If you’re a fan of the mercurial Mr. Andy Irvine, you can gorge yourself on the man’s burgeoning talent in the next wee while. From Sweeney's Men in the ‘60s to the enormous success of Planxty in the ‘70s (and its phenomenal revival over the past year), to Irish super group Patrick Street in the ‘80s and his current fusion band Mozaic, Andy has been a world music pioneer and icon. He occupies a unique place in the musical world, plying his trade as archetypal troubadour, with a solo show and traveling lifestyle that reflects his lifelong influence: Woody Guthrie. Few others can equal his repertoire and that image he conjures of the essential raggle taggle gypsy is one of the defining images of the folk singer.
Andy guests with Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill at Vicar Street, Bank Holiday Monday May 2nd in a show billed as The Legends of Irish Folk, Trad and Blues which marks the launch in paperback of Irish Folk, Trad & Blues: A Secret History, co-written by Colin Harper and Trevor Hodgett, which first appeared in hardback in November 2004. The paperback edition boasts an extensive new discographical appendix.
Of course the main attractions on the night - Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill – are essential listening in their own right. The duo work off each other like two jazz masters, exploring the tunes, while elsewhere Martin Hayes has been called the Jimi Hendrix of the violin, spinning medleys that expand and contract with intensity. "Our allegiance is to the spirit of the moment," says Hayes. "Our primary wish is that the musical experience be one that lifts our spirits and those of the audience." In addition to Andy Irvine a cornucopia of other special guests is also hinted at on the evening, but you’ll need to get yourself along there on the night to see who’ll appear.
If you can’t wait that long to see Mr. Irvine in action you can catch him as part of the definitive iteration of the Irish traditional supergroup Patrick Street which features Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly, Ged Foley & new member John Carty. Patrick Street will be on tour in Ireland in April with dates in Ballaghadereen, Co Roscommon; Grange, Co. Sligo; Galway at the Roisin Dubh; Listowel, St Johns Arts Centre; Cork’s Halfmoon Theatre; Dolan’s in Limerick; Whelan’s Dublin; and in the wonderfully atmospheric Spirit Store in Dundalk.
Also taking a trot round the country in April are Lunasa, another contender for the traditional supergroup title with their line up featuring ex-Waterboys, members of Donal Lunny’s Coolfin and the Sharon Shannon Band. With a darting but distinctively percussive sound centred around its distinctive use of the upright acoustic bass – brought front and centre by Trevor Hutchinson’s remarkable playing – teamed with percussive guitar, the group seeks out the essential heartbeat of a tune. “There are lots of great melodies in Irish music but often people don’t hear the rhythms underneath,” says founding member Sean Smyth. “We try to relate the swing or energy out of the music, using new rhythms, letting each instrument add its own unique layer. We’ll play the same tune over and over searching for the groove, exploring it. We let the music find its pulse.”
With three albums for Green Linnet keeping the pot boiling the band hit killer form again with their Compass Records release The Kinnity Sessions recorded live in front of an invited audience in Kinnity Castle. Like their Compass label mates Dervish, the band is kept razor sharp by almost continual touring and this constant honing of arrangements and performances is represented on the Kinnity Sessions.
The People’s Republic often seems to hermetically seal itself off from the rest of us, with its own quirky scene buzzing away in its dark corners but as it is this year’s European Capital of Culture it seems only right that a delegation is being sent forth to preach the good news that the troubadour tradition flourishes in Cork. Cork Folk Festival presents Songsmiths Live 2005 on tour around the country. This year's line up will be Ger Wolfe, Gavin Moore, Annette Buckley and John Leo Carter. The show will go on a nationwide tour in April 2005. Songsmiths has been a main feature at the Cork Folk Festival for the last two years. Dick Gaughan, Nina Hynes and Katell Keineg are just some of the acclaimed musicians who have performed as part of the showcase. The tour gets its feet wet in Ballycotton and then wends its way round the country before returning back to Cork for a final show on April 30th.
The pace is hotting up in the race to win the title of Irish Music Magazine’s Traditional Act of the year. With voting happening this time round by SMS text message, the traditional community’s fingers are dancing across the keypads with Dervish wondering whether they can complete a double after topping the Hot Press Reader’s Poll, while Lunasa, Flook and Solas will be hoping their recent successful album releases will do the trick. Proceeds of the texting are to be donated to the Asian Tsunami disaster fund so voting is doubly worthwhile.
Liz Doherty has been appointed Traditional Arts Specialist of the Arts Council, an important new post given that the Arts Council is seen by many musicians from outside the classical and opera traditions as a black hole. One of her first meetings will be with representatives of F.A.C.E. (Filí, d’Amhránaithe is de Cheoltóirí na h-Éireann) who are seeking support in helping fund venues who promote live traditional music. Any initiative to improve the quality of music on offer and improve the conditions under which it’s experienced are to be supported and we must applaud the Art’s Council’s initiative and wish Liz well in her efforts.
On a final note this time round, we mourn the passing of Belfast fiddler Sean McGuire whose music inspired generations of musicians in the North of the country and helped keep a torch burning that might otherwise have gone out. His own recordings are his most eloquent epitaph. Many will miss him.