Tag Archives: europe 2013

Italy Part II Pisa: A City of Music, Dining, Harp Guitars, and A Once Leaning Tower!

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I’ve been taking you on a journal tour of European Tour 2013. So far we’ve revisited our arrival and adventures in Paris, played with fast cars and harp guitars in Le Mans, and exploring more of the french countryside with castles, toys, and of course more harp guitars. After having our fun in France entertaining all with story and song, we moved on to Florence, Italy. The next part of this journal tour of Europe revisits Pisa, Italy, for more concerts, great food, and harp guitars – oh, and a once leaning tower.

After performing in Florence I took a train to Pisa. It is the local custom to not look at each other on the train.

1.John Doan with Luggage
1.John Doan Train Pisa

2.Andrea Valeri A

International guitarist and rising star Andrea Valeri invited me to come and record with him on his latest CD project (he is very proud of the monument that was erected as a tribute to his first initial).
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Italy Part 1: Florence: The City of Passion for Life and Harp Guitars

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I’ve been taking you on a journal tour of European Tour 2013. So far we’ve revisited our arrival and adventures in Paris, played with fast cars and harp guitars in Le Mans, and exploring more of the french countryside with castles, toys, and of course more harp guitars. After having our fun in France entertaining all with story and song, we moved on to impress and be impressed with Italy.

1.John Doan Train Italy

Once in Venice we took a Ferrari looking high speed train to Florence. The city is simply eye popping and a photographer’s paradise.

1.Deirdra Photo Florence
2.Florence Church
3.Florence River
4.Florence Square


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John Doan Tour in France Part III: An Ancient Castle, A Toy Museum, and Harp Guitars

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So far in this journal of my European Tour 2013, we’ve revisited our adventures in Paris and played with fast cars and harp guitars in Le Mans. Now we’re visiting an ancient castle, toy museum, and more playing with harp guitars.

36.The Château de Saint-Ulrich Ribeauvillé

The next leg of the tour brought me to the northeast of France into the Alsace region on the border or Germany and Switzerland. This is a lush green expanse of mountains and rivers littered with scores of small rustic villages. It is here where Yaouen lives with his family in the shadow of ancient castles and winding rivers.

Village of Ribeauvillé

He invited me to the small village of Ribeauvillé where some of the people still dress as they did one thousand years ago.
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John Doan Tour in France Part Two: Paris – Le Mans – Fast Cars and Harp Guitars

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After Paris we drove to Le Mans, a city known for car racing, ancient buildings and doors, obscure building regulations, and now for hosting the first International Festival for the Harp Guitar.

1.Le Mans Car Race
1.Le Mans Old House
1.Le Mans Door
1.Le Mans Small House

I was honored to be among such great international players.

11.Harp Guitar Festival Poster 2013
12.Harp Guitar Festival Players 2013


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John Doan Tour in France Part One: Paris – From Bidet Guitar to Harp Guitar

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I recently went with my wife Deirdra on a six-week concert tour in Europe.  We began with a transcontinental fight to Paris numbing the boredom with nine hours of non-stop movies.

1.John Doan Air travel to Paris

2.Deirdra Doan PhotosDeirdra can’t wait to try out her new camera. I believe she spent more time with her camera than with me on the trip!

As Gorilla travellers we like to travel in style, or at least in comfort, so we bring with us on the plane an inflatable back rest called “First Class Sleeper.”  It makes your economy seat feel like first class (as long as you don’t mind looking like you are going river rafting upon arrival).

Once in Paris we headed to the Eiffel Tower (Deirdra appears to be balancing it on her nose).

2.John Doan Eiffel Tower
3.Deirdra Doan Eiffel Tower on Nose

3.Paris Statue Pigeon 4.John Doan with Deirdra Debussy
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John Doan Concert at the Chapel Arts Center, Bath, England

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Press Release

John Doan at Celtic Cottage.(Bath, UK). — Emmy nominee and master harp guitarist John Doan with family roots to Bath and Burton, will perform at the Chapel Arts Centre, St James’s Memorial Hall as part of his European Tour 2013. Chapel Arts Centre is located at Lower Borough Walls, Bath, BA1 1QR. The show is scheduled for 8pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Tickets are advance: £8.00, Door: £10.00. For more information, call the Chapel Arts Centre at 01225 461700.

A “Celtic Pilgrimage with John Doan” features music from John’s award winning recording “Eire – Isle of the Saints” (Winner of “Best Celtic Album of the Year”) and Wayfarer (also nominated for the same title).

Concert Description

john doan playing harp guitar in England.Master harp guitarist and storyteller John Doan is a Bard for the 21st Century bringing back soulful and provocative musical sketches from a pilgrimage to the most sacred sites of the British Isles. “Thin Places,” as they were once called, were believed to be where the space between heaven and earth, and past and future, were thinly divided. John shares what he found there inspired by breathtaking landscapes, historic ruins, and dynamic stories underlying the faith and vision of a people who shaped the world we have come to call our own. He now leads his audiences back down ancient paths to locations made famous by St. Patrick and the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” along winding roads to secluded sanctuaries and by boat to remote island retreats. Adventurous, thoughtful, and renewing, this is a journey memorable for its achingly beautiful moments and encouraging spirit. Continue reading →