Issue 14 6/2000

FolkWorld News

Young female singer joins Battlefield Band?!
Scotland. A last minute news item: Karine Polwart is about to join the Battlefield Band, as the
Greentrax Newsletter announces. Karine came into the focus of attention in her band Malinky. This young band has won last year's DANNY Award at the Celtic Connection Festival in Glasgow and has successfully released its debut album, "Last Leaves", on the Greentrax Label, attracting a lot of media and festival organisers' attention. (FolkWorld loved the album as well - see the CD review). Karine Polwart from Stirlingshire is not only an excellent singer, but also a very sensitive songwriter. Although joining the Battlefield Band, she intends to continue touring woth Malinky and McAlias, her duo with Gill Bowman.
We do not have any information on how the Battlefield Band Line-Up will change with the addition of Karine (there is also no info yet on the Batties' website). As far as we know, she will be only the second female "Batty" (after Jenny Clark and Sylvia Barnes) in the 30 year history of Scotland's most important folk band. With her talent and wit, she can only be a welcome addition.


Sensational news from Milladoiro
Galicia/Spain. Rodrigo Romaní has left his band Milladoiro. As a long time member he contributed Celtic harp, concert harp, bouzouki, acoustic guitar and guimbard to the unique Milladoiro sound. To most Galicians these news came as a big surprise; Rodrigo has been part of the band for some 20 years. Milladoiro has been maybe the most important band for the Galician folk revival, and is today the most legendary folk band of Galicia, creating a sound somewhere between Celtic, Roman and Classical music, yet with distinctive Galician feeling.


Troubles at the Keys
Christy Moore, photo by The Mollis Northern Ireland. Another great traditional music venue is lost. In late January the
Crosskeys, an 250 years old coaching Inn 20 miles north of Belfast, was damaged by a fire. There were no injuries but broken hearts.
Ralf Sotscheck once wrote: The best musicians of Northern Ireland play the Crosskeys Inn, the most beautiful pub of the Emerald Isle. In the afternoon it appears like a museum. A pencil drawing of Mickey McIlhatton, the infamous moonshiner, hanging on the wall. In the H-Blocks, Bobby Sands wrote a song about the "King of the Glens". Christy Moore recorded it. When the musicians kick off and a crackling fire accompanies the tunes, it becomes clear why the Tourist Board shot an advertising film on the spot.
The good news: Owner Eamonn Stinston is determined to rebuild and continue the bar. Best wishes.
(Item by Walkin' T:-)M)

Photo: Christy Moore, Photo by The Mollis


Ireland's best young traditional musician
Ireland. On 24th May 2000, Eamonn de Barra had a big day: Not only was this his 20th birthday, but he also won the Irish "Young Traditional Musician of the year Award". Eamonn is a brilliant flute player who also plays the piano "much to everybody's surprise that night", and his name will definitely be around during the next years. Singer Niamh Parsons reported to FolkWorld that it was a fantastic night of music and a party afterwards, ending at 8.30 in the morning... Congrats to Eamonn!


Scotland's Voice Festival in Edinburgh
Edinburgh. After the (possibly final) end of the Edinburgh Folk Festival in Spring and the closing of Edinburgh's folk music pub No. 1, the Tron Tavern/Ceilidh House, here is some good news from Scotland's capital: A new festival of traditional music, featuring the man traditional instruments of pipes, harp, fiddle and accordion, and Scots and Gaelic song.
The organisers of this new event are well-known on the Scottish scene: Aileen Carr (Palaver etc), Elspeth Cowie (Seannachie, Chantan, TMSA etc), Maggie Macinnes (Gaelic singer and harper) and Cy Laurie (singer and folk pubs owner). They have put together Scotland's Voice, a weekend of traditional music and song PLUS workshops and sessions, to be held at the university of Edinburgh's Pleasance Complex, The Pleasance, Edinburgh, with its cabaret bar, main concert hall, bars etc. The festival is a standalone entity, unconnected to any business or organisation. It is supported by the Scottish Arts Council and City of Edinburgh Council.
The dates are 30th June to 2nd July 2000. Acts include Brian McNeill, Gordeanna McCulloch, Maggie Macinnes with Sean O'Rourke, Elspeth Cowie & Ronnie Lang, Aileen Carr with Tony McManus, Ian MacInnes and Stuart Morison, The MacNaughton's Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Ann Neilson, Cathy Ann McPhee and more.
Details are on the web at
www.scotfolk.com/scotvoice


