Independent spirit

First off, congratulations to traditional singer extraordinaire Niamh Parsons on her big win at the Association For Independent Music (AFIM)’s 2003 Indie Awards. Up against stiff competition from fellow nominees Brian Conway (for First Through The Gate, on Smithsonian Folkways) and Alan & John Kelly (for Fourmilehouse, on Compass), Niamh’s album Heart’s Desire (Green Linnet) won Best Celtic/British Isles Album at the awards, which took place at the joint AFIM and National Association Of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) convention in Orlando, Florida, on March 18.

Among the other winners were the Alison Brown Quartet, for Replay (Compass) – Best Acoustic Instrumental Album; Alison Krauss, for Union Station Live (Rounder) – Best Bluegrass Album; Guy Clark, for The Dark (Sugar Hill) – Best Contemporary Folk Album; Frank McCourt and Roma Downey, for Castles of Gold (Green Linnet) – Best Spoken Word Album; and Doc Watson and David Holt, for Legacy (High Windy Audio) – Best Traditional Folk Album. Founded in 1972, AFIM is a trade group dedicated to the development and expansion of the independent music industry.

A great new traditional music radio show started up on BBC2 Northern Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, and I wish I’d found out about it before now; unfortunately, there are only two programmes left in the series. Hosted by Antáine Ó Donnaile, Ceol I gCuideachta... (‘Music In The Company Of...’) airs on Monday nights at 10pm; each week a different group or artists are featured, playing live and talking about their lives, loves and music. Thus far, musicians appearing on the show have included Danú, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Meabh O’Hare (with Conor Byrne and guitarist Donncha Moynihan), and the West Ocean String Quartet. Those of you who’ve picked up your copy of hotpress early still have time to catch fiddler Gerry O’Connor and his son Donal on April 14. Not to be confused with Gerry ‘Banjo’ O’Connor of Four Men & A Dog (who plays fiddle as well, just to confound things thoroughly), the Gerry I’m talking about is based in Dundalk and is probably best known for his work with the band La Lugh. Born into a family with at least five generations of fiddlers, Gerry draws on a wealth of tunes learned from his mother Rose, and Donal has now inherited that musical legacy.

The final programme (April 21) features two fine musicians who both happen to be men of the cloth, as they say. Flute player Gary Hastings from Belfast and fiddler Seamus Quinn from Fermanagh first met while studying Irish at Coleraine University back in the early 1980s. Gary is now Church of Ireland rector in Westport, while Seamus is a priest in Monaghan. As well as some superb music in the Fermanagh/Leitrim style, both men talk on air about how the church, music and the Irish language have influenced them and cemented their friendship.

The date has finally been set for an open meeting for those interested in the new Traditional Musicians’ Section of the Musicians Union of Ireland, about which regular readers of this column may recall reading in past issues. The meeting takes place in Liberty Hall, Dublin, at 6pm on Tuesday, April 15 – less than a week after this magazine hits the newsstands, so please accept my apologies if you’re reading this too late to attend. The meeting is open to everyone involved in traditional music in Ireland, whether full time, part time, recording artist, session player, composer, teacher or other. Main areas of discussion will include the benefits of having an organised body to look after the interests of trad musicians; what particular issues affect them; membership; and the formation of a Section Committee (membership numbers permitting), as well as any other questions or concerns that arise. Any policy or agenda will be set by the members, not by the committee. Membership applications will be accepted before and after the meeting.

“In my opinion, the needs of traditional musicians can only be addressed if there is a strong body in place in which we can voice our concerns,” says bouzouki player Niall Ó Callanáin, who spearheaded the event. “I hope we can organise further, similar meetings, in other centres around the country, very soon.” For more information, Email Niall directly on [email protected].

Donal Lunny has sent an open letter to the members of FACÉ (Filí, Amhránaithe & Ceoltóirí na h-Éireann, the musicians, singers and poets organisation set up by Steve Cooney), adding his voice in support of the MUI: “It is crucial that everybody who can attend, does so,” he writes. “FACRs ideals and aspirations will undoubtedly have a positive influence on the MUI at all levels, and not just in the Traditional Musicians’ branch. May all boats rise!” Other sources tell me that Donal is still working away on the final mix of the debut CD by Mozaik, whose multinational lineup includes Andy Irvine, Bruce Molsky, Nikola Parov, Rens van der Zalm and Lunny himself. Watch this space ....

Mike Hanrahan and Ronnie Drew spent the national holiday in London, headlining an open-air gig in the Jubilee Gardens underneath the London Eye. Also on the bill were such artists as Seán Keane, The Undertones, Mary Coughlan and Niall Toibín – quite a mix! The day was blazingly sunny, according to Mike, and the atmosphere was electric: “The East End of London was Ireland for a day, and Londoners were delighted that we were there. That in itself made it kind of special… Ken Livingstone and indeed our Lord Mayor of Dublin were on hand to add the political frills without any of the usual bluster. My highlight of the day? The audience reaction, Niall Toibín and having a pint with Seán Keane – we hadn’t met for a few years. All in all a super Paddy’s Day celebration.” Mike and Ronnie are off on an Irish tour next month.

Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich was also abroad for the day, playing a gig in Paris to celebrate the tenth year of the twinning of Ballina, Co. Mayo, and Athis Mons, one of the city’s suburbs: “30 thousand people live there,” she says, “and no pub in sight! The events were held in a beautiful circular pavilion, a Romany Gypsy-type edifice, with a wooden floor and coloured windows, rented from a company in Holland for about E8,000 for the week.” Joining her onstage were two Mayo men – accordionist David Munnelly and his brother Kieran Munnelly on flute and bodhrán – plus Seosaimhín’s son Gavin Ralston on guitar, singer Andrew Murray from Inishbofin, and Dáire Bracken, aerobic fiddle player with the band Slide. On the night of March 16, the sponsors laid on a Breton feast with crèpes and cider, followed by a concert featuring piper Emer Mayock of the Afro Celt Sound System as well as Seosaimhín & co., plus local musicians and set dancers.

Providence are off to Germany this month, joined for the tour by fiddler John McEvoy, originally from Birmingham but now living in Meath, who also happens to be the brother of renowned flute player Catherine McEvoy. The band is currently recording their third album, due for release later this year.

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