CEOL AGUS CRAIC: The Madness that is Mid-March is Upon us Again!
By ERIN MULLAN
Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol!......Mid-March is the busiest time of the year for Irish establishments the world over so whatever your destination be sure to get there early. However and wherever you end up celebrating Paddy’s day, there’s bound to be songs and tunes a-plenty. An Irish party without music is no party at all!
Concert listings
The Vancouver CelticFest runs March 11-17 in downtown Vancouver featuring lots of fine music. Check the festival website for the full program at: www.celticfestvancouver.com......The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has their “early bird” tickets for this summer’s 28th annual festival available at 2004 prices before April 1, through the Festival office at (604) 602-9798 or 1-800-883-3655 and online at www.thefestival.bc.ca.....The exciting local band The Wheat In The Barley launch new CD After The Battle on March 11 at St. James Hall......On March 26 The Tiller's Folly play St. James to celebrate the launch of their new DVD, which was filmed at the historical Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston last September ......Northern English songwriter Jez Lowe plays a solo show at St. James on April Fool’s Day ......Cape Breton meets Scotland April 3 at St. James with a Raylene Rankin and Archie Fisher double bill......The best Irish music of the spring happens on April 10 when the amazing pairing of Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill make a welcome return to Vancouver with a show at St. James ......On April 23 Scots guitar wizard Tony McManus plays St James ...... Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord will be playing the Vancouver and Mission folk festivals in July...... The Chieftains might be playing Vancouver Island Musicfest, also in July......Irish-American fiddle ace Eileen Ivers may be here in late July......Capercaillie will be playing Festival Vancouver on August 11......Shooglenifty will be touring in Western Canada in August, with details on dates to be confirmed......Danú will be making a couple of sweeps through town, during the summer festival season and return to town for their farewell tour on October 7 at Capilano College ......October 8 sees Scots/Australian singer Eric Bogle also at Cap College ......The Tannahill Weavers return on November 4.....Cape Breton's The Cottars should be here in early December.
Local motion:
The next Irish célí is March 19 at the Victoria Drive Community Hall with music from Tempus Fugit. They teach all the dances and beginners and kids are always welcome. Details: (604) 709-4140.......For information on the Irish Set Dancing Social Group call (604) 934-8261 or (604) 731-9513, and for Irish dance lessons call (604) 253-5410......Have a Good Friday fling a the next Scottish ceilidh dance on March 25 at the Scottish Cultural Centre. Lesson 7 PM, Dance 8-11 PM. Learn easy dances to live music, no partner required. Information: (604) 436-3193 or www.rscdsvancouver.org......There are also Scottish Country Dance classes held on Monday nights at the cultural centre for all ages and skill levels. Information: (604) 737-7948.......The Wolf and Hound has traditional sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights and the next traditional French-Canadian session is March 18. The last Quebecois session had accordion master Ives Lambert along with a couple of his band members sitting in to the delight of all present ......The Irish Heather hosts a Irish traditional session on Thursday nights.
Recording News:
The new live Shooglenifty album is called Radical Mestizo (named after an attempt by Mexican journalist to describe the band’s music) and is absolutely brilliant......Newfoundland duo Christina Smith and Jean Hewson have recorded a new album scheduled for release shortly, with hopefully a tour to follow......Irish singer Paul Brady has a new release on Compass Records called Say What You Feel.
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