Irish Trad Music Blog

"THE 2010 Amber Fiddle Award has received a welcome boost in the shape of a �1250 grant from Perth and Kinross Council, matching the contributions of the Award’s existing sponsors Birnam CD, Bonskeid Music, Butterstone Studios, The Fiddle Tree and Fiona Ritchie Productions. As a result of the council’s grant, the prize money for this year’s prestigious event has been boosted to reward the second and third place finalists. As in previous years, the first prize will be �1000, and this year there will be additional cash prizes of �500 and �250 for second and third places respectively. The winner will also receive a copy of the Niel Gow Tophy which was commissioned for the award and resides in Dunkeld. Other prizes include a two-year subscription to ‘Fiddle On’ magazine, which will also run a feature on the winner and publish his/her tune in the magazine." Competition to honour fiddle legend Gow - Perthshire Advertiser :

"There are some things that Ireland will never have a short supply of, such as rain, 'grand soft days' and Guinness. But this week the country learned something truly shocking: Ireland is real danger of losing the craft of uilleann pipe making, if it does not invest more in training the craft to potential pipe makers. Like the harp, the uilleann pipe is almost a symbol of Irishness itself. Capable of producing plaintive sounds that can melt the hardest heard from one thousand yards, it's moving notes have been heard in films as various as Titanic and Lord of the Rings." Irish uilleann pipe makers in increasingly short supply | News from Ireland | IrishCentral :

"After a lifetime of playing with tropical island musicians, renowned guitarist Bob Brozman decided to try six days of trad music, writes Siobh�n Long� IT WASN’T EXACTLY a proposition to die for: six days, three musicians who haven’t played as a trio before and a raft of unfamiliar music to contend with. This was the challenge posed by executive producer Brian Carson of Belfast’s Moving On Music – but the truth is it led to sparks flying in directions none of the musicians could have anticipated, with the results of their intensive lockdown captured on a new album, Six Days In Down�. Bob Brozman is a prolific recording artist, ethnomusicologist, master of the Hawaiian slide guitar and this year was voted “Best World Guitarist” by the readers of Guitar Player�magazine." And on the seventh day . . . - The Irish Times - Wed, Oct 20, 2010 :

"WESTPORT harpist Laoise Kelly, celebrates the launch of her long-awaited second CD, ‘Ceis’ at Carrick-on-Shannon’s The Dock venue on Wednesday, October 27, where she will be accompanied by Clare fiddle player Michelle O Brien.�� And as an extra special treat, Achill tin whistle/flute player Des Cafferkey, guitarist Seamie O’Dowd and bodhran player Junior Davey will perform during the first part of the night.�� Laoise, who recently represented Ireland at the World Harp Festival in Paraguay, has pioneered her own unique style of harp playing, using a combination of techniques, by playing the thirty-four gut strung Irish harp with fingernails as opposed to finger tips. Her sheer talent and technical brilliance is very much to the fore on her new album, through her remarkable interpretations of the old and new tunes she has chosen.� ‘Ceis’ breathes a fresh lease of ife into ancient harp airs, previously unheard for centuries, alongside lively west Kerry polkas and new compositions fr...

"Jane Gilmartin and Lynn Feingold will share an evening of traditional music at Old Ship Coffeehouse off the Square at 8 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Coffeehouse off the Square is at Old Ship Church Parish Hall, 107 Main St., Hingham. As Feingold grew up in the folk music renaissance of the 1960s, music was everywhere, but what really caught her attention were the old traditional songs and ballads of England, Ireland and Scotland. She enjoyed the singing styles of folk icons like Joan Baez, Jean Redpath and Judy Collins and was tutored by their recordings. From many sources she collected ancient ballads, tender love songs, hearty drinking songs, and songs of love lost and chances taken. Whether performing for an historical society or a coffeehouse, Feingold draws her audience into the fun with her wit, high energy and good humor. Visit songsofthecolonialdays.com for more" Hingham coffeehouse offers evening of traditional music - Hingham, Massachusetts - The Hingham Journal...

"Galway’s newest live music venue, Monroe’s will play host to a collection of the very best of Galway’s Irish music and dancing talent on Saturday, October 23. The night will be a celebration of the many popular acts which Galway has been producing and hosting over the past few years. Music at the Crossroads, Celtic Rhythm, The Hession school of Dancing, Dance of Desire, Emma Brady and more will all be coming together on one stage for the first time ever. The talent will include Connacht, All Ireland and World champion musicians and dancers. The night is organised by Irish dancer Fergal Costello who is raising €4500 to fund his involvement with The Haven Partnerships Build It week. 600 Irish people will be travelling to Haiti with the group across two weeks in October and November." Leading Irish musicians and dancers for Haiti fundraiser | Galway City Tribune | galwaynews.ie :

"Tommy Sands grew up in Ireland, but his musical influence was American folk singer Pete Seeger. 'He sang songs about real people in real situations,' he said in a phone interview from Reno, Nev., to promote his concert Friday in Lincoln. 'His songs were like a lesson, like a history lesson.' You can imagine how excited he was to meet the legend in person. 'It was in the wintertime, and I was over here touring,' he said. 'I met some friends of Pete's who were aware of how fond I was of his music.' He learned that Seeger knew about him as well. Sands, after all, had been making a name for himself as a singer, songwriter and social activist, performing the music of his native land. Sands, with his wife and two small children, met Seeger at his log cabin by the Hudson River in New York. 'He is so big,' Sands said, remembering Seeger, who is more than 6-feet tall. 'He gave us all a hug at one time. We stayed for a few days and had a grea...