CEOL AGUS CRAIC: Take it Outside for Summer!
By ERIN MULLAN
Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Our sweet brief summer has hit and festival season looms. Here's part one of a preview of some of the summer's best bets for outdoor musical fun in the sun.
Festival listings:
The Harrison Festival of the Arts goes July 8-16 and has Scottish Traditional Music Award winner and ace fiddler Gillian Frame & Back of the Moon as Celtic content.......The 29th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival runs July 14-16 and is always an amazing musical adventure. Artistic director Dugg Simpson is excited about Corquieu, “a stunning young band straight out of Asturian Celtic tradition: music that will make your heart sing and your feet fly” and Zar who blend Danish and Celtic traditions.......The Mission Folk Music Festival is July 21-23 with renowned Scottish guitarist Tony McManus and Back of the Moon.......The Calgary Folk Festival goes from July 27 to 30 and features Francophone acts Galant, Tu Perds Ton Temps, La raquette á claquette and Back of the Moon.......The Edmonton Folk Music Festival runs from August 10-13, and with acts including Baka Beyond, Beolach, Mary Coughlan, The Duhks, Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul, Mary Jane Lamond, The McDades, Karine Polwart, Solas and Le Vent du Nord, it's no wonder day passes are already 90 percent sold out.
Concert listings:
There's seems to be fewer Celtic acts touring these days.The Rogue Folk Club hopes to bring in Le Vent du Nord in August and possibly Lunasa in September.......Shona Mooney, a 21-year-old fiddler who was just named BBC Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, will be making her North American debut at the BC Highland Games in Coquitlam on June 24, visit: www.bchighlandgames.com/.......Keep your fingers crossed for a fab double bill from Sheland next year with bands Shoormal and Fiddlers Bid.
Local motion:
The Jericho Folk Club runs Tuesday nights at Jericho Sailing Centre, with a session followed by an open stage from 7:30 and the main act at 9:30 PM. June 6 it's Toot a Lute, on June 13, Pat Thompson and Tony Latimer, on June 20, Tom Rawson and Tarkin on June 27.......Scottish ceilidh dancing in Stanley Park starts June 12, 7.30 PM at Ceperley Playground (by Second Beach)and continuing every Monday (weather permitting) until August 14. Bring your friends ands summer visitors.......For information on Scottish country dance groups around the Lower Mainland: (604) 224-6838 or www.rscdsvancouver.org.......The Irish Heather has an Irish traditional session on Thursday nights and its sister establishment the Limerick Junction has a Tuesday night session.......The Wolf and Hound hosts traditional sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights.
Other news:
Vancouver's musical community lost one it's own this month when Blackthorn founder Graham Carver passed away. Current and past members of Blackthorn will be gathering with other musical friends and family at the Wolf & Hound on June 25 to “celebrate the memory of Graham Carver – a talented musician, composer, arranger and man dear to our hearts.”.......The fine local group Cleia have officially called it a day. Andy Hillhouse is heading off to Newfoundland to post-grad studies in Ethnomusicology at Memorial University; Norah Rendell looks likely to stay in Ireland for another year, and Neil and Keona Hammond are busy teaching new baby Jack Wesley Hammond their repertoire of songs.
Recording news:
Nashville-based Compass Records has purchased the physical distribution rights to the entire catalog of Green Linnet Records, which includes much of the best of Celtic music from the past 30 years. It's a good fit: Compass is definitely the leading light for this music on this side of the water..........James Keelaghan has a new CD of traditional Irish songs coming out this summer, a tribute to his Irish-born father.
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Questions, comments, or complaints?
Write me c/o The Celtic Connection, #741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver V5Z 1K7, or email: maura@telus.net.
Erin Mullan hosts the Celtic music radio show In the Claddagh Ring, Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8 pm on CFRO 102.7.
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