Irish Music Magazine - August 2000

Ireland

The Wolfe Tones

John Brophy meets Brian Warfield a man with a large collection of golden discs and a huge following. Their music might not be PC but it is undeniably popular.

Kelly's Colourful Mosaic

Alan Kelly is like many musicians these days, he's forging his own way in music, happy with his strong traditional background but not pretending that what he is doing now is purely traditional. Ita Kelly puts the pieces together.

De Danann

For years we've been tickled and amused by those mainstream tunes that Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn have made uniquely Irish, from Lennon and McCartney to George Frederick Handel, they've all been given that Galway backbeat. Now they've been re-recorded and released on a new Hummingbird album. Jack Harrison reports.

The Last Word

Ita Kelly talks to musician and composer Paddy Fahey and some of his admirers as he is honoured with the FONN Hall of Fame Award in Galway.

21 Years a Growing

Richard O'Rourke looks ahead at the 21st Cork Folk Festival one of our modern day musical success stories. 

A Beacon of Hope

Ita Kelly discusses the merits of aural leaning with Marcus Hernon.

United Kingdom

What's the Story Joe

Sean Laffey brings us up to date on the re-awakened career of one of the original trad/rockers, Joe O'Donnell. The Limerick man is now back gigging and has an album of newly composed tunes.

Europe

Celtic Belgium

John O'Regan reports from the land of the Fir Bolg on the ever-growing Celtic music scene. There are 8,000 Irish people living in the country and with some interesting indigenous bands.

Jim McCann

Jim McCann is a veteran of the ballad boom; he recalls stories of nights with the Dubliners, tours to Japan and the craic and camaraderie of the life of a strolling player, writes Jim Kelly.

North America

Bongo Bob is Broadway Bound

Jim Kelly catches up with Riverdance Percussionist, Robbie Harris on the release of the new double CD special 'Pure Bodhrán'.

Variety is the Fiddler's Spice

US based label Green Linnet are behind the latest release from Scariff resident fiddler Dr Manus McGuire of Moving Cloud and Buttons & Bows. Manus plays tunes cutting across different musical traditions, including Irish, Shetland, and French Canadian. As Earle Hitchner reports, such diversity drives his passion for playing.

Regulars

Regional Report (Paddy O'Brien Remembered)

Every August the town of Nenagh in north Tipperary holds a festival in honour of one of the most important musicians in Irish Traditional Music. Sean Laffey brings you the essential background.

Up and Coming (Conor McCarthy)

Phil Gaston meets fellow county man in the form of County Clare box player, Conor McCarthy

Tuition Tips from Waltons

Roisin up the bow and put the fiddle under your chin as we work out with Waltons and learn a few tricks of the fiddler's trade.

Making the Music

Sean Laffey finds out how the Cairdín business is doing and keeps an eye out for any subtle innovations

Story Behind the Tune

John Brophy saddles up the old Honda and goes off once more in search of the story behind one of our native treasures. Find out where he's delving this month.

Thunderbolts & Lightning

Our regular look at the influences that shaped some of today's famous players. Breda Smyth is one of the best known faces in traditional music, having fronted the Fleadh programmes on RTE and having toured the world with Lord of the Dance, she is a busy lady. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Ita Kelly reports.

Live Reviews

• The Chieftains at the Olympia, Dublin
• Donal Lunny & Coolfin at HQ, Dublin
• Dezi Donnelly at the Lobby, Cork

CD Reviews

Another 4 page selection of CD Offerings brought to you in association with HMV.

Readers Poll 2000 Results

Thanks to all our readers across the globe for an overwhelming response to our 2000 Readers Poll. See Centre Pages for the final results.