Irish Music Magazine - Feb 2000

Ireland

Danú Traditional Thinking

Later this month Danú will launch their first Shanachie album Think Before You Think, it will open up the American market to them. Seán Laffey finds they are more than ready for it with new tunes, a rake of classy songs and well thought out arrangements.

Mary Coughlan

Malcolm Rogers meets Mary who is about to feature in a musical tribute to her heroine Billie Holiday. Mary's own career has seen the highs and lows, read about the recent hiatus

Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2000 Award

The prize has doubled this year, there's an even better offer of media coverage, and it's the route to a fast track career in traditional music. Donal Cassidy tells us all

A Wave from Cill Na Martra

It has taken nearly twenty-five years for Connie O'Connell to make his first CD; it's been well worth the time. Seán Laffey hears tales of Padraig O'Keefe and Dennis Murphy and wonders just where are the boundaries of Sliabh Luachra?

After 10.30

Clare's Wild Child of Folk Rock has returned to her roots, Mary Custy is back, with a leaner more gentle album. Phil Gaston squeezes in the questions in a crowded bar in Ennis.

Life Begins at Forty

Claddagh Records is looking into its forty-first year with renewed energy. Aidan O'Hara brings us the latest on the longest lived of Irish labels.

Europe

Carrantouhil - Poles and Peaks Apart

An Irish traditional band from Poland - you'd better believe it says John O'Regan and they have a stack of albums to prove they do the diddle right.

North America

Liz Carroll

She's the fiddler we'd leave Ireland to hear; she's a prolific composer and yet her recordings are few and far between. Earle Hitchner interviews the lady they've named a day after in Chicago.

Black 47

John O'Regan discusses the latest opus from Black 47, New York's Urban Irish pub rockers. It is probably their best work to date.

United Kingdom

Mike McGoldrick - Fused

He's been in the studio on and off for over a year and what has emerged is something new, perhaps a bit strange, hiberno-jazz, maybe, Celtic music certainly, exceptional flute playing naturally. Dough Briggs recalls how it all started on a dry night in Manchester when Martin Carthy lost out.

Flook

David Ingram catches up with the fluting foursome in Garth Brooks' country.

Regulars

Tuition (Tin Whistle Tips)

In the first of a new series, All-Ireland champion flute-player, Darragh Patwell explains how to execute the rolls in Morrisons' jug it's a breeze once you blow.

Up and Coming - Galldubh

It's coffee and buns in Bewleys for John Brophy when he lunches with the dark stranger, AKA the piping psychologist Eamonn Galldubh.

Story Behind the Tune

A new series looking at the hidden stories behind the tunes we all know so well. This month Paul De Grae recalls the tale of Sailing into Walpoles Marsh.

Live Reviews

(Celtic Flame Special)

• Davy Spillane & Paddy Glackin
• Dolores Keane & Dougie McLean

CD Reviews

• Another 4 page selection of CD offerings brought to you in association with Virgin Megastore.

Festivals Special

Our highly popular festivals wallchart. The most informative guide to Irish Music Festivals World-Wide in 2000.

Coming Soon

Look out for the forthcoming special millennium St Patrick's Day issue including:

• Sean Keane
• Altan
• Kila
• Iarla O'Lionaird
• Tommy Fleming
• Across the Western Ocean Special ................... and much more