say hello, and to let you know about a show I have coming up in Melbourne on November 11., at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, 681 Sydney Road in Brunswick. This is a one-day country music festival - actually the first one to be held in the city of Melbourne! - and there will be ten acts performing, starting from 2 pm. Yours truly performs at 7:00 pm. I would love to see you there! Wishing you all the best with your music, and have fun at the Maldon Folk Festival!
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