AIMS News and Notes 6-4-2003
Arizona Irish Music Society
www.azirishmusic.com
Information Line: 602-230-4114
Signup - signup@azirishmusic.com
George L. O'Brien - obiewan@azirishmusic.com
News - news@azirishmusic.com
Anyone interested in receiving the Directory/Calendar only version of this newsletter should e-mail us at signup@azirishmusic.com. You will be able to read the entire newsletter on the web at www.azirishmusic.com/00000000.htm.You can also listen to "This Week in Irish Music" by calling 602-230-4114.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Out and About--- Kenevar Debuted Last Weekend
--- Ceili Schedule Set Through End Of The Year
--- Irish Foundation Meeting On Wednesday At Icc
--- Parade Committee Elections On Tue June 10th At Icc
--- Website Update2. New Semester For Academy Of Irish & Celtic Studies ~Music~
3. Benefit for the Tucson Parade On Sunday At Nimbus Brewery
4. Memo From Blackwood
5. Memo From The Clare Voyants
6. Phoenix Irish Feis Meeting At ICC on June 18th
7. News From Flagstaff
8. Contrandance News
9. Letter From the White Mountains
10. Bridie Mullin Was Guest on the Irish Show
11. Gypsies Sponsor's A New Acoustic Venue
12. Looking For A Celtic Harp Teacher
13. Gaelic Phrases Of The Month
14. Music Camps and Workshops
15. Irish Music Scene
1. OUT AND ABOUT --- KENEVAR DEBUTED LAST WEEKEND Kenevar is the latest addition the Phoenix Irish music scene. The band is led by Rich Neuenfeldt on the hammered dulcimer and includes Shannon Capes on flute and whistle, Doreen Suding on fiddle, and Dennis Suding on guitar. Shannon Capes has played with Celtic Breeze. The band's public debut was Saturday at the Kerr Center as part of benefit program. They followed this up with a performance at the Peoria Library on Monday.Kenevar's set at the Peoria Library included a variety of tunes including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", but most of their material was Irish and Scottish tunes. Their performance was well received and we will be hearing more from them in the future.
Photos from the Peoria Library performance can be seen at Web Shots Photos
--- CEILI SCHEDULE SET THROUGH END OF THE YEAR It was decided that the monthly ceili at the Irish Cultural Center will be held on the third Friday of each month. The only exception will be September when there will be a special "Pan Celtic Ceili" on the third Saturday.There will be a major push to publicize the monthly ceilis and the ceili classes to the Irish dancers and to other dance communities such as contradance and various folk dance groups.
--- IRISH FOUNDATION MEETING ON WEDNESDAY AT ICC One of the topics discussed at the Irish Foundation meeting will be the Christmas in July party. They are tentatively considering holding it at the Irish Cultural on July 27th. In addition to the date, they will be considering the format such as if it will be a picnic or a potluck. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM at the Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave. Call 602-819-6400 for more information. --- PARADE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS ON TUE JUNE 10TH AT ICC The Phoenix St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee will hold their annual elections on Tuesday, June 10th at the Irish Cultural Center. Paid members will vote for candidates to the four Board of Director's positions that are up for election. The Board will then elect the officers. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM.The Phoenix St. Patrick's Day website, www.phxirish.com, has been updated to included next year's dates: March 13th for the Parade and Faire plus Feb 21 for the Colleen Pageant. This date for the Colleen Pageant will be a week later than in past years, but February will have five weekends.
--- WEBSITE UPDATE Out website, www.azirishmusic.com, had 9600 visitors in May. I have no clue who all these people are. Why aren't they at the pubs?On a more serious note, I have just completed updating the directory of band websites for non-Arizona bands. Most of bands/performers are ones that were listed as performing at festivals in other parts of the country, although a small number are listed because they asked to be included. www.azirishmusic.com/irishmusicforever/Other_list.htm
There are numerous bands that should be included, but time has not permitted tracking them all down. That is why there are links to other bands directories, although few appear to have been updated recently. www.azirishmusic.com/links_X.htm
One exception is a website called "Folksy Links", www.folkseylinks.it, that claims to update their links monthly (no small task for a site that includes over 2400 folk bands and groups in various parts of the world). Every listing has a one line description of the performers. In addition to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, they include separate listings for Brittany, Galicia, and Isle of Man. They even have a separate listing for USA Celtic. I sent them a list of links they did not have included. See www.folksylinks.it/index_new.html
2. NEW SEMESTER FOR ACADEMY OF IRISH & CELTIC STUDIES ~MUSIC~ Irish Cultural Center
1106 N Central AveBeginning and Continuing Students
Fiddle, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin,
Flute, Tin Whistle, Bodhran, Bag PipesClasses Monday or Thursday Evenings
5pm/6pm/7pm/8pm
Bagpipes 6pm Wednesday
(All Times Dependent on Enrollment)Classes begin June 2nd,4th, and 5th
Email or call for more detailsEmail academy@azirish.com
602 819-6400 Bonnie
3. BENEFIT FOR THE TUCSON PARADE ON SUNDAY AT NIMBUS BREWERY George,The Tucson St Patrick's Day Parade Committee is hosting a "Wake'" for our rained out St. Patrick's day Festival. The Event takes place at Nimbus Brewery -3850 E.44th St. on June 8th from 4:30PM to 9:30PM.It is a fun-raiser and the cover is 7.00 .Entertainment includes The Mollys,Mark Luther,7 Pipers , Round the House and the Bracken School of Irish Dance.Fitzsimmons will be the MC. Call 327-7209 for more info.
