Issue 21 2/2002

FolkWorld News

Lunasa CD CoverFolkWorld's Readers Top 10 of the year 2001
If you have not found it yet: FolkWorld has published in Mid-January FolkWorld's Best of 2001 listings. This time, the Readers' CD favourite was Lunasa, while the Editors went for Rosapaeda. In FolkWorld's Best of 2001, you will find a Readers' CD Top 10, an Editors' Cd and Live Top 10, and a CD Top 5of FolkWorld's regular contributors.
Click here to see FolkWorld's Best of 2001


Batty's new old singer
Scotland. After Karine Polwart has left the Battlefield Band in December to concentrate on her other musical projects, a new old singer has joined the Scottish institution. Former Battlefield Band singer Pat Kilbride comes back to join the lads as a singer. Pat comes from Co. Kildare in Ireland, and has played music for an early age, learning first the classical piano. He later taught himself guitar and cittern and developed these skills as a member of "The Pavies" along with Paddy Keenan and Davy Spillane. Pat was originally a member of the band in the late 70's for a couple of years, recorded one album with them "At The Front", and also toured with them throughout Europe.
The new line-up is then Alan Reid, Alasdair White (the recent replacement for fiddler John McCusker), piper Mike Katz and Pat Kilbride. As the Batties comment: "The Batty train just keeps on rolling!!" Let's just hope that their train stays as reliable as it has always been, unlike the recent developments on the privatised British railway system...


Simon thoumire with Keep it up, photo by The MollisBBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2002
Scotland. The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award was successfully inaugurated last year by virtuoso concertina player Simon Thoumire (Footstompin' Records; photo), in association with Celtic Connections Festival. Inspired by the quality of the young talent emerging in Scotland, and always striving to heighten the profile of Scottish Traditional Music; Simon devised and organised this annual event. The winner is presented with the fantastic opportunity of a record deal with Footstompin' Records, and invitations to various festivals including Tønder in Denmark, and next years Celtic Connection's BBC Radio Broadcast.
The finals took place at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Sun 27th January, and proved to be a fantastic evening. The seven contestants were: Ross Ainslie (pipes), Ruaridh Campbell (fiddle), Findlay Napier (voice, guitar), Jennifer Port (clarsach), Emily Smith (voice, accordion), Jamie Smith (fiddle) Lori Watson (fiddle). A capacity audience were treated to some amazing performances. The young performers all rose magnificently to the occasion and the audience roared their approval for each one.
The unanimous winner was "Emily Smith" of Dumfriesshire, who is a stunning singer and will now go on to produce an album with Foot Stompin' Records.
The judges who had to choose between seven extremely talented finalists were Carsten Pandura, Artistic Director of Tønder Festival, Thistle & Shamrock broadcaster Fiona Ritchie, musician John McCusker, Michael Bird of The British Council and Dougie Pincock, Director of Music at Plockton Centre for Musical Excellence.

Photo: Simon Thoumire with Keep it Up, photo by The Mollis

The first Dutch Drone festival
The Netherlands. On 23rd March 2002 a special festival for drone instruments takes place in Maurik, Holland. Organised by the Dutch foundation for bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy this will be a special day full of workshops and concerts. This festival is for anybody who plays either bagpipes from the West European mainland or hurdy gurdy. Also people who would like to get to know these instruments are welcome to join and try the instruments theirselves or just watch how other musicians play. The price is only 5 euro for the whole day including concerts by Ashels, De swen, Bijoux and many other artists. For more information please visit: www.antenna.nl/draailier-doedelzak/


Landlady back in the pub for a day...
Ireland. Ann Carbery, who had long been running the Carbery\'s Pub in Drogheda, passed away last summer. The pub was (and hopefully will keep on being) a fine little haven for traditional music lovers. It has been told that her coffin was brought, open, inside the pub, where the wake took place amidst music and songs. Luigi from Italy, who sent in this item, commented: "I can't even hope a better end for myself."


