CEOL AGUS CRAIC :
The Best Weather in the World and Some Great Local Music
By ERIN MULLAN
Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! How lucky we are to live here on the wet coast: the best weather in the country, heaps of great local musical talent and plenty of concerts by the best touring acts anywhere. We only have the rain to moan about, really.
Concert listings:
Local musical wonder Amy Stephen has a gig at Celtic Woollens on April 9......The April 10 concert at St. James Hall by the extraordinary Irish duo Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill is simply not to be missed......On April 23 Scottish guitar ace Tony McManus plays St. James, with special guests The Celtic Ensemble, featuring Spirit of the West founding member Jay Knutson, piper Rob Menzies, fiddler Claude Giguere and members of the North Shore Celtic Ensemble and the Coquitlam Celtic Ensemble.......On April 30 Celtic Woollens hosts a concert by Gaelsong from the Isle of Skye ......The Rogue Folk Club marks its 18th birthday with a show by Freshet plus The Amy Stephen Band at St. James on May 14 ......The Hyack Festival’s fifth annual Scottish ceilidh dance is on May 27 at the Arenex in Queen’s Park, New Westminster featuring music from Blackthorn. Details: (604) 522-6894......CITR’s The Edge On Folk radio show celebrates its 20th anniversary on June 3 with a concert by fine local fiddler Shona Le Mottee plus Corinne West at St. James......On June 30 The Chango Family from Quebec play St. James ......Another great Quebec act, Le Vent du Nord, will be here for the Vancouver and Mission folk festivals in July ......The Chieftains may be playing Vancouver Island Musicfest, also in July ......The Eileen Ivers Band should be here in late July ......Capercaillie will be playing Festival Vancouver on August 11 ......The details on a Vancouver date for Shooglenifty are still to be confirmed, although a double bill with Italy’s Fiamma Fumana looks likely.......Look for a concert by Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac in September......The superb Irish band Danú will return to town for their farewell North American tour on October 7 at Capilano College......Scottish/Australian singer Eric Bogle is also at Cap College on October 8......Scotland’s Tannahill Weavers return on November 4.....Cape Breton youngsters The Cottars will be here in early December......In January 2006 there’s a Vancouver date for Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas.
Local motion:
The next Irish céilí is April 16 at the Victoria Drive Community Hall with music from Erratica. All the dances are taught and newcomers and children are very welcome. Details: (604) 709-4140.......For details about the Irish Set Dancing Social Group call (604) 934-8261 or (604) 731-9513, and for Irish dance lessons call (604) 253-5410......The next Scottish ceilidh dance is on April 29 at the Scottish Cultural Centre. The lesson is at 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 Scottish country dance classes 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 April 21. Info: (604)-929-4686......The Irish Heather has an Irish traditional session on Thursday nights.
Recording News
There are some great new releases from Quebec out this month including Genticorum's Malins Plaisirs and Le Vent du Nord's Les Amants de Saint-Laurent......Compass Records have re-released the brilliant second and third albums by Irish accordion wizard Sharon Shannon, Out the Gap and Each Little Thing......The latest release from The Celtic Fiddle Festival called Play On is out on Green Linnet Records.
|