Mark Murphy
mkmurphy@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU
4. MEMO FROM BLACKWOOD After receiving so many pictures from audience members (thanks!) it was time to update our website to include new pictures from the many events we have played over the the past year. Feel free to have a look with more coming in the next month...http://blackwoodband.com/Pictures.html
Also Blackwood's summer schedule is available through at least August under:
http://blackwoodband.com/Schedule.html
5. MEMO FROM THE CLARE VOYANTS CLARE VOYANTS SCHEDULE June 6 & 7 O' Connor'sJune 20 & 21 O' Connor's
June 27 & 28 Rula Bula
Paul Knight Wednesday Seisiun at Bandersnatch, 9 pm to 12:30 am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
125 E. 5th St., Tempe (SW corner of 5th St. and Forest)
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Dubliner Irish Pub & Restaurant
3841 E. Thunderbird
Phoenix
602-867-0984Fibber Magees
1989 W. Elliot Rd., #19
Chandler
(SE corner of Dobson & Elliot)O'Connor's Pub
601 W. Dunlap Av.
Phoenix
602-997-7714
(SE corner Dunlap and I-17)Rula Bula
401 S. Mill Av
Tempe
(East side of Mill)The Bandersnatch
125 E. 5th St., Tempe
(SW corner 5th St. and Forest)Check all the bands info & entertainment at The Arizona Irish Music Society
www.azirishmusic.com
Info line: 602-230-4114
6. PHOENIX IRISH FEIS MEETING AT ICC ON JUNE 18TH The Phoenix Feis Committee business meeting will be on Wednesday, June 18, at 7 pm at the Irish Cultural Center on Central. The Phoenix Feis is a community feis supported by the Irish community and all of the local schools of Irish Dance in the Phoenix metro area.The feis this year will be on Oct. 17, 18, and 19th at St. Pauls Catholic Church, where it was last year as well. Currently two adjudicators, Finnuala Irwin and Margaret Mullins, and our musician Tony Nother have confirmed and I have extended an invitation to a third adjudicator that I hope to hear back from today.
Financially we are in good shape, but of course could always use more money. We have a very different sort of fundraiser in the works for late August or September at the Irish Cultural Center. It will be a representation of the 1916 Easter Rising Historical Commemoration that was presented on Easter Sunday this year, to great critical acclaim. This should net us between $500 to $1000.
We have a major decision to make on a dance floor, and of course we need to get moving on all of the rest of the committees, as well as filling some offices chairmanships. I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.
slante
Jim Daugherty
jim.daugherty@gcmail.maricopa.edu
7. NEWS FROM FLAGSTAFF FROM ELIZABETH BROWN: Hello from Cleveland. Bruce is out of surgery and doing very well. He looks good and was listening to his relaxation tape when I left the hospital.CELTIC SOCIETY MEETING: This Tuesday--June 3, 6:00 p.m. at the Adult Center in Thorpe Park. Critical meeting for Festival planning. All who want to volunteer are encouraged to attend.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Celtic Heritage Society for receiving a $3,000 grant from the City of Flagstaff's Flagstaff Cultural Partners.
DON'T FORGET: The Wicked Tinkers concert is Thursday, June 26, at 7:00 p.m. at Mogollon. No advance tickets--get 'em at the door (but get there early--this will probably be a sellout since they won't be gracing our Festival this year).
WE HAD A GREAT CELTIC PRESENCE at the Renaissance in the Pines Renaissance Fair this past weekend--Celtic Chieftains Jude McKenzie and Pamela NiCarthy Saier, piped throughout the encampment by Celtic Piper Martha Shideler; Barbara Law with her beloved Wolfhounds Keelan and Nevan; Actors extraordinaire Richard Ferguson and Michael Satterwhite; Jack-(Jim?)-of-all-trades Jim Buell and daughter; Dan Neary and his father George. It was a great encampment (and we really didn't mean to snub the Queen--we're lucky to still have our heads!)
