It is now official, we have a section for Arizona on the Irish Abroad web site - http://www.irishabroad.com/irishworld/Arizona/ We join New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Northern California, London, Paris, and Sydney as locations with representation. Considering that we are represented BEFORE LA, San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, Washington DC, etc. is pretty impressive.
News and Notes 05-29-2001
Arizona Irish Music Society
www.azirishmusic.com
George L. O'BrienARIZONA ON IRISH ABROAD WEB SITE
AIMS FESTIVAL DIRECTORY HAS BEEN UPDATED
Wondering where to go this summer? The festivals directory on the AIMS web site has been completely updated. As far as I can tell, it is now the most comprehensive directory of Irish/Celtic festivals available. If you know of any festivals I have missed, please let me know at aims@azirishmusic.com.
This directory has been modified to show four types of festivals. The first group is made up of self identified "Irish" events. The "Celtic" section covers events that primarily Irish, but include music from various other areas including Scottish, Welsh, Brittany, Cape Briton, Skye, Galicia, etc. Some events use the term "Celtic", but are really simply Scottish Highland games (the last section). The third section is Canadian, which has its own style of Celtic music (especially in Maritine provences such as Cape Briton), so even their major folk festivals have an unusually strong Irish/Celtic feel. The last section is a partial list of "Highland Games" which include band performances.
There is a list of events by date and city www.azirishmusic.com/fest_list.htm .to get an overview. Each event listing links to the directory which includes detailed information about who is performing (where available) and the web links www.azirishmusic.com/festival.htm
INSTRUMENT LINKS ORGANIZED BY INSTRUMENTS
The links directory has over 550 links to web sites of interest (not including band links, festival links, and article links). This is why organizing the links has becom a major job. The instruments directory http://www.azirishmusic.com/links_F.htm now has the links organized by instrument such as fiddle, harp, whistle, etc. This should make it more useful.
I am always looking for links and for suggestions on how the categories might be better organized, so please send in your suggestions.
E.R.I.N. TO HOST FEST TO SUPPORT THE CULTURAL CENTER
The Entrepreneur's Resources in Irish Networking (E.R.I.N.) will host a small festival at Heritage Park on Sunday, September 16th. The event is being organized by Patrick Cunningham. Details are still being worked out, but the plan is to have music, dancers, fair booths, food vendors, raffles, and information about the cultural center.
The Fest will be held in the shaded area parallel to 7th Street with booths along the walls and seating in the center. We will have more details in a few weeks. Anyone who wants to be put on the mailing list to become a vendor or to have an information booth, can contact George O'Brien at 602-770-8077 or send an e-mail to aims@azirishmusic.com.
MORE ABOUT THE TUCSON FEIS
George-
I received my copy of Irish Abroad today (I've been receiving this
e publication for about a year now), was scanning through it and found
the link to the article you submitted.
Thanks so very much for this great publicity!!The feis was very successful, and the music competition was the best yet, with 25 competitors, including several duets and some dual instrument competitors.
We'll take a well-deserved vacation, but stand by for news--next year
promises to be even better!
With best regards,
BODHRANS GALORE
With all the talk about bodhráns on the list recently,
I'm sure some bodhrán players will be delighted with this prospect
(from this week's Limerick Leader):
"County Fleadh will move to the beat of the bodhrán.
The beat of 50 bodhráns will reverberate around Athea to mark the
official opening of this year's county fleadh which takes place over
the June Bank Holiday weekend.
It will probably be the biggest gathering of bodhrán players ever
in County Limerick. Each bodhrán will symbolise a year in the life of
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
There is great delight in Athea at having bagged the County Fleadh
on this year of years, the 50th anniversary of CCE.....
---- end of extract ------
What is Comhaltas coming to?
Pat McGarrigle pmcgarrigle@EIRCOM.NET
TOO MANY BODHRANS?
[The following spoof was written in reply the Limberick Leader article by Bill Black - Zouki@AOL.COM News item from the San Francisco Examiner for the day after:
Senior seismologists at the University of California at Davis are at a loss
to explain the unusual readings recorded by their instruments yesterday.
