Renaissance Festival Musicians Band Together for Hurricane Relief

For Immediate Release 1/7/2006

To raise funds for hurricane relief efforts, two rennaissance festival musicians have organized a benefit CD, titled CIRCLE.

(Austin, TX) January 7, 2006 -- To raise funds for hurricane relief efforts, two renaissance festival musicians have organized a benefit CD, titled CIRCLE.

Experts predicted one of the busiest tropical storm seasons in U.S. history, and they were right. Dennis and Emily were dwarfed by the deadly Katrina, followed closely by Rita. "Unprecedented” no lo nger seems a sufficient description, as the AMERICAN RED CROSS continues to mount a historic response to this hurricane season.

After hearing about these disasters, BOB BRINKMAN of Modern Bard (www.modernbard.org), a web resource dedicated to renaissance festival music, contacted MARC GUNN of the Renaissance Festival Podcast (www.renaissancefestivalmusic.com) about creating a compilation album to benefit the Red Cross Katrina Relief.

One by one, renaissance festival music groups from around the nation volunteered their music to help the relief effort. Several months later, some of the finest renaissance festival entertainment is compiled on one CD to meet the challenge.

"Rennies travel all over the country," one contributing musician commented, "and we've seen the devastation first-hand."

The compilation features music from twenty-two nationally known bands, including BROBDINGNAGIAN BARDS, 3 PINTS GONE, EMPTY HATS, and THE ROGUES. A complete track listing can be viewed at http://www.celticmusic.org/The_Circle.shtml.

"The response has been overwhelming," Brinkman remarked. "Everyone wants to help."

CIRCLE will be available for $15 this January at CDBaby.com and at some performers' shows.

For further information, contact:
Marc Gunn
PO Box 4067
Austin, Texas 78765
(512) 470-4866
Fax: (802) 609-7525

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