Irish Music Magazine Dec 1999/ Jan 2000

Ireland

From Vaudeville to Video

Seán Laffey picks his way through the debris of the twentieth century, and concludes it was a good time for Irish music. But can it survive the DVD generation and the Celtic Tiger?

Matt Molloy ...... Boiling the Breakfast Early

Matt Molloy and Ita Kelly brunch before lunch as Matt prepares to accept the TG4 Musician of the Year Award.

The Tenor of Tradition

John Brophy discusses the legacies and the future of the great Irish ballad with Anthony Kearns.

A Prince among Pipers

Liam Og O'Flynn tells Jim Kelly about the heady days of Planxty and the approval of Séamus Ennis.

House of Dolphins

It's trad-fusion, with an Arabic core, very European, very adventurous. Melanie O'Reilly and John Brophy mullah over the state of Hiverno-jazz.

Last Orders

Strange title for a debut album! Liz Doherty on why she prefers to play it fast and furious, Seán Laffey tries to keep up.

Take a Bow with the Bowhouse Quintet

John O'Regan plucks up the courage to ask the five-some, is it a case of reel over Beethoven?

Three Hands in Harmony

Malcolm Rogers sings the (three-part harmony) praises of Cran.

Free State of Mind

Jimmy Crowley has strong words as the advocate for the real and local voice of the Irish in Ireland.

Cooking With O'Connor

Jim Kelly finds that cooking is a geas when it comes to fiddler Kevin O'Connor.

The Lightest of Touches

Jo Collins brings the deft touches of riggers and the pale wash of filberts to her recently released album Watercolours. Jim Kelly puts it into perspective for us.

North America

Life ater Riverdance

John O'Regan profiles some of the success stories after their initial career with Riverdance.

A Dark Ride on the Helter Skelter

Ashley Mac Isaac has been to hell and back, an inferno of his own making. The price on the ferry crossing from traditional player to rock wild man was the tempest of smack addiction, Séamus Bellamy taks to the survivor.

A Grá for the Morning

John O'Regan does a bit of astronomy with the Morning Star, a band that has been active on New York's Irish scene since 1982.

Act Accordingly

Earle Hitchner confers with Patty Furlong on her new release and the challenge of playing music on top of a demanding day job and the all too familiar pressures of family life.

Celtic Compilations - The Commercial Edge of the Tradition.

What is behind the Celtic Music business, are we simply clear felling cultures to bring compilations to shopping Malls? Dan Storper bats back the questions as Seán Laffey pitches 'em in.

United Kingdom

If It's January, It Must be Glasgow, Again

Alan McIntosh Brown finds it's bonnie on the Clyde, as Glasgow prepares for another monster Celtic Connections festival.

From Galway to Gracenotes

Kevin MacLead reveals the De Dannan connections on his latest recording, strings attached by Alan McIntosh Brown.

Europe

Champagne for All

Tonder Festival has set benchmarks for other Folk Festivals and that standard is rarely beaten by any of them. Sláinte and good luck to the next 25 years! Report from Michael and Christian Moll.

Pierre Bensusan

What's a nice guy from Paris doing playing traditional Irish music in Belfast? Sure it's where he buys his guitars! Geoff Harden gets the low-down on this musical phenomenon.

Regulars

Up And Coming - From Quarks to Concertinas

Aogán Lynch hasn't made an album yet but he has won this years TG4 Young Musician of the Year Award, Aidan O'Hara thinks he knows why.

Live Reviews

Live in Limerick

John O'Regan comes into contact with the sounds of the Shannon Shore

  • Paul Brady at The Olympia
  • Afro-Celts in San Francisco
  • Set Dancing in Devon
  • French flavour at the Irish Festival

CD Reviews

  • A 5 page selection of offerings brought to you in association with Virgin Megastore.

Book Reviews

  • Notes From The Heart have been republished, and frankly mam, John Brophy finds it's an opportunity lost.
  • Crosbhealach an Cheoil has taken a long time to get it into print, it's cheap and a challenging read but isn't it about time we had another conference? Seán Laffey checks the signposts at the crossroads.

Midem Special

A special preview on Midem 2000, the world's premier show-case of the music industry which will take place in Cannes on January 23rd - 27th.

Coming Soon

It's a whole new millennium and the next issue represents the 50th of Irish Music Magazine