Welcome to the NEW LiveTrad.com August 2010 Newsletter!
LiveTrad head for the Fleadh Cheoil this month, and as a result, here's an update on what's going to happen at Ireland's premier music festival.
On August 20th, starting at 11pm, the LiveTrad.com cameras will stream from Cavan Town Hall, where Old Dé Danann will take centre stage, supported by a newly formed trad group, NicGaviskey. This concert takes place at Cavan Town Hall to kick off a great weekend of music at the Late Night Fleadh club. See below for details on other great acts taking part in this year's Fleadh events.
Old Dé Dannan - LiveTrad Webcast 20 August 2010 11pm
For over 25 years, Dé Danann were to the forefront of traditional Irish music worldwide. Since the band went their separate ways in recent years former band members Alec Finn & Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh have teamed up with several other luminaries of Irish music, to reform as Old Dé Danann. These include Eleanor Shanley on vocals and instrumentalists Mick Conneely, Brian McGrath & Derek Hickey. The band have also begun to tour again, and the Fleadh event will also give them an opportunity to play some of the tracks from their new album, which is due for release in the Autumn. LiveTrad.com viewers will therefore be in the box seat for what should be a great gig. Old Dé Danann will take to the stage at midnight local time.
Old Dé Danann will be preceded on stage by NicGaviskey, the transatlantic musical quartet of Bernadette Nic Gabhann on fiddle, Caitlin Nic Gabhann on concertina, Sean Gavin on flute and Sean McComiskey on accordian. The girls from Co. Meath met the Detroit & Baltimore boys at the Catskills Irish Arts week in upstate New York in the summer of 2009. Their coming together in a spontaneous early morning session created a rhythm and feel to the music that was infectious not only to themselves, but to all those listening.
Subsequent recording sessions in Baltimore and Milltown Malbay in early 2010 led to their debut CD - Home away from Home, which stands as evidence of the kindred spirit that comes from the deepest well of the tradition of Irish music and dance. NicGaviskey take to the stage at 10pm local time, and the LiveTrad webcast will begin at 11pm.
And, like all LiveTrad.com webcasts, we want YOU to get involved too. Help us spread the word to make this the biggest LiveTrad event yet! And don't forget, you can contact us on the night in realtime, with comments on the music, and requests to other viewers, through the online message board. Hope you enjoy it!
Your LiveTrad.com Team
Trad Events - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 16-22 August
The centrepiece of the Comhaltas traditional Irish music calender, the Fleadh draws together musicians from every conceivable background, age group and instrument, both in competitions and sessions, for an entire week.
In addition, some spectacular names are set to provide quality performances – trad luminaries like Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, to name but some, will all play at the Fleadh.
Now in it’s 60th year, the Fleadh has returned to Cavan this year after a long absence. To celebrate the diversity of trad music, acts from all over the world will descend on Cavan Town for what will be one of the most eclectic mixes of trad music ever assembled in one location. Groups from Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, to name but some, will join with musicians from Ireland, the UK and the USA in a trad fusion mix which will bring the music to a whole new place.
The late-night Fleadh Club at Cavan Town Hall is another new venture, where the likes of Old Dé Dannan, At First Light and Lúnasa will headline the three late shows over the Fleadh weekend.
One of Cavan’s most famous sons in the pantheon of traditional music, the famed fiddle player and composer Ed Reavy, will be duly recognized at a special concert being held in his honour and memory at this year’s Fleadh. The Ed Reavy Tribute Concert will take place on August 21 at the Cavan Crystal Hotel, and will be compered by Fleadh 2010 Ard Ollamh Seán Ó Sé.
And for the trad leaders of the future – that the young folk to you and me – what have been described as ‘trad music’s answer to the X-factor’ Beoga, are coming to town for the Fleadh. The electrifying 5-piece will play the Town Hall venue on Friday 20 August between 11pm and 1am, with a special youth performance taking place between 4pm and 5.30pm.
Next Month
Dervish have provided many toe-tapping moments for their many fans over the past 21 years. Next month we’ll carry a feature about a special Dervish webcast which is to take place later in the year. To book your box seat now, go to www.LiveTrad.com
LIVETRAD.com Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 5
Festival News
The August Bank Holiday weekend sees a huge amount of trad music festivals taking place. Scoil Acla, which this year celebrates it’s centenary, has had a varied series of cultural events taking place again this year. Recitals, lectures, workshops, and plenty of sessions, it draws to a close at the beginning of the month.
Another short, sharp shock to the senses (and we mean this in the best way possible) is the Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Festival, which takes place during the first weekend of the month. Lúnasa, Solas, Andy Irvine, take your pick, and there’s much more on too!
The Celtic Music Festival in Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry also winds down at the beginning of the month, but not before entertaining visitors and the natives alike with a wide variety of traditional performances, music and cultural.
The James Morrison traditional music festival pays tribute to one of Sligo’s favourite sons, a man who did enormous work in the development of music especially in the United States, where he spent much of his life. One of the true giants of traditional Irish music, as both performer and teacher, this festival keeps the Morrison legend alive.
The Inishfree Céilí Band will play this year’s Kilkenny Arts Festival, as will many other trad acts such as the up and coming Fidil, as well as some great trad stalwarts. You’ll also catch the likes of Liam Ó Maonlaí here, suggesting there’s another multi-layed festival in store, with all sorts of crossovers between trad and other genres.
While there’s uncertainty as to the origins of the Puck Fair in Killorglin, there’s no doubting the quality of some of the music on offer throughout this year’s festival, which runs in the middle of the month. Frankie Gavin & Dé Dannan may be the best known, but there’s plenty of niche gigs available too.
More information on these and other festivals is available by accessing the Festivals link on the navigation bar. If you've got a festival you want to be listed on the LiveTrad website, just drop us a line on festivals@livetrad.com with the details.
Contact Us
At LiveTrad.com we’re really interested in hearing from you, your thoughts on trad music and how we present it to you. Drop us a line with your comments to feedback@livetrad.com.
If you have a pub and want to talk to us about streaming one of your trad sessions live over the internet, you can get us on pubs@livetrad.com.
We've got loads of advertising slots either on the LiveTrad website, or for playout during our live webcasts. If you want to know more, email adverts@livetrad.com.
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