Rough Guide to World Music
England. The "Rough Guide to World Music" saw the light of day back in 1994. Six years later, a new edition has been published, expanded and split in two parts. Volume One (Africa, Europe and the Middle East) just arrived, Volume Two (North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific) is said to follow soon. The first volume covers nearly 2.000 musicians from Albania to Zimbabwe, playing accordeon and zurna, singing a tenore and performing Zulu-Traditional, in groups called A Fileta and Zvuci Zavicaja, on the Aaipop Festival and Zlatne zice Slavonije. Oh, you already know that? Then forget about it! Otherwise, think of a comprehensive reference book for 1/20 Euro per page!
The
Rough Guide to World Music Vol. 1 (Africa, Europe and the Middle East), Rough Guides, London 1999, 762 pages, ISBN 1-85828-635-2, 17,99 pounds
(Item by Walkin' T:-)M)


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ERBSES BAUCHLADEN
Erbses Bauchladen ...been hunting for strings for a charango or a rubber ended bhodhrán beater? A low whistle or a rosewood flageolet?
"Erbses Bauchladen", running an online-Shop in the internet since June 1998, is dealing in musical instruments and accessories which are sometimes a little hard to come by. At
our online shop you will find:
Traditional and folk instruments: Giutars, mandolins, banjos, bouzoukis, charangos, bandurrias, ukuleles, fiddles, whistles, recorders, flutes, bodhráns, handheld percussion, castanets, concertinas, chalumeaus, bag-pipes, balaleikas, lutes and lots more from major instrument makers around the world.
Sheet Music, song books and tutors: We carry books, sheet music and tutors for almost all our instruments with many titles from England, Scotland or Ireland.
Strings and accessories: We carry strings and spare parts for all our instruments as well as a variety of accessories (reeds for bagpipes, practice chanters and the like, membranes, drum skins, stands for instruments etc.)
If you are looking for something we do not stock - we will try and get it for you. Make sure, you ask.
Have a look in - it may be worthwhile. http://www.erbses.de


Andy Harrison passed away
Scotland. On March 14th 2000, Andy Harrison, the vocalist with Scottish modern folk band Cantychiels, died after a long fight with cancer. Andy's voice can be heard on five tracks
on their album Cantychiels released on Greentrax just one year ago.
Andy had hoped to have started recording the band's second album, but due to the sudden deterioration of his health was unable to get it underway. Everyone in Cantychiels is struggling to come to terms with his untimely death. He will be fondly remembered by all.


Liederjan, Photo by The Mollis Win 225 Minutes CDs of German folk music history
With a question for geographers among you (well not only), you can win this issue three great CD documentations of German folk music history between 1950 and 2000. BMG released a sampler of German folk music between 1950 and 2000, while Pläne Records published two CDs of the legendary "Festival des politischen Liedes" during the 70s and 80s in Berlin.
In the competition you can win one of five package with all three of these CDs.
Find out more about the CDs etc.

Photo: Liederjan; by The Mollis


Gipsy Festival in the Netherlands
Tilburg/The Netherlands. Whit Monday, 12th June 2000, sees the fourth edition of one of the major European gipsy festivals, in the town of Tilburg (known to FolkWorld readers from the
First International Folk Festival last January). Among the participating bands are Nicolae Gutsa ('The greatest living gipsy-voice', Rumania), La Raja Flamenca (project Musafir, Rajasthan / Antonio el Pipa y Compania, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia), Tekameli (Catalan rumba from Perpignan, France), Romano Kokalo (Hungary). Additionally there are film presentations and exhibitions. Happening between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the "Muzentuin" and "Concertzaal Tilburg". Tickets from Tel (NL-)013-543 22 20. More infos at www.gipsyfestival.nl.


Niamh Parsons, Photo by The Mollis

Sensational Sevenum
The Netherlands. The little town of Sevenum proves next autumn and spring once again that their folk programme is huge. Between October 2000 and April 2001 they have booked The Bushburys, Allan Taylor, Finbar Furey , Padraig Duggan (Clannad) & Thomas Loefke, The Iron Horse, Show of Hands, John Wright Band, The Tannahill Weavers, Ossian, Niamh Parsons. Not bad...
Dates and infos at
welcome.to/fookhook

