| Irish Music  London
banjo maestro Brian Kelly releases new CD album
BRIAN Kelly began playing traditional Irish music at the age of seven
under the tutelage of the maestro from Clare Brendan Mulkere.
He took up the mandolin aged nine and the banjo aged 10 and it wasn’t
long before he made his mark on the Irish scene winning the All-Ireland
Championship at his first attempt aged 11 on banjo and going on to win
eight All-Ireland Championships in total in various age groups.
He launched his second album The Plain Of Jars at the 2006 Return To Camden
Festival and it is a must-have for all banjo fans.
Brian has built his musical reputation through residencies in London including
two years in The Swan, The Stockwell with Gino Lupari (Four Men and A
Dog), Pat Kilbride (Kips Bay, Battlefield Band), Athena Ó’
Lochlainn (Riverdance and the Sharon Shannon Band) and five years in The
Stag’s Head in Camden Town with Paddy Gallagher playing on occasion
with notable members of bands such as Lúnasa, the Afro Celts, Dervish,
Nomos and artists such as Alec Finn, Brian Kennedy, Brendan Power and
Ron Kavana passing through.
He has also had substantial success in the Irish charts with the dance-trad
fusion band Dance to Tipperary enjoying two Top 10 hits and five Top 20
singles as well as a Top 12 album. Dance To Tipperary produced The Fields
Of Athenry single CD in 2001 as the Celtic Football Club anthem and performed
it live at their home ground in front of a capacity 67,000 crowd. In December
2003 after returning from a year living/playing in New Zealand and Australia
Brian joined The Popes and toured with Shane MacGowan in Britain, Ireland
and Europe until May 2005.
He is currently playing with Jamie Smith on fiddle (www.jamski.co.uk)
and Colette O’Leary on piano accordion (formerly of the Bumblebees)
and has two Scottish tours planned for the year ahead. See www.myspace.com/briankellybanjo
Brian has played on numerous radio shows both in Britain and Ireland including
RTÉ’s Céilí House, BBC Radio and also LBC.
His TV appearances include The Kelly Show on UTV Northern Ireland, the
TV3 Breakfast Show, Fleadh for RTÉ, Geantrai for TG4 and the Good
Morning Show on TV1 in New Zealand.
The CD is available at £11.99 inclusive of postage and packing.
E-mail brikello@yahoo.co.uk
or telephone 07971 808 895.
It is available in Ireland through Claddagh Records, Dame House, Dame
Street, Dublin 2.
13th Féile Chois Cuain in Louisburgh
THE SMALL town of Louisburgh in Co. Mayo will be alive with traditional
music, song, dance and craic for the 13th annual Féile Chois Cuain
over the Bank Holiday weekend May 4-7.
Once again this wonderfully scenic area on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean
will play host to many of the best traditional arts exponents from home
and abroad for this annual celebration of traditional music, song and
dance. Féile Chois Cuain ranks among the very best festivals of
its kind and will offer another great weekend of music, song, dance, fun
and friendship.
Féile Chois Cuain is renowned for its informal and impromptu sessions
so if you have a song to sing, a tune to play, a step to dance or simply
appreciate our culture why not join us Féile Chois Cuain is for
everyone.
Each year the festival features a special themed concert and for this
year’s theme it’s O Ghlúin go Glúin From Generation
to Generation.
The concert features families steeped in tradition where music is handed down
from parents to children. Among those taking part will be the Carberry,
Hernon, Carty, Hurley, Connolly, Grealish/Ó Confhaola and Devan
families all household names in traditional arts circles.
This is just one of the many highlights of what will no doubt be a wonderful
weekend.
Friday, May 4, 7.30pm. Venue: Parochial Hall. Youth concert featuring
local and visiting artists
9.30pm: Cheese and wine reception followed by Official opening Derrylahan
Lounge.
Saturday, May 5, 12am to 4pm
Set Dance Workshop with Mary Friel. Venue: Parochial Hall
Masterclasses Venue: Sancta Maria College. Masterclasses and Workshops.
4.15pm-6pm: Seisiún. Venue: Old Convent, Westport Road.
8.45pm: Grand Concert/Ceolchoirm Na Féile. Venue: Parochial Hall.
Music, song and dance featuring outstanding artists from the four corners
of the country.
Sunday, May 6, 4pm. From Generation to Generation. Venue: Parochial Hall.
10.30pm to 1.30am: Set Dance Social. Venue: Parochial Hall. Music by Swallows
Tail Céilí Band.
Monday, May 7, 12.30pm:
Slán Abhaile Sessions.
Cheoil agus Damhsa weekend
COMHALTAS London Office in conjunction with Anton Coyle and Gasra nGael
are making a concerted effort to revive céilí dancing in
London by holding an all-day series of workshops for juniors and adults
at the London Irish Centre on Sunday, May 20 from 12pm followed by a Céilí
Mór in the evening at 8pm with the Ivy Leaf Céilí
Band.
Admission for the céilí is £5.
Admission to workshops is free but is only available to those who have
pre-registered in advance.
For further details and registration forms e-mail Jim Myers at jimmyers@ic24.net
or leave a message at the Comhaltas Office on 020 7916 8727 or e-mail
Anton Coyle at antoncoyle@btinternet.com
Skerries Trad returns in May
NOW in its sixth year May 18- 20 sees the return of the Skerries Traditional
Weekend.
Reflecting both the long-standing traditions of the North Fingal community
and also the vibrancy of more recent arrivals from the four corners of
Ireland the packed programme of events provides a focus for expert tuition,
concerts and recitals, swapping of tunes and lively evening sessions.
Once again many of Ireland’s leading exponents of traditional music
and dance will both teach and perform in local Skerries venues.
A high level of active participation is again anticipated young and
old, beginners and advanced in a wide range of traditional activities.
www.skerriestraditonalmusic.com
or e-mail skerriestradmusic@gmail.com. |
