Folk Centre

The Boys & Girl from County Clare starring Bernard Hill, Colm Meaney and the incandescent Ms. Andrea Corr hasn’t been the subject of quite as much hype as you might expect of a film with such high profile stars. The warm light-hearted comedy set in the world of traditional Irish music is to get a premiere screening in Glór, Ennis on Thursday July 7. Now as I haven’t seen the picture (they’re still not movies in the midlands) I can’t give you much guidance as to whether it’s worth seeing or not but it’s probably worth sitting through with your eyes closed as the sound track features the wonderfully named Cicass Ceili Band. After the credits have rolled, glór will host a rousing performance from members of the Cicass Céilí Band, including Paddy Glackin, Kieran Hanrahan, Padraig MacMathuna and many more, and you can be sure that you’ll go home that night suitably cic-ed, if not whupped.

Another former member of Stockton’s Wing will be taking to the stage at Glór a week earlier as Maurice Lennon stages his musical suite Brian Boru in the Ennis venue on Friday July 1. The album was one of the most highly regarded ‘concept’ albums ever to be recorded here and the stage show will featured an extended line up. Sean Keane will be guesting on vocals on the evening
Also in Glór on July 1 is Don Mescall. Originally from Limerick, this singer songwriter has been honing his skills in London and while he has had songs recorded by some major artists he hasn’t yet found the recognition he deserves in his own right. Following on the heels of a sell-out small venue tour of Ireland and an amazing reaction when he performed alongside Paddy Casey, Mundy, Jack L and Jerry Fish at the St.Patricks Festival in London earlier this year things may be set to change.
Donegal’s 17th Earagail Arts Festival kicks off Monday 4th July for two weeks of lively and exciting events. Among the hottest tickets is a unique celebration of the music of the Brennan family, the Donegal clan which brought us Enya and Clannad and who between them all have sold over 70 million albums worldwide. Three extraordinary concerts on July 13, 15 and 17 will laud the life’s work of parents Leo and Baba and the extraordinarily talented family they’ve raised.
The first concert at St. Mary’s Church, Derrybeg, on Wednesday July 13, pays due respect to the choir in which many of the family flexed their singing skills. As conductor and an award-winning singer herself, Baba Brennan conducts Cor Mhuire Doire Beaga with organist Leonard Dorrian and members of Clannad and the Moya Brennan Band doing what they do best to make it a magical night to remember. Of all the events in the celebration this seems to be the one that the family are most looking forward to.
Ceol Clainne (The Family’s Music) at Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, on Friday July 15 brings young and old in the family together for a rare and special celebration of all that they’ve achieved and it’ll give the younger generation a chance to put the spotlight on their instrumental skills.
On Sunday July 17 A Night in Leo’s promises smooth jazz and great craic in Leo Brennan’s world famous Tavern in Meenaleck, Crolly. Special guests Paddy Cole Jazz All Stars and other fond friends will be dropping by in a musical salute to one of Ireland’s most loved and gifted families.
Fiddler Paddy Reynolds passed away in New York June 15 and will be sorely missed there as well as in his native Longford.
Another shocking death is that of renaissance man Gerald Davis. Best known, I suppose, as a painter and gallery owner, he was also a tremendous Joycean scholar and a great wit. He was also a muso par excellence and between his label Livia Records and his activities as a promoter he helped many musicians carve out a niche for themselves. Renowned, too, as a thrower of fantastic parties, his like,as they say, will not be seen again.
Another passing to be marked is the sad departing of Mother Redcap's, Dublin which will present its last ever show on July 5 before closing its doors for good. In this case the demise is eased by the knowledge that promoter Paul Lee will continue to put on some of the most engaging shows in the capital at The Cobblestone.
Flook fans, or at least Flook fans with broadband, will be interested to hear that one of the band’s live shows is available online as the Kennedy Centre in Washington continues its practice of making shows available on its website.
Gael Linn has announced that it is to re-issue a pair of seminal recordings from the '70s. The eponymous Jackie Daly and Seamus Creagh boasts two of the finest musicians in the country on one of the most influential records of its time, one which routinely makes an appearance in musicians’ top ten lists. The influence of the music of Sliabh Luachra can be heard clearly in this recording. There is a rich collection of slides, polkas, hornpipes, jigs, reels, slow airs and songs to be heard on this remastered CD. The musicians have collected their music from the surrounding districts of Sliabh Luachra and Muskerry.
Also re-released is Micheal O Suilleabhain’s eponymous first album. The recording was originally released in 1976 on the Gael Linn label and has now been completely remastered. Now head of the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick and a central figure in Culture Ireland, this recording harks back to the time when he was a youngblood using the keyboard in a revolutionary way to interpret Irish traditional music.
The legendary Richie Havens is gifted with one of the most recognizable voices in popular music. His fiery, poignant, always soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless since he first emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 1960s. It’s a voice that has inspired and electrified audiences from the Woodstock Music & Arts Fair in 1969, to the Clinton Presidential Inauguration in 1993 -coming full circle with the 30th Woodstock Anniversary celebration, A Day In The Garden, in 1999.
For over three decades, Havens has used his music to convey messages of brotherhood and personal freedom. With more than 25 albums released and a touring schedule that would kill many a younger man, he continues to view his calling as a higher one. As he told The Denver Post, “I really sing songs that move me. I’m not in show business, I’m in the communications business. That’s what it’s about for me”. He’ll be communicating with the audience in Barry’s of Grange on Wednesday July 13.
Mozaik, which features Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, Bruce Molsky from the US, Nikola Parov from Hungary and Rens Van Der Zalm from The Netherlands, got together in Australia in early March 2002 and first played at Barry’s of Grange, last year to a sell out audience, with many fans missing out on this legendary gig . The band returns for two nights on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 July. Even at two nights this will sell out with indecent haste so you should snap up tickets while you still can.