Photo: Niamh Parsons; by The Mollis


EXPO 2000
Germany/Ireland. It's been a long way from the Chicago World Exhibition in 1893 with Irish piper Toirdhealach MacSuibhne who is reputed having learned the pipes from the fairies through a century of decline and revival of Irish traditional music. Whereas the World Fair in Lisbon was omitted some years ago, the EXPO 2000 in Hanover will experience Irish artists of high reputation, especially on Ireland's National Day on 28th June.
Lord Edward's Own Narraghmore Pipe Band and Dervish can be captured in concert. Donal Lunny shows up with a commissioned piece to be performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra. Furthermore, Kila is about to hit Hanover for "one big gig and lots of little sessions" on 19 August. Possibly a few gigs in other cities nearby will follow.
Links: www.expo2000.de, www.expo2000.ie (Item by Walkin' T:-)M)
Of course many other countries offer folk music as well during the EXPO 2000 - good luck for finding the right bands in the big programme!


Ivan Drever & Duncan Chisholm, Photo by The Mollis Tinto 5
Scotland. One of the successful recent festival stories is the one of Tinto, a festival in the Scottish lowlands region. Festival number 5 has the title "Music Live @ Tinto 5", and offers an attractive programme featuring Shooglenifty, Flook, Kieran Halpin, Ivan Drever, Bella McNabs, Leo McCann, Angela Fox and Demlin. There is an open stage for all budding musicians. Events are in the Green Globe, Marquees, Teepees and the beautiful big house. Lots of green activities, music workshops and thousands of opportunities to play together.
Taking place from 1st to 3rd September 2000 in Wiston Lodge, near Biggar. Further infos at
www.wiston.zetnet.co.uk.

Photo: Ivan Drever with Duncan Chisholm, Photo by The Mollis


Gold Disc for Jim McCann
Irland. Jim MCann received a gold disc was for his "Collections" album, at the same time while he launched his new one entitled "By Request". Congrats!


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HARLEKIN RECORDS
HARLEKIN RECORDS - Your source for FOLK MUSIC (North America, Ireland, Great Britain), COUNTRY, BLUEGRASS and related music. Always more than 10.000 different compact discs, LP-records and video tapes in stock!
Ask for our catalog (please indicate what you collect).
E-mail:
Harlekin-Records@t-online.de; Jürgen Feuß, Postfach 110142-FW, 28081 Bremen / GERMANY. Phone: +49 421 7 49 10, FAX: +49 421 70 0051


Follow me up to Limerick - to learn trad music
Ireland. The first MA class in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick has successfully been finished this spring. The MA is a one-year, full-time postgraduate programme designed to provide advanced tuition in the performance of Irish Traditional Music. Instrumental and vocal tuition is provided by a community of world renowned traditional performers and tutors. Tutors this year included such legends as Liam O'Flynn, Frankie Gavin, Martin Hayes, John Williams, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, John Carty, Brian Finnegan and John Joe Kelly.
Some names to keep in mind: The students of the class have been Ben Power (flute), Brian Morrissey (banjo), Caoimhín Vallely (piano), Garry Shannon (flute), Martha Clancy (concertina), Nigel Grufferty (fiddle), Odhrán Ó Casaide (fiddle), Paula Rafferty (fiddle), Rueben Neville (fiddle), Svend Kjeldsen (bodhrán), Tara Ní Chonacháin (fiddle), Tommy Keane (uilleann pipes).
The successful completion of the first year was celebrated by a tour of the new Masters. The Class Tour featured also the launch of Garry Shannon's new flute album 'Loozin' Air', completed as part of his MA work.


Plommon; photo by The Mollis

New Swedish plum
Sweden. One of the shooting stars of the Scandinavian music scene are Plommon (= plum), representing the Spelmans traditions of Southern Sweden. Ingeborg Svenonius has now left the other four witty and pretty young girls to get a "proper job"; the replacement meanwhile fulfills the necessary qualities to join Plommon: She is a girl, plays the fiddle and sings, as all others do. With a stronger emphasis on singing, Plommon will move on to a new venture: A winter flavoured programm in November/December called "Nordic Christmas". Merry X-mas!

Photo: Plommon 1998; photo by The Mollis


Euro Festivals 2000
Europe. FolkWorld guides you once again on a journey to different recommended folk festivals in continental Europe. In
an article, different festivals are recommended or introduced: In Germany the EXPO, Rudolstadt and Perleberg Festival, in Austria Gutenbrunn, in Poland the Folk Fiesta, Skagen and Tønder in Denmark, Falun in Sweden, Dranouter in Belgium and finally two new festivals in the Netherlands, FolkWoods and "Sterren in Drenthe". Enjoy the summer!


