Irish Music Magazine - Annual 2020 issue

COVER STORY

TRADFEST 2020

TradFest Dublin celebrates their 15th Anniversary from January 22-26.

FEATURES

CHRISTY MOORE
Lar Flynn takes a brief look at a 50 plus year career of an Irish icon and celebrating his new collection of songs on his new CD, Magic Nights.

AOIFE SCOTT : HOMEBIRD
Lar Flynn chats to Aoife about this much anticipated new release at TradFest 2020.

KEVIN BURKE’S SLIGO MADE
Renowned fiddle player, Kevin Burke, talks about his new CD Sligo Made to Aidan O’Hara.

MUSIC HOUSE TRADITION AT CARRAGH COTTAGE
A visit to the Carragh Cottage Music, Song and Story Sessions hosted by Seán Keane is a rich & rare experience, writes Frank Greally.

CHERISH AT 35
2020 is a milestone year for Cherish the Ladies. Seán Laffey gets Joanie Madden’s perspective on their achievement.

MÁIRÉAD NESBITT
Máiréad Nesbitt tells Grainne McCool that music has always been an integral part of her life.

GEORGE MURPHY & THE RISING SONS
Seán Laffey caught up with George Murphy as the singer headed off for a rehearsal in the Dockside Abbey Theatre.

TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS
On January 31st Aly Bain will bring his Transatlantic Sessions to Celtic Connections in Glasgow, writes Seán Laffey.

REFLECTIONS FROM PAUL WATCHORN
Paul Watchorn has just released a solo album, Reflections, a collection of his best-loved songs. Mark Lysaght spoke with him recently to discuss this new CD.

MARY BLACK ORCHESTRATED
Anne Marie Kennedy chats to the critically acclaimed Mary Black.

A TRADITION CONTINUES
Irish Music Magazine caught up with Tallymoore who are based in Milwaukee, USA.

MUSIC NETWORK JANUARY TOUR 2020
Grainne McCool finds out about the first Music Network Trad Tour of 2020 from programmes manager Deirdre Moynihan and concertina player Jack Talty.

RYAN YOUNG
Ryan Young who is “Leading the ‘New Wave’ of traditional Scottish fiddlers,” talks about himself & his new CD to Aidan O’Hara.

THE NOBLE CALL
Maryann McTeague Keifer chats to The Noble Call for Irish Music Magazine.

NUADÁN’S DÉN DÍOBHÁIL
Nuadán are Cárthach, Macdara and Pax Ó Faoláin, and Iarlaith MacGabhann, writes Anne Marie Kennedy.

TOMMY MAKEM
Aidan O’Hara revisits a 1976 recording he made with Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy.

THE WARD IRISH MUSIC ARCHIVES
A glance around a Dublin Library gave the late Ed Ward of Milwaukee an idea. Seán Laffey finds out more from WIMA archivist Jeff Ksiazek.

MICHAEL BURKE WHISTLES
Seán Laffey talks to Michael Burke, a Southern Illinois maker of high end professional whistles.

ORLAITH AND BROGAN McAULIFFE
Born in London to County Kerry parents and with a strong grá for the ancestral home, the two musical sisters tell Seán Laffey about their roots and music.

SHANE MEEHAN
Shane Meehan has a new album out, called ‘Twill Do. A mix of old favourites and new compositions, fiddle music with a North Connaught flavour. Seán Laffey asks the key questions.

THE BONNY MEN
Formed in 2011, The Bonny Men are set to release their third album, called The Broken Pledge. Seán Laffey finds out more for Irish Music Magazine from Conor Lyons.

COSCÁN @ 21 YEARS
Mark Lysaght caught up with David Nevin.

AOIFE : THE ASSOCIATION OF IRISH FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Colm Croffy, CEO of AOIFE chats to Robert Heuston.

JERRY DOUGLAS
Multi-Grammy award winning musician and producer Jerry Douglas is one of the multitude of Americans with a special affinity to Ireland, writes Chris Keenan.

AICF CONFERENCE & SHOWCASES 2019
Mairin Petrone discusses the AICF Organisation with Robert Heuston.

THE HUMOURS OF DERRYNACOOSAN
Fiddle player & music teacher Mossie Martin has recorded his first CD The Humours of Derrynacoosan, writes Aidan O’Hara.

A NEW HARBOUR FOR IONTACH
Iontach are a German based trio. Seán Laffey talks to the band about their recent album, Cuan.

YOUR GUIDE TO BLÁSTA FESTIVAL 2019
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith – the home of Irish music in London.

LONDON : EMBRACING THE TRADITION
David O’Keeffe, General Manager of the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith chats to Robert Heuston of Irish Music Magazine.

DESSIE O’HALLORAN
From Inishbofin to London town, around the world and back. An appreciation by Anne Marie Kennedy.

GAVIN RALSTON
An appreciation by Mark Lysaght.

ED WARD
A personal appreciation by Seán Laffey.

THE CATHEDRAL CONCERTS
An 800 year old building constructed on the site of an ancient well, supposedly used by Saint Patrick himself. As concert settings go, they don’t come any more unique than that.

SIN É CELEBRATING 21 YEARS
Mick O’Brien has presented Sin É radio show for a record breaking twenty-one years, writes Lar Flynn.

FESTIVALS

REVIVED IN THE ROLLING HILLS
Caroline Tatem reports on the Penn-Mar Irish Festival 2019 for Irish Music Magazine.

DUNEDIN LIVE : HAGGIS WINTER MusicFest
Robert Heuston chats with Michael Dennis Lange, the Florida based Festival and Concert promoter.

THE GATHERING TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL, KILLARNEY
A stellar line-up is in place from February 26th – March 1st, 2020.

IMBOLC International Arts Festival
The 2020 Festival runs from January 26th – February 9th.

MUSIC CITY IRISH FEST
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Weekend in Nashville, Tennessee, March 2020.

CORK FOLK FESTIVAL
William Hammond tells Irish Music Magazine how the October
festival went.

REGULARS

STORIES FROM IRISH AMERICA
Réidín O’Flynn chats with Jimmy Kelly.

WALTONS TUITION
Another selection of tutorials brought to you in association with Waltons Music. You can now listen to these online at www.waltons.ie

GREAT INFLUENCES ON THE TRADITION
Aidan O’Hara writes about Patrick Weston Joyce, a leading Irish scholar and one of the greatest collectors of Irish music and song.

LEGENDS OF IRISH MUSIC
An appreciation of P.J. Hayes by Mark Lysaght.

PLAY-ALONG BACKING TRACKS
Brought to you in association with the Online Academy of Irish Music (OAIM).

STORY BEHIND THE SONG
Seán Laffey writes that in Martinmas Time a clever young woman gets the better
of the British Army.

CD REVIEWS
Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of
Folk and Traditional Music.

LIVE REVIEWS

FLEADH CHEOIL Na hÉIREANN 2019
John Carty’s Celebratory Fleadh Concert in Drogheda, honouring his Flanagan Brothers Award. Deirdre Cronin reports for Irish Music Magazine.

THE JIG OF LIFE AWARDS IN CAVAN
The NYAH. The force of nature that makes up Martin Donohoe: accordionist, broadcaster, ambassador for music hosted a memorable evening of Irish Traditional Music writes Deirdre Cronin.

BOOK REVIEWS

LIMERICK MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE DECADES
Author: Paddy Brennan. 556-page illustrated book. Aidan O’Hara reviews for Irish Music Magazine.