According to spokesman Dr. Lester Zleen, some of the delicate and expensive machinery used to detect earth movements in distant parts of the world actually fell off the tables where they were bolted. "I've never seen anything like it in 40 years of experience," said a shaken Dr. Zleen. "The recording pens were snapped like toothpicks. Something damned big happened yesterday and we don't have any idea what it was."
Scientists at the Lamont-Doherty facility outside New York City also
detected what appeared to be seismic activity and were able to identify
the epicenter as western Ireland. "That's really weird," said Dr. Maryanne
Undelgleiber, acting seismologist at the facility. "As far as anybody knew
up to yesterday, there are no fault lines or tectonic movements anywhere
near Ireland. There hasn't been a volcano in Ireland for fifty thousand
years.
In other words, we don't know what happened, but we do know it was big."
Other reporting stations recorded a quasi-rhythmic thumping of some
two hours' duration. One station in Indonesia reported cracks in its
windows resulting from the mystery vibrations.
No personal injuries have been reported, but premature birth of
quadruplets to a family in Tierra del Fuego may be related to the
phenomenon. Attempts to contact authorities in Ireland have so far been unsuccessful due to local holidays, but travelers returning from the Emerald Isle report numerous instances of being bounced out of bed. One witness claims to have watched the bar of a local pub undulating during the disturbance.
"It was like watching a bedsheet being shaken out," said Ernie Blornik of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who with his bride had been honeymooning in County Clare. "Drinks, glasses, bottles, everything was flying all over the place. And then there was the dull roar, like thunder coming from somewhere. It was terrifying and it seemed to go on forever. It was no way to spend a
honeymoon, I can tell you that." Mrs. Blornik concurred, although she did
say that at first, the undulating motions were "kind of cool", but she
offered no further explanation.
Other visitors to Ireland report cows and sheep being flipped over by the
vibrations. "There they were, standing around as usual," said one witness.
"Then this noise started, and next thing we could actually watch them
bouncing up into the air eight or nine feet and landing on their backs. They seemed surprised. A few struggled to upright themselves, but most of them actually seemed to be enjoying the vibrations. Guess it felt like a massage, and most cows and sheep don't get too many of those. They were mooing and baaing to beat the band, and it looked like they were having the time of their lives."
Caretakers at Knock reported a deluge of worried visitors to the holy shrine. "Everyone was talking about the end of the world," reported a priest. "Actually it was great - I haven't heard so many confessions in years. I was kind of sorry when it was over."
Investigations are continuing.
"DEATH OF RENOWNED FIDDLE PLAYER
Forwarded by Máire sepstm9@eircom.net
From the Donegal Democrat, Tuesday, 15th May, 2001
Some of the leading traditional musicians from throughout Donegal and
beyond are expected at the funeral of the renowned fiddle player Danny
O'Donnell from Dungloe this morning (Tues.).
Danny, who was in his nineties, passed away on Sunday after a short
illness. He was regarded as one of the greatest fiddle players to have
emerged from Donegal, and an authority on Irish fiddle music in general.
He came to prominence as a young player in the 1920's, and made numerous radio broadcasts and commercial recordings in his long career. During an interesting life, he made him h9ome in England, Scotland and the east coast of the United States.
He reeturned to Donegal more than thirty years ago, and lived in
Ballybofey for some years before moving to his native Dungloe.
Caoimhin MacAoidh, who wrote a highly acclaimed book on Donegal fiddle music, said he was shocked at Danny's death. "He was more knowledgeable about the Irish fiddle tradition than anyone I have ever met," he said.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 o clock this morning at
Kincasslagh Chapel, and interment will take place afterwards at Belcruit
cemetery."
NEWS FROM THE MESQUITE BEAN BAND
Hello, this is an informal email list assembled by members & friends of the Mesquite Bean Band. We send out occaisional reminders and information about live music events with the Mesquite Bean Band, or other items of interest to our friends and fans living in the valley. If you would like to have your name removed from the list, please email a request to Jennifer. Or, if you know of others who also love music, send us their email and we'll keep them posted!