Hurdy Gurdies over the water near Seattle
USA. The fifth annual "Over The Water Hurdy-Gurdy Festival and French Dance Weekend" (a lovely and compact name...) brings hurdy-gurdy players, dancers, and world-class instructors together for intensive instruction, great food, and natural beauty. Well what else do you need for a great weekend??
Some more infos: "Ongoing classes and self-contained workshops for players will cover melodic techniques such as fingering and tone production, rhythm (trompette) playing, repertoire, and instrument setup and maintenance. An ongoing Basic Skills class will be offered daily for beginners. Dance instruction (Saturday and Sunday only) will focus on regional French repertoires, and the Saturday evening "Bal Folk" will feature live music by the largest hurdy-gurdy band this side of the Atlantic."
All this is happening from 19th to 24th September 2000 at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle, WA, USA. More details are
at the website; or contact the registrar Joanne Andrus.


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New album from Australian Singer Louisa John-Krol
‘Alexandria’: eclectic, ethereal album by Australian singer Louisa John-Krol
Louisa John-Krol on German label Hyperium: ‘a haunting music sensation…' (Melbourne Times). ‘eerie…dreamy…soothing’ (Rhythms, Australia) ‘a magic potion…full of vivacious incantation inspired by mellifluous rumors from the faery lands…’ (Stavros Moschopoulos, FAO Gazette, Rome). 9 out of 10 stars (Mucke Und Mehr, Berlin); Album of the Month, May ’99 (Alphabeat Radio, Sinzig). ‘Beauty, grace, passion and excellence are the hallmarks of Alexandria’ (Celestial Voices, UK).
Produced by Harry Williamson, instruments include: mandolin, chimes, guitar, tiple, oboe, firesticks, keyboard, chas chas, ocarina
~ lyrics explore themes arising from mythology, poetry, faerietale ~

German 1999 CD release on Hyperium Records, distributed by Rough Trade.
Australian 1998 CD, original artwork (limited edition) email
mkrol@ozemail.com.au; GPO Box 2210 T, Melbourne 3001 Australia. Homepage: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mkrol/shapings_well.html


Three generations of Irish musicians
Germany/Ireland. Finally the line-up for the Pure Irish Drops 2000 is together. This years aspect is "Three generations of Irish musicians": Joe Derrane (button accordion) stands for the old, Paddy Keanan (uillean pipes, ex-Bothy Band) for the middle and Malachy Bourke (fiddle, 25, student of Frankie Gavin) for the young generation.
The Pure Irish Drops Tour is an institution of the German folk music scene, and tours across mid-Europe in September/October. Infos from
Florian Fürst


Snapshot - Fun Photo Competition; photo by The Mollis The Old Rope String Band, photo by The Mollis The answer...
FolkWorld showed in the last Snapshot competition the photo on the left, with 1/2 of 2/3 of an English band. The answer is of course The Old Rope String Band, as quite a few of our readers found out (actually about half of the entries were either from organisers, musicians or sound men...). The three CD package went finally to Yorkshire in England.


Villagers Opt to Keep Cowshit Lane
London (Reuters; May 12 2000). It is not the sort of address most people would want but a group of English villagers has turned down a proposal to rename Cowshit Lane.
The name stirred controversy when the village of Golant in southwest England decided to have a map drawn up for visitors. "I live there and I have no objection to the name," local council chairman Alistair Barr was quoted as saying by the Times newspaper Friday. "Some others have suggested renaming it Cowslip Lane, which I don't agree with."
Douglas Cooper, Barr's predecessor as chairman, staid: "I only wish I lived there because I could put it on my headed notepaper."
Any relation to folk music? Maybe only to local folk culture...


Snapshot - Fun Photo Competition; photo by The Mollis Snapshot - the Fun Photo Competition
Which folk rock band from Europe is shown on this snapshot?
Name us as many names as you can, and WIN 3 CDS at once (of your choice out of a selection of six folk music (promotional) CDs)!!!!
Answers until 10/08/2000 to FolkWorld.
Click
here to read the conditions of FolkWorld competitions.


In the German news you can find as additional news:


To the (older) FolkWorld News of Nr. 13
To the (newer) FolkWorld News of Nr. 15

To the content of FolkWorld online magazine Nr. 14

© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 6/2000

All material published in FolkWorld is © The Author via FolkWorld. Storage for private use is allowed and welcome. Reviews and extracts of up to 200 words may be freely quoted and reproduced, if source and author are acknowledged. For any other reproduction please ask the Editors for permission.


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