Shane McDonald Archives - ShaneMcDonald.ie

I have joined a Queen Tribute Band

by Shane McDonald | Oct 30, 2020 | Lifestyle

I am now Keyboardist with US-Based Queen Tribute Band, Celebrating Queen

Over the past few months I have been working with a band based in the USA. It is a Queen tribute band and we did a cover of Under Pressure during the first lockdown. After that we spoke about the possibilities and I’m delighted to announce that I am now keyboardist and musical director with the US based Queen Tribute band, ‘ Celebrating Queen’. This amazing band has for many years been entertaining audiences in the USA and also in Europe with a powerful show with the music of the rock band Queen. As you may know I am a huge Queen fan and I run my own Queen fan site called ‘Shanes’s Queen Site‘ which you can visit via the links above.

The Celebrating Queen band are currently sorting bookings and tour dates for 2021 shows, such as festivals, events and custom venues – all covid dependant. For more details on booking Celebrating Queen please visit the official website www.celebratingqueen.com !

I have been playing the music of Queen for many years, and since 1993 and this great opportunity is a real dream come true for me, as it has been something which I have always wanted to do. I already play in a classic rock covers band in Clomnel called ‘Custom 160‘ but a dedicated Queen opportunity … I couldn’t say no!

The setlist of the band is varied, including all the Greatest Hits like Bohemain Rhapsody, Killer Queen and Radio Ga Ga as well as deep cuts like March of the Black Queen, Stone Cold Crazy and Death on Two Legs.

So from here, as I write this in the middle of lockdown during mid-pandemic October 2020 it’s just a waiting game. I’m hoping that concert dates can actually be booked for next year. I hope you will join me on the journey and I will keep you updated on tour dates and any venues that are booked. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube via the links below.

It’s sure to be an exciting time and I will upload as much detail on this site as is possible – and don’t forget to visit my Queen site also if you are a fan… lots to entertain you there also.

Please Follow me on YouTube via the link below as I will be bringing you on my journey as Celebrating Queen Keyboardist and Musical Director.

Celebrating Queen - Live in Liberty Missouri on June 10th 2022

June 10th 2022

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My YouTube channel has lots of Queen related videos, including Queen piano Tutorials, Queen reviews and also behind the scenes footage from my concerts with Celebrating Queen.

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10 Things about me

by Shane McDonald | Jul 10, 2016 | Personal

I follow many other bloggers especially Irish Bloggers. I came across this great post on the blog at https://aoifeweefa.com/2015/07/14/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-me/ and at the footer of that post was some questions for others to do, so here you are, 10 things about me.

These are my answers to those exact questions.

10 things about me

1. What’s your party trick?

I can play any Queen song on the piano, in the same style as on the record … you name it, I will play it. My dream would be to play keyboards in a Queen Tribute Band but I still fulfil my dream by being the keyboardist in the Classic Rock Covers band “Custom 160” based in the south/south-east of Ireland.

On a more light-hearted note, I can also have full and understandable conversations in a full-on Donald Duck voice. I even did it to Donald Duck at Disney and got a great reaction.

2. Cats or Dogs?

Sorry, I can’t do this, I love both cats and dogs equally. However, after recently trying to rescue 2 kittens who scratched and bit me quite badly, I am leaning a bit more towards dogs.

3. What is your most embarrassing moment?

Trying Karaoke with a song which I knew was too high …. it was far too high to reach. Thankfully in the days before camera phones.

4. If you could meet one person living or dead who would it be?

As a life long Queen fan, for the living person I would love to meet Brian May, and dead would have to be the amazing frontman, Freddie Mercury.

5. How long can you hold your breath for? (yes, you have to time yourself)

1:23:77 – 1 minute 23 seconds .77 – I knew I was over a minute but that surprised me.

6. Why do you blog?

I have had a website since 1998 and in that time blogging sort of passed me out until about 2010 when I started small scale. I just love having my own personal space on the web. When I find something I like / dislike or have an opinion on I feel I can then say it on my own site with the understanding that this is my opinion based on my experiences. I love seeing people visit the site and over the past year, I have had over 100,000 visitors to the website this year.

7. What’s your favourite TV programme?

At the moment The Big Bang Theory but will watch re-runs of Fraiser, Friends and Star Trek the Next Generation any time.

8. How many brothers & sisters do you have and are they older or younger?

2 younger sisters, no brothers.

9. Do you live in a city or in the countryside?

I live in Waterford City, I don’t think I would live in the countryside … unless it was in New Zealand ( I could do that !)

10. What was the last thing you bought other than food?

Quite ordinary really… Diesel and a Daily Millions ticket (which I did not win on).

Feel free to answer these in the comments below.