Celebrate the beginning of summer!
Also, presenting a new event: This Saturday May 23rd
Pencil that in on your calendars for every 4th Saturday of the month.
CLANDESTINE TO VISIT ARIZONA
George L. O'Brien - Arizona Correspondent to Irish Abroad
The Texas based Celtic band Clandestine will be in Phoenix at Fiddler's Dream (17th St. & Cactus Wren just west of Hwy 51) on Sunday, June 10th at 7:00 PM and in Tucson at Boondocks (3306 N.1st & Ft. Lowell) June 13 at 9:00 PM. Clandestine has developed a following in Arizona due to their performances at the 1999 and 2000 Mesa Highland Games.
Their band's name shows up very frequently on the list of bands performing on the festival circuit. They are especially popular for Scottish events http://www.azirishmusic.com/festival.htm
Their profile may increase after a feature article In the June/July 2001 issue of Dirty Linen Magazine,
written by Tom Nelligan who writes, ", the land of rodeos and refineries is also the home of one of North America's best and brightest interpreters of modern Celtic music. The dynamic, personable quartet called Clandestine specializes in scorching instrumental sets built around the blast of Highland bagpipes and the powerglide of electric fiddle, backed by strong rhythm guitar and driving percussion." They feature " E.J. Jones (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, flute, whistle, and bombarde), singer/guitarist Jennifer Hamel, fiddler Gregory McQueen, and singer/percussionist Emily Dugas."
Jones brings a vibrancy and style to the pipes that sets him off from the stereotypical Highland military style performer. His creativity with the highland pipes makes the listener think of groups such as Brother and Wicked Tinker in terms of attitude more than style. The fiddle playing Gregory McQueen provides a sharp contrast to these other groups.
Music critic Tom Nelligan notes, "As a quieter counterpoint to the tune sets, the members of Clandestine rework traditional songs from the British Isles, adapt some modern ones, and write a few numbers of their own, all arranged for two wonderfully harmonious women's voices. They know that jigs and reels are meant to be fun, and that sense of fun, as well as their enthusiasm for what they're doing, is a hallmark of their performances." Their last two performances in Mesa drew a great number of Irish dancers to their jigs and reels.
It might seem odd to find a top piper coming out of Texas. But Jones notes, "There's a big piping community in Houston," he explained. "There's the St. Thomas School, and there's also some other really topnotch bagpipers who have taught other people. There's jam sessions every Wednesday night at a downtown bar called the Brewery Tap that I've been going to for about eight years. It's a really good town for pipes."
Jones was a standard piper until at the age of 16, he was given a tape of the legendary "Tannahil Weavers."
"I just locked onto them and they kind of completely rocked my world. I had never heard that, and I never knew that as a bagpiper I could play that kind of music, danceable and energetic like that. They were my Rolling Stones when I was 16!"
According to their web site http://www.io.com/clandestine/ the other band members biographies
Jennifer Hamel has been captivating audiences with her voice and guitar work as she lends her unique sound to both traditional songs and the original pieces she creates for Clandestine.
Gregory McQueen has been playing the fiddle longer than he will admit. When offered the opportunity to play with the pipes and collaborate with Jennifer's unique songwriting and vocal ability, he joined Clandestine in 1994. The challenge of playing with the Highland pipes and crossing the bridge of Jennifer's original songs has been a very rewarding experience for both Gregory and the audience.
Emily Dugas joined Clandestine in 1996, and her talents in percussion and vocals are adding depth and richness to the band.
Gene Hyde suggests their "Celtic instrumentation provides the familiar feel. While E.J. Jones' highland piping recalls bands like Scotland's Tannahill Weavers, Gregory McQueen's fiddling and the bodhran of Emily Dugas impart an Irish air t the mix. Jennifer Hamel's singing bridges both sides of the Atlantic, with a voice that evokes both Steeleye Span's Maddy Prior and 10,000 Maniac's Natalie Merchant. Meanwhile, their songwriting and arranging is ripe with touches of contemporary American folk music."
