CEOL AGUS CRAIC
Hot Times in the Hot Weather!
By ERIN MULLAN
Ceol binn a bhaint as an saol! Do your soul a favour this summer and get haul yourself and your crowd out to one of the many fantastic music festivals that bless our fair patch. There are events that celebrate live music in dozens of communities come summer, in the sweetest of all venues: outside!
Festival listings: The Harrison Festival of the Arts goes July 8-16, with the show by fab Scottish fiddler Gillian Frame and her band Back of the Moon on July 15 a definite highlight. Check: www.harrisonfestival.com for more details
There's not a great deal of Celtic content at this year's 29th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival, but no matter. The festival, which runs from July 14-16 at Jericho Beach, is a wonderful way to travel the world musically and open your ears to new delights. Plus the amazing young Asturian group Corquieu and Danish/Celtic band Zar will definitely hit the jigs and reels spot. http://www.thefestival.bc.ca
The Mission Folk Music Festival is July 21-23 with Scottish guitar whiz Tony McManus and Back of the Moon part of a strong lineup. http://www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca
The Islands Folk Fest happens the same weekend as Mission with Salt Spring Island fiddle ace Jaime RT one of the many acts on the bill. http://www.folkfest.bc.ca
The Calgary Folk Festival goes from July 27 to 30 with of heaps of great stuff including some fine francophone acts: Galant, Tu Perds Ton Temps and La raquette á claquette
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival (August 10-13) is booked by a Dubliner and it shows. Baka Beyond, Beolach, Mary Coughlan, The Duhks, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Mary Jane Lamond, The McDades, Karine Polwart, Solas and Le Vent du Nord, and that's just the Celtic content. http://www.efmf.ab.ca/ although there's just Friday and Sunday evening tickets still available
Alberta's finest, The McDades, are part of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival running August 18-20. http://www.rootsandblues.ca.
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
Scottish ceilidh dancing in Stanley Park goes Mondays 7.30 PM at Ceperley Playground (by Second Beach)and continuing (weather permitting) until August 14. Learn the dances in a gorgeous setting.For information on Scottish country dance groups around the Lower Mainland: (604) 224-6838 or www.rscdsvancouver.org
The Wolf and Hound hosts traditional sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights
The Irish Heather has an Irish traditional session on Thursday nights and its sister establishment the Limerick Junction has a Tuesday night session.
Recording news: Christy Moore has a wonderful new DVD and CD, Live at the Point 2006 and fans should definitely check out the lively blog of the man himself at http://www.christymoore.com
My fave recent release is the Solas 10-year anniversary album Reunion. A live CD plus DVD of the band joined for a reunion gig by all the former members, this a cracking recording for both aficionados and new fans of Irish music.
Questions, comments, or complaints? Write me c/o The Celtic Connection, #741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver V5Z 1K7, or e-mail: 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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