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HARLEKIN RECORDS

HARLEKIN RECORDS - Your source for FOLK MUSIC (North America, Ireland, Great Britain), COUNTRY, BLUEGRASS and related music. Always more than 10.000 different compact discs, LP-records and video tapes in stock!
Harlekin Records and its full catalogue is available in the Internet, at www.harlekin-records.de.
Contact: E-mail Harlekin-Records@t-online.de; Jürgen Feuß, Postfach 110142-FW, 28081 Bremen / GERMANY. Phone: +49 421 7 49 10, FAX: +49 421 70 0051


Dutch Folk Music - new FolkWorld series
FolkWorld/The Netherlands. Dutch folk music is widely unknown - as was shown even at last year's WOMEX held in Rotterdam, where there was a distinctive lack of Dutch folk music representation. FolkWorld's Eelco Schilder takes this as a reason to start a FolkWorld series about Dutch folk music, to make Dutch music more widely known. You can read a prologue to the series in the article section of FolkWorld.
Eelco would appreciate it very much if you could send him any questions you have regarding Dutch traditional music. Are there any artists you know but would like to know more about? What is your personal opinion about Dutch traditional music? Please contact him if you have any questions or suggestions and assist him in writing "an intriguing History of Dutch Folk Music". Write to Eelco.


late Derek MoffatA new McCalman
Scotland. After the tragical death of Derek Moffat, one of the founder members of the McCalmans (see the obituary by Iain McCalman), the Macs decided to continue touring (which was also a wish of Derek). The new member is Stephen Quigg. This is what the Macs say on the website:
"The McCalmans would like to thank everyone for their support and good wishes following the tragic death of founder-member Derek Moffat. It would be difficult to over-estimate the loss which we all feel, but we are delighted to welcome Stephen Quigg as a permanent member of the band. Stephen has been The Macs support act on some 16 tours of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and is a long-time friend of the band. Already he's become as firm favourite on our tours of Denmark and Germany and he also manages to lower the average age of the group considerably."
More Infos on the McCalmans' website, http://www.mccalmans.co.uk

Photo: The late Derek Moffat, photo by Iain McCalman

Pure Irish Drops Tour 2002
Germany and surrounding countries. Florian Fürst's Pure Irish Drop Tour, with its three musicians traditionally touring in autumn in Germany and Middle Europe, has announces its line-up 2002. The tour will take place under the aspect "TEACHERS, SOURCES & IDOLS" and will focus on older musicians, who have influenced a lot of those younger musicians, that have just made careers now or are in the process of doing so. The Line-Up will be: Joe Burke - accordion, Cathal McConnell - vocals, flute and whistle, Dinny McLaughlin - fiddle.
Joe Burke is to the B/C box what Michael Coleman was to the fiddle, a player of immense technical resource and imagination who has left a definitive stamp on the music. He has given workshops and masterclasses at home and abroad and has influenced a generation of box players. Cathal McConnell, a founder-member of Boys Of The Lough, is one of the best flute and whistle players in the Irish tradition and a greatly respected singer. His naturally relaxed and friendly stage presence allied to an air of bespectacled confusion endears him to audiences everywhere. A lot of musician call him as the source of a lot of music and their style of playing. Dinny McLaughlin has taught many good musicians including Ciarn Tourish (Altan), Liz Doherty and Maréad N´Mhaonaigh (Altan) and many more. He is a very fine player and is well known and respected in Ireland. He composes a lot of his own stuff and has lately released a CD "Play It By Ear".
The tour takes place from September 19 to October 13, 2002. More infos at www.ffmusik.de.



