For Pete’s sake

Word comes from across the water that the greatest folkie of them all, Pete Seeger, has recorded part of a forthcoming new album. Only weeks before celebrating his 84th birthday on May 3, Seeger went into a studio in Woodstock, New York, to commit to tape a handful of songs in response to America’s invasion of Iraq.

Among the tracks he put down was an updated version of ‘Bring Them Home’, a composition Seeger originally wrote during the Vietnam War. The song, on which he trades verses with a younger crop of politically outspoken musicians – Steve Earle, Ani DiFranco and Billy Bragg – now includes new lyrics co-written by Seeger and Appleseed Recordings founder Jim Musselman, who recruited the guest vocalists.

“I felt that the song and what Pete says in it have an important message during this time of backlash against entertainers like Tim Robbins and the Dixie Chicks, who have simply expressed their views, which is what is needed in a democracy,” Musselman explains. “Pete is someone who has always stood up for the First Amendment, going back to the McCarthy era, when he faced a jail term rather than give up his constitutional rights.” (Seeger’s refusal to discuss his political affiliations before the House Committee On Un-American Activities in the 1950s resulted in a year-long jail sentence – never served while the case was on appeal, and eventually thrown out of court six years later).

Also recorded during the recent Woodstock sessions were ‘The Dove’ and ‘Flowers of Peace’. Together with ten more songs taped by Seeger over the last three years – including ‘Tell It To Doctor King’, written in response to the events of September 11 – they’ll serve as half of a new two-CD set, Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Volume 3, scheduled for August release by Appleseed Recordings. The other disc will consist of fifteen new recordings by the likes of Janis Ian, Tom Paxton and Holly Near of songs written by or associated with Seeger.

Congratulations to fiddler Matt Cranitch on receiving the University College Cork ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for 2003 – and on being the very first traditional musician to be honoured in this fashion. Cranitch has played with a number of traditional groups, notably Na Filí, Any Old Time and most recently Sliabh Notes. He’s also the author of The Irish Fiddle Book, which has become the standard reference on the topic. In recognition of his ongoing research into the Sliabh Luachra fiddle style, and to enable him to concentrate more fully on this project, Matt received a Government of Ireland Senior Research Scholarship earlier in the year from The Irish Research Council for the Humanities & Social Sciences.

Flush with the success of having one of his songs, ‘The Curra Road’, covered on the new Karan Casey CD (see review elsewhere in this issue of hotpress), Cork singer/songwriter Ger Wolfe is hard at work on his third album, tentatively entitled Standing in Doorways. Ger also appeared recently on the ‘Other Voices’ television programme and album.

Sean Needham, who played support to Tracy Chapman at her recent shows in Dublin and Belfast, reports that he’s “hiding out in a big house in the country any chance I get, recording the new album. I’m really happy with what we’re cooking so far. It’s coming along nicely but still a bit of work to do. I’ll keep you updated.”

The new Kíla CD, Luna Park, is due to be released the day this magazine hits the newsstands, and I for one am looking forward to hearing it. The album was recorded in a ‘home’ studio built by the band in “a fantastic old house” owned by a generous friend, followed by what reportedly were “two great weeks” of mixing down in the Grouse Lodge studio in Rosemount, Co. Westmeath, with Mick Glossop (of Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison fame). The launch party was set to take place at Vicar Street on May 22, with the string quartet that played on the album in attendance.

Medieval Ireland, hosts of the recent medieval festival at Slane Castle, are looking for two or three female singers to sing at various medieval banquets, tournaments and festivals throughout the year – preferably ones who are already well used to singing unaccompanied traditional songs. Those interested can Email Ally or Melanie at medievalireland@bt internet.com.

Trad musicians including Frankie Gavin, Seamus Egan, Andy Irvine, Micheál Ó Suilleabháin, Tommy Sands and De Danann were over in West Virginia earlier this month for a four-day conference on ‘Re-Imagining Ireland’. For more info on the event, check out www.re-imagining-ireland.org.

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Gus O’Connor, owner of the famous O’Connor’s pub in Doolin, Co. Clare. Born in Doolin in 1926, O’Connor took over the running of the family pub in 1956 – by which time it was already known for music, having been the site of a Raidió Éireann recording featuring the legendary singer and whistle player Micho Russell. Over the subsequent years, RTRs Céilí House was regularly recorded in the pub, and numerous musical luminaries called in to take part in the sessions there.

If you find yourself heading down the Clare direction over the coming months, check out the Glór Summer Music Festival, already under way and continuing through September 27. Céilí dancing takes place on Sunday nights, preceded by set dancing instruction. On Monday evenings, the performances continue with the ‘Best of Clare’ series, while Tuesday evenings explore how Irish music has travelled abroad. There’s also music in the Glór Café from 12 to 2pm daily except Sunday. Also on display though the end of September is the interactive exhibition ‘They Love Music Mightily’, featuring contemporary recordings from such artists as Mary MacNamara, Paul Dooley and the aforementioned Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin. The film Clare For The Music! is shown at 11.30am and 2pm from Monday to Saturday and at 7.30pm from Sunday to Tuesday. For enquiries and bookings, ring (065) 684 3103 or log onto www.glor.ie.

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