Martha Shideler
piobair@infomagic.net
8. CONTRANDANCE NEWS OK, desert rats! This is the weekend to head north to the cool pines. With a little planning, you could do it all! FRIDAY, JUNE 6 -- PRESCOTT Nils Fredland returns with lots of East Coast calling experience under his belt. He'll call the contra dance to the driving sounds of October 26 -- Ron and Linda Nieman, Margie Light, and Steve Elliott -- at the Prescott Activity Center, 824 East Gurley. Dance 7:30-10:30 for $5 general, $4 members and students. Contact rissa@cableone.net or 928-445-8823. SATURDAY, JUNE 7-- PRESCOTT VALLEY Or perhaps you'd like to take in the World Arts Festival at the Civic Center in Prescott Valley on Saturday, June 7. Performances run continually from 9:30 am until 9:30 pm. The festival includes performers representing cultures from India to Africa to Ireland and food from Italy, Scandinavia, Vietnam, plus fine art that ranges from affordable to high end. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Wild Thyme will play at 4:00 PM].For more information, call 928-759-3027.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7 -- FLAGSTAFF If your fancy runs more to contra, follow Nils up to Flagstaff where he'll call with Just Desserts at Ashurst Hall on the NAU campus. Dance 7:30-11 pm. Or come at 6 pm and enjoy the family dance. Contact laurashearin@hotmail.com. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JUNE 7 AND 8 --FLAGSTAFF The second annual two-day Flagstaff Folk Festival will take place on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday June 8, 10 am to 5 pm, at the Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road. This event is sponsored by the Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music and the 14th Annual Trappings of the American West Exhibition and FestivalThere will be live music by 75 individual and group acts, including our local bands Each Others Legend, The Porch Lights, Backsliders, and Tony Norris. There will also be workshops in mandolin, autoharp, songwriting, storytelling and more.
The Festival is free. For these two days the Trappings of the American West Exhibition is offering a special $1 admission.
9. LETTER FROM THE WHITE MOUNTAINS Dear George,I wrote you a while ago as I signed up for your newsletter. I live in the White Mountains and teach Irish dance: stepdance and some ceili. I also teach other dance forms, but am really interested in getting Irish dancing here on a regular basis. We here were treated to several performances from Blackwood and Sarah Houghtelin came with a couple of her dancers. I just wanted to express to you what a wonderful time we had, there wasn't a large showing as it was part of a cultural event at Hondah Casino, but those that came loved the music and I wanted to let you know that we are ripe for Celtic traditions here, I dance at a local Irish restaurant once a month with some of my students and have worked long and hard to bring the knowledge of irish music and dance to this area. I am going to try to make the trip to the Valley for the ceili dancing once a month at the ICC. I am excited to see what comes of the seeds planted here for this coming summer.
Sincerely,
Valerie Castaneda Nukho
Lakeside,AZ.
pinkdancer2@yahoo.com
10. BRIDIE MULLIN WAS GUEST ON THE IRISH SHOW Last Saturday's "Irish Show" featured Bridie Mullin. Bridie has an incredible, historic, art display showing at the Irish Cultural Center at 1106 N. Central Ave Phoenix. The Irish Show is on Saturdays from 4:30 - 6:00 PM on KFNX (1100 AM radio) for the best in Irish music, news and local information.
11. GYPSIES SPONSOR'S A NEW ACOUSTIC VENUE Hello everyone, Thymeless Cuisine in the Kiva Center, 5th Ave, Scottsdale has agreed to extend their summer hours on Saturday's for different sessions. The first one will be a Bluegrass/folk venue. The date and time will be, Sat. 6/6/03 from 1:30-4:00pm or so. Please confirm if you are interested in attending by calling, 480-429-7711 or emailing me at waltkuhlman850@msn.comI will need to confirm with Marcia at the restaurant so she will keep the doors open. This is a great place to play, great acoustics and neat atmosphere. Let's get this venue going and create another place for great live music!
Thank you,
Walt Kuhlman
waltkuhlman850@msn.com
www.gypsysmusic.com
12. LOOKING FOR A CELTIC HARP TEACHER Looking for celtic harp teacher in Phoenix or East Valley. Please call Eileen at 480-821-6981 and leave a message, or e-mail eileenk@jps.net.Thank you!
Eileen Kane
Eileenk@jps.net
13. GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PHRASE: Ta gaoth ann
PRONOUNCED: taw gay oww/inn
MEANING: It is windyPHRASE: Ta an t-usice ann
PRONOUNCED: taw on tish/keh ann
MEANING: It is rainingPHRASE: Ta an t-adhar gorm
PRONOUNCED: taw an tat/hir gur/imm
MEANING: The sky is blue(Used with permission from http://www.ireland-information.com)
14. MUSIC CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS By George O'Brien - Arizona CorrespondentIrish music camps are a wonderful way for musicians to get instruction from top instructors and even world class musicians. Most schools include instruction in playing instruments, vocals, and dance. Deadlines for some of the schools are already past, but they might be contacted about attending next year.
