Irish Music Magazine - February '98

Editorial - Getting the Message across

Ronan Hardiman

Minstrel to the Lord. When Michael Flatley was looking for Irish Music for his Lord of the Dance, he turned to Ronan Hardiman. Musically it was a tight brief. Dave Caren reports.

Readers Poll

Go on surprise yourself, find out who won and who were the runners up, who should you watch out for in '98.

The Long Journey Home

Paddy Moloney has a new multi-media CD out, backed by American entertainment giants Buena Vista. John Brophy caught up with the diminutive piper on his recent visit to Dublin.

Magnetic Attraction

John O'Regan tours Germany with Peter Pandula's Celtic Halloween Festival. Efficient German organisation and some great hotels could teach Irish promoters a thing or two.

Irish American Experiences

Ronan Nolan in conversation with Mick Moloney, John Brophy meets one man archive Paddy O'Brien and Paul Keating gives us an over view of the social dance scene in New York.

The Complete Folk Singer

Andy Irvine, rated by many as the business, the man who brought Balkans beats into Irish trad. Paul Saunders meets him in Wolverhampton - now there's exotic for you!

No Voices Needed

Lúnasa are one of the most exciting live bands to emerge over the past three years. And they don't have a singer, this no compromise attitude is winning friends across the world.

The Push And The Draw

Ronan Nolan finds Johnny Connolly's visit to Lorient Festival was the inspiration required to bring the Galway master back to the one row box.

Fiddles In Harmony

Cardiff-based Kilbride brothers produce a mixture of Irish and Welsh tunes, with the Welsh accent on harmonic variation and the Irish on melodic ornamentation. There's a story about this Japanese fiddle collector and their roots in Wicklow - surreal stuff this traditional music. Sean Laffey reports on their recent Dublin visit.