A Hazel shade of singer

Fresh from her recent Podge and Rodge encounter, where she proved that attack really is the best form of defence, Hazel O’Connor will be making some outings a little further afield than Ballydung Manor. Unfortunately it’s unlikely you’ll be treated to the smorgasbord she laid on when she performed recently at her local venue at Brooklodge in Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow, at which a stellar cast of special guests crowded the stage.
Moya Brennan sang not only the duet ‘Hidden’ but also backing vocals throughout the show. Brian Kennedy and Dervish’s Cathy Jordan joined in to complete the incredible vocal line up. Ciaran Brennan (Clannad) joined the group also on double bass and vocals.
Thursday May 18 sees O’Connor make the long trip down to De Barra’s of Clonakilty, west Cork, while the following evening finds her at the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh. Saturday 20 will be the last of her May gigs and that one is at the Sky Venue Portlaoise. After a short break she resumes festivities with a show at Bewleys Café Theatre on Thursday June 8. The capacity there has been very firmly capped at 50 so it will be essential to pre-book. On June 22 Hazel will be in Finnegan’s of South Main Street, Wexford.
Kieron Black’s booking policy at Bewley’s Café Theatre has developed the tiny space into a fantastic outlet for acoustic musicians and he has consistently brought great acts in. However, it seems he may be in danger of becoming victim to his own success as bands capable of stuffing far larger rooms are queueing up to play the Grafton Street space. Someone give the man a bigger venue quick!
Before that happens though, get down to Grafton Street on the night of May 25 and you’ll catch Shay Cotter (with a mystery ‘very special’ guest).
Lauded by such folk luminaries as PJ Curtis and Sean Tyrell, Shay has been playing guitar since his teens, with a unique picking style mixing folk, blues and pop. He made his TV debut on the RTE show PM LIVE, which led to an invitation to play at the opening night of Vicar Street, giving him the privilege of being the first person to perform there.
Since their formation in 1996, Solas have been widely proclaimed as the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band to ever emerge from the United States. Even before the release of their self-titled debut, The Boston Herald trumpeted Solas as “the first truly great Irish band to arise from America” while The Irish Echo ranked Solas among “the most exciting bands anywhere in the world.”
Now that they are 10 years down the line, they are celebrating with a concert CD/DVD collection that features all current and past members. Filmed and recorded in Philadelphia on a September night last year, the collection features a 17-track-audio CD as well as a 1 hour, 45 minute DVD of the reunion concert, together with interviews, an extensive photo gallery of individual and band photos and behind the scene views of the rehearsals.
We’re forever hearing about musicians re-inventing themselves but not many do it aged just 19. However, George Murphy’s new Mike Hedges-produced album casts him in an entirely different light and will come as a surprise to many who know him only from You’re A Star. You’ll be able to experience it all live too as George makes a trip to the Spirit Store in Dundalk on Saturday May 27.
Listening recently to Christy Moore’s version of ‘Beeswing’ on the new Live at The Point double set I was reminded of what a great songwriter Richard Thompson really is.
He has a new record out himself and, astonishingly, it’s the first time he has made an acoustic studio album of his own material. He set out to make a very direct warts-and-all record – he reckons his fans are big enough and bold enough to live with the string noise and occasional cock-up. The live show will be similarly direct and he arrives on our shores for a Vicar Street date on July 27th.
The Balor Theatre in Ballybofey has appointed fiddle legend Tommy Peoples as its first traditional musician-in-residence.
Tommy, from St Johnston, is widely regarded as the most influential fiddle player of the last fifty years. A former member of the Bothy Band, he has released a series of remarkable solo albums. He’s also one of the most important living composers of traditional tunes and his tunes have been widely recorded by other musicians.
As traditional musician in residence, Tommy will be arranging concerts and music classes at the Balor over the next few months. He’ll also compose a new traditioal piece. The appointment at the Balor has been made possible by Arts Council funding aimed at strengthening traditional music by providing a regular programme of events and classes.
Balor manager Conor Malone said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have someone of Tommy’s skill and reputation on board. We have high hopes for what we can achieve with this project and it’s a great boost to have an artist of the calibre of Tommy Peoples involved. ‘Our intention is that the programme will make a positive impact on traditional music in the general area, and that Tommy’s new piece will be a lasting legacy of his time with us."
Tommy Peoples said he hoped the project would help to foster the long tradition of playing and listening to Irish music in this part of Donegal. “The music’s still very much alive here and it can only be helped by an initiative like this in the Balor, which can provide a focal point for developments over the next year,” he said.
Tommy added that he had many fond memories of music and noted fiddlers in the Twin Towns, stretching back to his schooldays.
“I remember spending a day at Mickey’ Doherty¹s house in Stranorlar when I should have been at the Finn College, visits to Danny O’Donnell when he lived in Ballybofey, and sessions in Given’s pub. There were also encounters with Simey Doherty in later years."
Kate Rusby, whose star is very much in the ascendant, was asked by Ronan Keating to record a duet for his forthcoming album. The song has wound up as the first single off the album and we’ll be seeing the divine Ms. Rusby on Top of The Pops of all places. She has also recorded a version of the Kinks’ classic ‘Village Green Preservation Society’ as the theme June to Jennifer Saunders new series Jam And Jerusalem which will be screening on the BBC later in the year.
In the meantime, her label Pure Records has been up to a spot of quiet diversification and will be releasing a solo album from Idlewild’s front man Roddy Woomble. Recorded in Pure’s own studio – originally built to record Kate’s records, the album should surface late July.
The label has also announced the opening of the Pure Recording Studio as a commercial venture. They take over the property at the end of May and from that point on they will be able to offer the studio on a commercial basis.