Irish Music Magazine - October 1999

Ireland

Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Alive Alive O!

Ita Kelly catches up with the dynamic duo on the release of their new album "Live in Seattle".

Now I Know What I Want

Jim talks with Brian Kennedy, the boy from the Falls Road. Is Brian happy with his pop singer image or would he like more artistic licence to discover new vocal spaces? What about a traditional album from the man with the golden tonsils?

Mairín Fahy - Solo At Last

Mairín Fahy is a very busy fiddler, almost constantly touring with Riverdance, performing with Reeltime and the Furry Village, it is a wonder she has the time for solo projects. John O'Regan discovers how her new solo album was pieced together.

Maighread And Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill .... Lights On The Horizon

"The songs and the sources are the most important thing on the new album Idir an Dhá Sholas" says Maighread. The album title itself is derived from the Donegal Irish expression for twilight, the time between light and dark. Story by Ita Kelly.

North America

Lúnasa Takes America By Storm - Literally

Earle Hitchner caught up with the Irish band as they made a triumphant major-festival debut last month in the USA.

Brothers Black Magic

Singers Mary and Frances Black are better known, but siblings Shay, Michael and Martin are also carving out a name for themselves. Earle Hitchner reports.

United Kingdom

Debating The Pipes

Steve McGrail discusses piping with Kathryn Tickell. On her latest CD, Debateable Lands, there is (probably) the first ever recorded pairing of uilleann and small pipes, not an easy task as they play in different keys.

Europe

Timeless Irish Songs From Geraldine MacGowan

Where Geraldine MacGowan is concerned Timeless is not only the title of her latest album but also a statement of her place within the Irish folk hierarchy. Geraldine will tour her Magnetic Music album Timeless Irish Songs in Germany from the second week of October. Your guide on this time travel trip is John O'Regan.

Regulars

An Irish Traditional Century

When the beards began to sing where did they find the material? In Dublin's fair City one Colm O'Lochlainn at the Sign of the Three Candles, collected and published a vast body of folk songs. In the 1960's all at once, here in the urban capital was a ready-made repertoire. John Brophy recounts the circuitous tale of one of the ballads in O'Lochlainn's collection.

Up And Coming Marbh Le Té, Marb Gan E

This month's feature on new talent and unsigned artists is a profile of Kinvara based Sean-nos singer Finola O Siochrú. Ita Kelly reports.

Live Reviews

• Cork Folk Festival
• Joe Mooney Summer School

CD Reviews

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

Oireachtas Report

This years annual gathering of the Gaels is in the small but very significant Waterford Gaeltacht of An Rinn. There's a special supplement previewing what is undoubtedly the most diverse celebration of Irish culture, as Gaeilge, of course.

Coming Soon

Look out for the November issue featuring James Keane, Old Blind Dogs, Mick O'Brien, Mairéad Nesbitt, CIAN, Irish Traditional Century and much more at your newsagent from October 24th 1999.