Irish Folk in prestigious UK Photo Mag
Ireland/Germany. A small portfolio of live gig shots by Sean Laffey from the November 2001 "Mad For Trad" concert tour of Germany (promoted by Magnetic Music) are to feature in the April edition of the UK magazine "Black & White Photography". The magazine is one of the many titles of the Guild of Master Craftsman Publications. "It's a real honour to be included in this magazine, which highlights the very best black and white photographers from around the world, a big thanks to all the musicians, stage crew and Petr Pandula of Magnetic Music who allowed me access to the concerts" said Sean Laffey.

The photo by Sean Laffey is part of the portfolio that B&W photography used, but will not be printed by them.

Brussels premier folk venue moves
Brussles. The concerts organised in la Tentation will not take place there anymore but at other venues in Brussels. The website has also changed to www.latentation.be instead of www.latentation.org (the latter now mainly used for renting the hall la Tentation). Yet the programme stays mighty...



New Roots - competition for young musicians from the East of England
England. England is establishing a new regional level, and this is now even represented by the folk music competition scene. While on the higher level, there is as always the BBC Young Tradition Awards competition, the East of England has this year its own young musicians competition. The closing date for applications has been the 28th February. The competition has been open to traditionally based musicians under 25, living in the East of England region - that is Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Performers short-listed by the judges will be invited to take part in the final, taking place on Sunday April 14, 2.00 pm at The Abbey Theatre Studio, Westminster Lodge, St Albans. This will be followed by a concert at 7.00pm in The Abbey Theatre Studio featuring the Fraser sisters plus competition finalists. For concert tickets and other enquiries ring 01727 852111.


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THE DUBLINERS: 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION TOUR in the UK
Don't miss this unique opportunity to see all the 'living' Dubliners, back onstage together for their "40th Anniversary Reunion Tour" when you will be treated to The Dubliners with very special guests 'Ronnie Drew' and 'Jim McCann'. A brand new double CD will also be available on this UK tour, to celebrate this very special occasion.

UK Tour Dates for April 2002:

Thu 4th York Barbican Centre 01904 656688
Fri 5th Tyneside Whitley Bay Playhouse 0191 252 3505
Sat 6th Halifax Victoria Theatre 01422 351158
Sun 7th Salford Quays The Lowry 0161 876 2000
Mon 8th Derby Assembly Rooms 01332 255800
Tue 9th Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 0151 709 3789
Wed 10th Leicester De Montford Hall 0116 233 3111
Thu 11th Northampton Derngate 01604 624811
Fri 12th Dudley Town Hall 01384 812812
Sat 13th Malvern Forum Theatre 01684 892277
Sun 14th Reading The Hexagon 0118 960 6060
Mon 15th Guildford Civic Hall 01483 444555
Tue 16th Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357851
Wed 17th Cardiff St David's Hall 029 2087 8444
Thu 18th Barnstaple Queen's Theatre 01271 324242
Fri 19th Southampton Guildhall 023 8063 2601
Sat 20th London Shepherd's Bush Empire 020 7354 3300
Sun 21st London Mean Fiddler 020 7434 0403/4

Radio Dublin
Ireland. Radio Dublin is probably the longest serving free radio station in the world. The station went on air in 1966 as "Radio Baile Atha Cliath" providing only a part-time Sunday afternoon service for ten years. Many splits later, the station went to 24 hour broadcasting in the late 1970's when it was at the height of it's popularity. The name Radio Dublin has so much history attached that it will always have a special place in the hearts and minds of anybody who's ever listened to radio in Dublin.
Mattie Lennon presents a ballad programme on Radio Dublin from 7.45 - 9.00 a.m. every Sunday. If you want to keep in touch with the folks at home you can e-mail the program here,lennonaspect@iol.ie or you can ring in (within the Republic of Ireland) on 1550 92 36 55. Radio Dublin is available in and around Dublin at 100FM.


