Folk centre

Steve Cooney and his colleagues in FACÉ (Filí, Amhránaithe & Ceoltóirí na hÉireann) have taken issue with TG4 over their performance release form for musicians appearing on such programmes as Geantraí. The station (which last week hosted its National Traditional Music Awards, with prizes going to fiddler Seán Keane, concertina player Edel Fox, accordionist Tony MacMahon, composer Richie Dwyer and singer Rosie Stewart) has been asking artists to “unconditionally grant ... all rights of copyright and other rights” and “waive all moral rights” to their work. Cooney compiled a number of objections to this and other clauses in the contract, and put together a petition which has been signed by 50 members of FACÉ, including Luka Bloom, Martin Hayes, Pádraigín Ní Úallacháin, Len Graham, Peadar Ó Riada, Emer Mayock, Niamh Parsons, Nollaig Casey, Eoin Duignan, Garry Shannon, Tommy Hayes, the aforementioned Tony MacMahon and many others. Micheál Ó Meallaigh of TG4 assures me that they’ve taken it on board and will issue a revised form shortly; he also points out that the station had already taken steps to review and simplify the document in question, as they were aware that the terminology was a cause of concern for those asked to sign it.
Cormac Breatnach and Martin Dunlea are currently performing with US actress/singer Vanessa Williams at The Palace Theatre on New York’s Broadway. Their contact with Williams goes back to their first trip to the States in October 2001, one month after 9/11. A radio interview on Kathleen Biggins’ ‘One Hundred Thousand Welcomes’ was heard by Williams, who was much taken with their music. She made contact with Cormac and in April 2004 the pair recorded two tracks with Williams – ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and ‘Silent Night’ – for her new Christmas album, Silver & Gold.
John Blake has left Teada to take up a job coordinating a FÁS employment scheme at Na Piobairí Uilleann in Dublin. “He has been with us from the start,” says fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, “and although it is a natural part of band life that commitments change over time, it is still sad to lose such a musician and friend as John to the band.” Replacing Blake is 25-year-old Sligo flute player Damien Stenson, who will be coming on board in time for a seven-week US tour in February/March. The new lineup will be spending a large part of 2005 touring in Europe and North America, before looking towards a new album later on in the year.
Mick Hanly released his latest album on November 19 with a gig in the Green Room at the Holiday Inn. It’s called Wish Me Well, and it’s a collaboration with guitarist Declan Sinnott, Hanly’s former Moving Hearts colleague – see review elsewhere in this issue of hotpress. Mick has also written his first book, Wish Me Well – Notes On My Sleeve, which will be published by Gill & Macmillan in February 2005: “I started to write the sleeve notes, and lost the run of myself,” he explains. For tour dates and venue information, see www.mickhanly.com.
Speaking of the Green Room, they’re putting on a major shindig for New Year’s Eve that sounds like a lot more fun than your average pay-a-fortune-at-the-door-and-get-one-lousy-glass-of-cheap-champagne pub party. Billed as a Barn Dance, the evening features music from John Millar & The Country Casuals (Scottish Country Artist of the Year 2002), who’s being flown over from Glasgow for the occasion, with support from Truro Syndicate and the Lonesome Highway DJs. The deal also includes dinner and a late bar – and all for €35 a head. Parking is free in the hotel’s underground car park, and if you don’t fancy the drive home you can always book a room. To reserve your ticket, ring 01 670 3666 or Email [email protected], but don’t hang about as they’re selling fast.
One of John Millar’s songs, ‘Radio Sweethearts’ (a co-write with fiddler John McCusker), has been recorded by Kate Rusby, which brings me to my next item. McCusker has just completed composing, producing and performing music for Billy Connolly’s new series on BBC1. The series should be available on DVD in shops this month, and a CD of the music will be released on the Pure Records label on December 13. Meanwhile, Rusby has written two songs for a new 30-minute animation called Jack Frost, tipped to be shown on BBC1 on Christmas Day.
Cavan banjo player Darren Maloney launched his debut album, pessimistically entitled Who?, on the 19th of November at the Farnham Arms Hotel, Cavan. Darren performed sets from the CD with Joe Brennan on guitar and Brian Fleming on percussion, both of whom feature on the album. Other special guests on the night included Colin Farrell on fiddle, Richard Lyons and Trevor Bury on bodhrán, Alan Maguire on bouzouki, and Tomas Maloney and Martin Donohoe on accordion. Maloney’s love affair with the instrument started at age seven, when he was stuck at home sick and discovered an old Abbott banjo that had belonged to his grandfather under his parents’ bed (the banjo, that is, not the grandfather). For more information, see www.darrenmaloney.com, and look for a review in hotpress early in the New Year.
Anúna are getting ready for their annual Christmas concerts. This year, the shows will be in St Anne’s Church in Dawson Street on the 17th, 18th and 19th of December at 8pm. Tickets cost 26 euro each including booking fee and will initially be sold only online via the secure payment system on www.anuna.ie.
Due to phenomenal demand, Planxty have added two extra dates to their schedule of concerts at The Point. The re-formed (but surely not reformed!) lineup of Christy Moore, Liam O’Flynn, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny will now play January 3 and 4, 2005, in addition to their concerts on December 28, 29 and 30.
A hotpress reader in sunny California has sent in a clipping from the Mercury News about a set of uilleann pipes made by the great Leo Rowsome that has finally been returned to its rightful owner after an 18-month adventure and a bit of detective work. The pipes were stolen in May 2003 from the San Juan home of Gabriel McKeagney, who then spent a year and a half checking eBay daily to see if they’d show up. Two months ago, he saw photos of a set of Rowsome pipes for sale on an uilleann pipe website for $2,000 or best offer. McKeagney tracked the seller to Corvallis, Oregon and contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and a private detective he had hired. About a month later, he recovered the pipes and learned that the man who confessed to the theft had been to his home during a meeting of the Southern California Uilleann Pipers’ Club. “He was a nice, clean-cut kid,” McKeagney told the reporter. “And he had a genuine interest in music.” The McKeagneys have thus far declined to press charges, but have asked the man to complete community service at a retirement home or hospital in Corvallis.
Continuing for a moment with the piping theme: Over 25 years after Séamus Ennis left his father James’ bagpipes in trust with Tom Mulligan, they’ve been restored to full working order. In conjunction with Séamus’ sister Ursula, the task of getting them back in playing order was carried out by piper Dave Rickard from Cabra, Dublin. James Ennis, who died in January 1964 aged 75, played these pipes before he took up the uilleann pipes and was the leading piper with the Dublin Pipers Club in the early 20th century. The Ennis family has decided to donate the pipes to the Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, County Dublin.
Finally, congratulations to our very own Niall Toner who reports that on the basis of his Bill Monroe tribute songs on his last CD, he’s been invited by The Bill Monroe Foundation to perform at its annual Festival in Rosine, Kentucky, in October 2005.
See you all in the New Year. Keep the news coming ….

Musicians and singers with news to share can
e-mail Sarah on [email protected].