GATESHEAD SAGE
www.thesagegateshead.org
16 August, Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalists’ Concert
This is a special concert featuring the cream of the new generation of Scottish musicians - the five finalists and winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician award 2007 plus winner of the previous year’s competition also.
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FOLKWORKS SUMMER SCHOOLS
www.folkworks.org
The annual summer schools organised by north-east music charity, Folkworks are set to run this year in Durham. The Junior Summer School (ages 10-14) will be held at St Aidan’s College from 15-18 August, the Youth Summer School (ages 14-25) at the College of Hild & Bede from 13-18 August and the Adult Summer School (ages 20+) at Grey College also from 13-18 August.
All summer schools include workshops, sessions, concerts, ceilidhs and performance opportunities and fun, with internationally-renowned tutors in instruments, song and dance.
CELTIC COLOURS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
www.celtic-colours.com
Although summer might still be running in North America (and long expected to start in Ireland) the Celtic Colours organisers have their attention firmly centred on the fall season. This year’s nine-day Celtic Colours International Festival will open on October 5th, at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre Arena, with world renowned The Chieftains. The closing ceremony will take place at the Big Fiddle in Sydney, with a special tribute celebrating 20 years of the Barra MacNeils.
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NY SINGERS CIRCLE
The New York Singers Circle meets on the first Monday of every month at Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar, 519 Second Avenue (at 29th Street), New York 10016-8636. All singers are welcome. This grand group has finally obtained a big, quiet and well-aired room with a fine singer behind the bar and many other fine singers in attendance.
For information contact Louise at Tel: 917 731 3897 or email: louise.kitt@hotmail.com
THE MAGIC SQUARE
www.celtic.grooves.com
Isn’t Anyone Going to Stop Them is the name of a new CD of Irish Music from Boston. The young and exceptionally talented band features Elliot Grasso on pipes; Dan Isaacson on flute, whistle, and bouzouki; Dave Cory on banjo, bodhrán, and bouzouki; Breige Quinn on fiddle; Ted Davis on guitar with Tina Lech; George Keith on fiddles and Peter Molloy on flute. We have a copy in the Irish Music Magazine office ready for a forthcoming review and it’s a wonderful debut work from this up and coming band.
The album and the group come highly recommended with a glowing homily to the band in the liner notes from respected flute player and broadcaster, Marcus O’Murchú. The album is worth checking out on www.celtic.grooves.com
NEW ALBUM FROM CLO IAR CHONNACHTA
www.cic.ie
This past summer saw a veritable treasure trove of new traditional albums coming to the market, with an emphasis on quality, both in the recordings and the selection of material on display. There are three albums of note released by Cló Iar Chonnachta. The Merry Love to Play, from flute player, Peter Horan and fiddler, Gerry Harrington comes highly recommended. Charlie Lennon has a new double album out on the same label, Turning the Tune. This two disc set contains some thirty selections of tunes from the Galway-based fiddler.
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CHRISTY McNAMARA,THE HOUSE I WAS REARED IN
This is the long-awaited and much-anticipated album from Clare photographer, Christy McNamara. With Dennis Cahill and Martin Hayes backing Christy, who plays box and also contributes a song, this is one of the most genuine rooted albums of the year. Christy’s launch and CD review will appear in the next issue. More information is available on www.christymcnamara.com
TRAD SEASON IN HIGH GEAR
Donnchadh O’Cinnéide presents a Comhaltas radio programme every Monday evening on Tipp Mid West Radio at 7.30 pm Irish time. You can pick it up online at www.tippmidwestradio.com
FOUR GROUPS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN AWARD SCHEME
www.musicnetwork.ie
Music Network announced the second round of successful applicants of the Performance and Touring Award 2007 in early July, which provides support and work for professional musicians in Ireland. With funding from the Arts Council, the Performance and Touring Award was developed by Music Network, the national music development organisation, to assist Irish and Ireland-based musicians in realising performance opportunities.
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Pride of the West
New album from John Wynne and John McEvoy
Traditional Irish Flute and Fiddle Music in the North Connaught Style
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