Fidil Me This

Fidil have been unveiled as the recipients of the 2008 Young Musicwide Award by Music Network. The Donegal band went before a panel of three independent experts and a Music Network representative, and were chosen from a short list of 10 of Ireland’s most promising up and coming traditional music acts. As the winning act, the group will benefit from performance opportunities throughout Ireland, a specially designed publicity package which the band can use to promote themselves both here and overseas, professional development opportunities and a chance to record a new album as well as access to ongoing advice and support over the next three years.

The trio, consisting of Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Aidan O’Donnell and Damien McGeehan, started life as a duo – Damien McGeehan didn’t feature on their debut release. Over the past few years, each of the group’s members has carved out a space for themselves, with all three combining virtuosic technique with an inventive yet authentic approach to traditional music. Though playing for the most part in the very distinctive and established Donegal fiddle style, and preferring a predominantly traditional repertoire, their music hints at the possibilities of musical exploration. It is the combination of deference to the tradition and appetite for innovation that creates the synergy between them.
As traditional pedigrees go it would be hard to top the background of Gaoth Dobhair born Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, who cites his family as his most important creative influence. With an extended family including his grandfather, Francie Mooney, Altan members Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy, Derry fiddle player Dermot McLaughlin and Donegal fiddle legend John Doherty, it’s not difficult to see why. Dunkineely man Aidan O’Donnell has similarly garnered a fair degree of respect amongst his peers over the course of what is still a relatively young career; among the accolades he has received is the prestigious ‘Oireachtas na Gaeilge’ fiddle title in 2007. Completing the trio is Damien McGeehan, another Donegal player, who is respected as a teacher as well as performer. Touring professionally from the tender age of 15, he has earned recognition for his musicianship at home and abroad and, not to be out done by his band mates, has also been awarded his fair share of prestigious titles, including the Teastas i dTeagasc Ceoil Tire awarded by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann in 2005.
The Return to Camden Town, London’s internationally-renowned festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance returns to Camden for its tenth year on Friday October 24, and runs across 10 days until Sunday November 2. As one of the most ambitious festivals of its kind, it is spread out over a number of venues, but has a natural base again at the London Irish Centre in Camden Square. This year there is an especially strong representation from Ireland going over to play, teach and enjoy the sessions dotted across North London, as well as the collection of London Irish and London-based musicians who are the festival’s backbone.
Guests and performers for this tenth installation include Nollaig Casey, Arty McGlynn, Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman, who have all just collaborated on the album Heartstring Sessions, Frankie Gavin’s Hibernian Rhapsody (featuring the man himself, Damien Mullane, Michelle Lally, Carl Hession, Mike Galvin and Eric Cunningham), Paddy Keenan & Tommy O’Sullivan, Dermot Byrne, Tom Morrow, Éamonn Coyne & Séamie O’Dowd. Also on the bill are At First Light, which combines the talents of John McSherry, Donal O’Connor, Francie McIlduff, Alan Burke and Rubén Bada, Peter Horan and Gerry Harrington, The Long Notes, bringing together Brian Kelly, Colette O’Leary and Jamie Smith, and At the Racket.
As well as the session trail, there will be a programme of workshops for intermediate to advanced players, led by a combination of highly regarded London based musicians and the cream of the visitors.
Elsewhere, Sarah McQuaid’s eagerly anticipated second album I Won’t Be Home 'Til Morning hits the shops on October 20, but not content with the extensive gigging that she’ll be undertaking to promote the record, she has also activated warp drive and is now writing, recording and performing as Mama with fellow Cornwall resident Zoe Young. They recently made their live debut at St. Ives Festival, where in one of those back down to earth with a bump moments, she arrived post-show in the dressing room to find that someone had robbed her purse. On a more positive note, we’re promised a debut album from Mama before the end of the year.
Brendan and Declan Murphy of The 4 Of Us have been keeping it low key of late, having made a conscious decision not to rush the writing process on the next album, but fans of the Newry brothers’ space age, high-plains drifter sound will be treated to a preview of the fruits of their labours, as they are playing a number of two handed acoustic shows over the coming weeks where you get to see the new songs – as well as the back catalogue classics – performed as they were written. The tour kicks off on Thursday October 9 in Waterford’s Electric Avenue before moving along to Cork’s Cyprus Avenue the following evening. On Saturday October 11 they’ll be performing in Cobh’s Sirius Arts Centre. The following Friday, October 17 they appear at Greystones Theatre while on Saturday October 18 they’ll be in Dundalk’s Spirit Store, which pretty much constitutes a home town gig. Friday November 7 finds them in Dolan’s of Limerick before they head south towards Cork again for gigs in the Lodge in Mallow (November 8) and in DeBarras of Clonakilty (November 9). The final date of the tour is the following Friday (November 14) in the Seamus Ennis Centre in Naul.