There are frequently music classes at the major Irish festivals such as Milwaukee Irish Fest www.irishfest.com/<.a<, Aug 14 to 17, but most music camps are designed to isolate students from outside distractions. Some are actually at a camp while others use college classrooms. What they all have in common is intensive training and lots of great craic. Probably the biggest Irish music school anywhere is the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. This school is held 5th July - 13th July in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, Ireland. There will be 1000 students attending music classes with a full program of lectures, recitals, dances (ceilithe) and exhibitions are run by the summer school. Each evening, the entire town becomes one gigantic seisiun. www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/
Most American students are likely to be looking for something a bit closer to home. Fortunately there are a number of very interesting programs worth considering. (These are taken from www.azirishmusic.com/fest_workshops.htm).
GAELIC ROOTS, June 15 to June 21 at Chestnut Hill, MA is one of the most outstanding programs around. It is associated with Boston College and their Irish Studies program. They routinely have a world class set of instructors. Some of the past performances can be heard on a CD titled "Gaelic Roots". A few of the instructors include Cillian Vallely on uileann pipes, Joanie Madden on whistle, Kevin Crawford on flute, and Cathie Ryan on vocals. Registration for this year's school is closed, but it may not be too early to start for next year. Their web site is www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/irish/gr.html.
ZOUKFEST, is held in Taos, NM June 29 to July 6. While not explicitly an Irish event, it attracts a number of Irish musicians and offers classes such as "Intermediate/Advanced Irish Flute and Tinwhistle", "Intermediate Irish Fiddle/ Advanced Irish Fiddle", and "Irish DADGAD Guitar Accompaniment". www.zoukfest.com/index.html
AUGUSTA IRISH WEEK is held from July 20 to July 25, 2003 in Elkins, WV and is geared to experienced players. Part of the program includes talks by folklorist Mick Moloney who heads the band "Green Fields of America". www.augustaheritage.com/irish.html.
LARK CAMP, Aug 1 to Aug 9, 2003 is held in Mendocino, CA (north of San Francisco) and is possibly the largest music school on the west coast. While not explicitly Irish, it has always had a substantial number of classes geared to Irish musicians. www.mhs.mendocino.k12.ca.us/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/larkcamp
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIDDLE CAMP, "It's not just for Fiddlers!", is held in Denver Colorado in two summer seisiuns: Aug 3 to Aug 10 and Aug 10 to 17. Two notable instructors in the second week are Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan both from the super band Solas. This program is more heavily focused on Irish/Celtic than either Zoukfest or Lark Camp, and includes an interesting mix including several classes on Cape Breton style of play. www.rmfiddle.com.
The rising popularity of Irish/Celtic style has led many other music camps to include Irish to their list. Folk Blues.com has a nice these directory of acoustic music camps at www.folkblues.com/camps.htm.
15. IRISH MUSIC SCENE PHOENIX Pat McCrossan will be at Rula Bula on Wed.Scott Jeffers will be at the Dubliner on Wed.
The Scones Trio will be at Rosie McCaffrey's on Thur.
Smoot Mahooty with Brid Dower will be at Bandersnatch Friday.
Tony Cummins will be back at the Dubliner on Friday and Saturday.
Pat McCrossan will be at Fibber Magees on Saturday.
The Clare Voyants will be at O'Connor's on Friday and Saturday.
Seanachie will be at Rosie McCaffrey's on Friday and Saturday.
Keltic Cowboys will be at Rula Bula on Friday and Saturday.
Blackwood will be at Seamus McCaffrey's on Friday and Saturday.
TUCSON There will be a contradance at the First Methodist Church on Saturday.There will be a fundraiser for the Tucson St. Patrick's Day Parade to be held at Nimbus Brewry. Some of the performers include:Round the House, Bracken School of Irish Dance - Tucson,Seven Pipers Society, Mark Luther, and The Mollys.
FLAGSTAFF Bill and Patty Cummins will be at Macy's Coffee Shop on Saturday morning and at Collins Irish Pub on Tuesday evening.There will be a contradance Ashurst Hall/NAU on Saturday.
PRESCOTT There will be a contradance at the Prescott Activity Center on Friday.On Saturday in Prescott Valley, Wild Thyme will play at their World Arts Festival at the Prescott Valley Civic Center.
1. PHOENIX AREA
Bandersnatch Brew Pub
125 E. 5th St. Tempe 480-966-4438