Hyde suggests that they straddle two camps in contemporary Celtic music. "In one camp are bands like the Bothy Band, who find inspiration primarily in traditional material and who play almost strictly in a traditional style. On the other hand, there are folk-rock bands, best represented by Fairport Convention, the seminal British band who blended traditional material with elements of folk and rock." While clearly not as rock oriented as Brother, they are hardly "pure drop" traditionalists.
"Jones and McQueen are remarkable in their high-energy jigs and reels, with Hamel's guitar and Dugas' bodhran driving things at a blistering clip. When Hamel and Dugas slow things down for a ballad, the effect is mesmerizing."
Clandestine has released three CD's: "The Ale Is Dear" (1996), "The Haunting" (1998), "To Anybody At All" (1999) For more information: http://www.azirishmusic.com/irishmusicforever/Forever11.htm#CLANDETINE
NAME CONFUSION
"I got the E-mail about Clandestine coming to Az. I wondered if you should forward info. to them regarding the Az. Native rock band that has a large following here of the same name Clan/destine that might create confusion ? "
"Whatever you think? "
Best regards,
[Editor's Note: When this was brought up to the band a few years ago, they noted that there are at least six bands with the same or similar name. They feel too well established in the Celtic genre to justify a name change.]
FOLK VENUE LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS ON OPEN MIC
At 10:40 AM 05/29/2001 -0700, you wrote:
I'm hoping I can get a few musicians out to Authors' tonight (Tues. 29) for
open stage. The venue tends to be slow so you'll be able to play a couple
sets of 3 or 4 (maybe even more)
Goldwater & 1st in Scottsdale 480-481-3998
Sandy Hathaway
THIS WEEKEND IN IRISH MUSIC
The Clare Voyants will be at O'Connors on Friday and Saturday.
Carroll MacGreggor will be at the Dubliner on Thursday with Tony Cummins there on Friday and Saturday.
Mike Donovan will be at Seamus McCaffrey's on Friday and Saturday.
St. Francis will be at Rula Bula on Saturday.
The McTeggart Feis fundraiser will be at the Bandersnatch on Sunday afternoon.
George L. O'Brien
1. PHOENIX AREA
Laurie Lee Casselman
Chairman, Feile Rince Tucson
...Friday night is official opening night when the bodhrán players,
led by pipers, will thunder along the village's main street to
Colbert Hall.
Seriously though, the reason they can
summon up so many bodhrán players is because of the Wran tradition
in west Limerick (Wran Day being the bodhrán players' big day out).
I'll be probably be there on the Saturday night - Athea and its surrounds is a hotbed of music at any time,
http://www.capecod.net/~bblack/]
The nights are warm and the stars are out...
Thursday June 7th and 21st
Shelby's Bistro 6:30-9:30pm
#19 Tubac Rd (Behind Tortuga Books)
398-8075 Reservations Recommended
The "4th Saturday Acoustic Jam"
Everyone is invited to bring their instruments, voices, whatever
for an informal jam session at the Tubac Community Center
in the Old Tubac School
#50 Bridge Road 398-1800
From 7pm-10pm
Don info@thesaltmine.com
480/592-2728
www.azirishmusic.com
Bandersnatch Brew Pub
125 E. 5th St.
Tempe
480-966-4438
Blarney Stone
4341 N. 75th St
Scottsdale
480-424-7100
Dubliner Irish Pub
3841 E. Thunderbird Rd.
Phoenix
602-867-0984
Fiddler's Dream
17th St. & Cactus Wren
Phoenix
602-435-2516
Jane & Amber's Place
Call for directions
Tempe
602-664-4438
Kenilworth School
1210 N. 5th Ave
Phoenix
520-369-0299
O'Connor's Pub
2601 W. Dunlap
Phoenix
602-997-7714
Rula Bula
401 S. Mill Ave
Tempe
480-929-9500
Scottsdale Senior Center
7375 E. 2nd Street
Scottsdale
480-832-0243
Seamus Mc Caffrey's
18 W. Monroe
Phoenix
602-253-6081
Washington Adult Center
23rd Ave north of
Bethany Home
Phoenix
602-992-1535