Poland calling
Poland. The Polish folk music scene is widely unknown in the rest of Europe. As Poland will probably already very soon part of the European Union, this should be changed! Andrew Nixon gives in an article in this issue an introduction to the Polish folk scene, to festivals, bands and much more. Click here to read the article.
FolkWorld would be interested in similar introductions to other Middle and Eastern European folk music scenes and bands. Please get in touch with the editors if you think you might be able to provide it (no payment though, as always at FolkWorld...). Please also contact us, if you know interesting bands from that part of Europe (best would be, if you could tell us the e-mail address or webpage).

Photo: Kapela Ze Wsi Warszawa, photo by The Mollis

Irish Music Workshop in Prague
Prague. From 28 to 30 June 2002, the second Irish Workshop Weekend takes place in Prague. Participation for the courese (ca. 10 hours), accomodation and food will cost just about 100 €. The teachers are: Fiona Butler (Irland): flute/whistle, Sabine Pichler (Irish Trad. Heads): fiddle, Klaus Feketics (An Tor): DADGAD-guitar, Barbara Steinort (More Maids): Irish bouzouki. More infos from Sabine, sabine@tradheads.de or from Jan Rab: rab@adns.cz


Three's Company
England. Three's Company - a new artist led agency has been launched. It is run on a co-operative basis by artists based in Yorkshire. They have had support from Yorkshire Arts to produce a CD with tracks from most of the artists they are representing. This is nearly finished, and event organisers and press representatives can order a copy from Three's Company.
The main aims of the organisation are to promote high quality performances from established performers and to support new ventures. The following acts are currently involved with the project and if you want any more information about any of them, please contact the agency: The Demon Barbers (Damien Barber, Bryony Griffith, Will Hampson, Rich Ashby & Lee Sykes - folk fusion band), The Demon Barber Roadshow (The band & dance performances from Black Swan Rapper, Dog Rose Morris and Tiny & Fiona Taylor), Withy Creek (Maggie Boyle, Jon Brindley & Chris Parkinson), Steve Tilston Grace Notes (Maggie Boyle, Lynda Hardcastle & Helen Hockenhull), The Witches of Elswick (Fay Hield, Bryony Griffith, Gillian Tolfrey & Becky Stockwell), Napper, LeFaux & Boyle Fay, Hield & Damien Barber, Black Swan, Rapper.
Contact: Three's Company: PO Box 152, Keighley BD21 0YT 01535 661991 three_s_company@hotmail.com



Folk musicians as "Film Stars"
England/Scotland. Kate Rusby and husband John McCusker are involved in the latest film by director Damien O'Donnell (East Is East), titled Heartlands. Multi-instrumentalist/composer McCusker wrote some of the score while Kate contributed a specially-written song and they both feature in a scene as performers in a folk club. Produced by Richard Jobson, the film traces a journey of enlightenment for the main protagonist, northerner Colin, who finds there's more to life than he realised. Filming took place in the latter months of last year, a good time was had by all, and Heartlands is due for release in March 2002.
Info from the BBC Radio 2 Folk News website.

Photo: John McCusker, photo by Lynne Grant

The dulcimer returns to Ireland
Ireland. "...Today, however, the dulcimer is a forgotten instrument in Ireland, with little evidence of a revival." (Chapter 11, The Hammered Dulcimer: A History, by Paul Gifford, 2001.) Christie Burns, originally from New Jersey and this year studying music at University College Cork, has since October been meeting and interviewing Ireland's few hammered dulcimer players. Being a dulcimer player himself, he is writing my senior thesis on the hammered dulcimer in Ireland. Gifford's short section on Ireland in his book of dulcimer history gives the impression that Andy Dowling of Dublin was the last person in Ireland to play the hammered dulcimer, and he passed away in 1991! In his travels and research so far, Christie has located at least half a dozen living, breathing, passionate players, each of whom think they are the only dulcimer player in Ireland. They have never had an opportunity to meet each other or play together, since Ireland has no dulcimer clubs or organizations promoting the instrument.
This summer, during the last weekend of July, the city of Cork will be host of the First Annual Cork Dulcimer Festival. The dulcimer players of Ireland, as well as participants from abroad, will be gathering to trade tunes, techniques, and stories. We will enjoy the company of and performances by: Barry Carroll of Co. Dublin, who followed the example of the late John Rea of Co. Antrim by recording a CD of dulcimer and uillean pipes; Seamus Brady of Co. Waterford, a championship sean-nos singer whose homemade dulcimer "sings" airs as gracefully as Seamus's voice; David James, our featured performer, coming all the way from Indiana with his famous tweed cap.....and more! The festival will be both audio- and video-documented, and will include dulcimer performances in venues around the city for general public audiences as well as private workshops for the dulcimer players who attend.
The Cork Dulcimer Festival will be taking place July 26, 27, 28. For more information, contact Christie Burns +353(0)85 718 1211 or cburns@ucla.edu


