Issue 14 6/2000
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.
Troubles at the
Keys
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
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)
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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 - the Fun Photo Competition In the German news you can find as additional news:
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