40 years The Chieftains
Ireland. Ireland's ambassadors for Irish music, at the same time one of the definite best Irish Folk bands in the world, the Chieftains, celebrate their 40th birthday. Their music still sounds as fresh as ever, and hey - with fourty the life only properly starts! Congratulations from FolkWorld!

Photo: Paddy Moloney, by The Mollis.

10 years Peace Concerts Passendale
Belgium/England. To mark their tenth anniversary, Peace Concerts Passendale, reminding of the cruelties of the First World War and wars in general, will be presenting an outdoor performance featuring many of the musicians who have been associated with Peace Concerts over the years. The cast includes June Tabor, Willem Vermandere, Coope Boyes & Simpson, Une Anche Passe, Koen De Cauter and Patrick Riguel.
The Peace Concerts/ Vredesconcerten Passendale Tenth Anniversary Concert takes place on 24 August 2002 at Tyne Cott Cemetery, Passendale, Flanders, Belgium. Performance starts 4pm; Entry Free.
Info www.zonnebeke.be Zonnebeke Cuture and Tourism Service / Dienst Cultuur en Toerisme, Ieperstraat 5, Zonnebeke - Tel 00 32 (0)51 77 04 41 / Fax 00 32(0)51 78 07 50 / e-mail cultuur.zonnebeke@belgacom.net


Ely Folk Festival
England. Ely is a charming little town near Cambridge, most famous for its huge cathedral. Yet Ely has also a recommandable folk festival, always held on the 2nd weekend in July. The new url is www.elyfolk.co.uk, and the dates for 2002 are 12th-14th July. The event will be held at Ely Outdoor Centre, Ely Cambridgeshire.


A pub full of performers - Two in a Bar
England. In England, music organisations are currently campaigning against another of these strange laws that just avoid cultural activity. Known as the "Two in a Bar", this law allows only up to two live performers in pubs that do not have the (often rather expensive) entertainment license. This law has really bizzare aspects - for example, it officially does not allow MIDI techniques. And even more bizarre, in many interpretations of the law, if the audience sings along to a performer, the whole audience is seen as performers - making out of the pub a big stage with no audience...
More background and info at the sufFolk/Folk in England column.

Drawing by Annegret Hänsel.

Snapshot - photo by The MollisSnapshot - the Fun Photo Competition
Who are the musicians on this snapshot?
Tell us the band of these two Belgian brothers and WIN 3 CDS at once (of your choice out of a selection of six folk music (promotional) CDs)!
Answers until 05/05/2002 to FolkWorld.
Click here to read the conditions of FolkWorld competitions


In the German news you can find as additional news:


To the content of FolkWorld No. 21

© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 3/2002

All material published in FolkWorld is © The Author via FolkWorld. Storage for private use is allowed and welcome. Reviews and extracts of up to 200 words may be freely quoted and reproduced, if source and author are acknowledged. For any other reproduction please ask the Editors for permission. Although any external links from FolkWorld are chosen with greatest care, FolkWorld and its editors do not take any responsibility for the content of the linked external websites.


 

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