Irish Music Magazine - Annual 2017 issue
COVER STORY
RAISED ON SONGS AND STORIES: TWENTY–FIVE YEARS OF TOMMY FLEMING
It’s hard to imagine that the ever–youthful looking Tommy Fleming is celebrating twenty–five years in the music business writes Eileen McCabe.
FEATURES
MÁIRÉAD NESBITT
“Everything seems to be coming together like a jigsaw,” the Celtic Violinist / Fiddler and Composer, Máiréad Nesbitt tells Helene Dunbar. “It’s all just moving by itself.”
PLANXTY
Seán Laffey talks to Dónal Lunny about Between The Jigs And The Reels, a CD/DVD package of hand picked Planxty favourites.
THE PULSE OF THE PIPES
Seán Laffey talks to Kevin Rowsome about a new CD of uilleann piping Cuisle Cheoil na bPíob.
HELLO WORLD
Derek Copley talks to Jigjam, the sharp-dressing, fast–playing, hard–working band from Co. Offaly.
COSCÁN’S FIREDANCE
With the 1916 centenary fading behind us, Meath based Coscán provide a soundtrack for our deep history, writes Seán Laffey.
THE MUSICAL MOONEYS
Grainne McCool fires the questions at Gearóid Ó Maonaigh for Irish Music Magazine.
KUALA LUMPUR CÉILÍ
Dr Anthony Cummins tells us about Irish music in South East Asia.
SONGS ON THE LONESOME PLAIN
Dónal Clancy tells Seán Laffey about his new solo album and growing up nurtured by the Clancy legacy of songs.
MUSIC NETWORK KICKS–OFF 2017 WITH A SPECIAL ENSEMBLE
Anne Marie Kennedy met with Pádraig Rynne to discuss his background & hear his enthusiasm for the latest Music Network collaborative.
RAW BAR COLLECTIVE
Aoife Granville talks to the Raw Bar’s flute player Conal O’Grada about their new album Tá an Coileach ag Fógairt an Lae.
A LOUTH LILT
Featuring music composed by Adèle Commins and Daithí Kearney, A Louth Lilt is inspired by people and places in Louth and further afield, writes Grainne McCool.
THE IRISH ROVERS ARE UNSUNG AMBASSADORS FOR IRELAND
The Irish Rovers celebrate their 50th anniversary with a new CD/DVD and Aidan O’Hara spoke with members, George Millar and Gerry O’Connor.
Trad for Trócaire
The Trad for Trócaire campaign continues to be a highlight of the Traditional Irish Music calendar.
THE FLOWING TIDE
2016 has been a significant one for Micheál Ó hAlmhain, master flute player and piper: he has been made an Ard–Ollamh by CCÉ and brought out his long–awaited CD, Tuile agus Trá The Flowing Tide. He spoke with Aidan O’Hara.
WHERE’S THE BUSINESS GOING BENNY?
Seán Laffey met Benny McCarthy in the Barne Lodge pub a few miles outside of Clonmel, Benny gives us his perspective on the current state of the traditional music business.
PETE CUMMINS IS STILL MAKING MAGIC
Talking to Pete Cummins is like listening to a cool cat in a smoky jazz club, the velvet smooth in his voice drawing you into every word, writes Derek Copley.
REMEMBERING EWAN McCOLL’S CRITICS GROUP
What was it like working with Ewan McColl, how did he treat young performers and what was his legacy? In this archive interview Aidan O’Hara asks the key questions.
DON “BANJO” SMITH AND THE ROSE SESSIONS
If a guy called The Snake hadn’t brought Don “Banjo” Smith to The Harp and Bard in Clifton, New Jersey, in 1980, to see Marty Moonshine McKernan play, Don might not play Irish banjo today. Gwen Orel reports.
TRACKING THE TUNES
Seán Laffey talks to Askeaton based uilleann piper Denis O’Toole about Ceol Tracks
IT ALL BEGAN WITH ONE BODHRÁN
Seán Laffey talks to Paraic McNeela of McNeela Instruments, who are based in Baldoyle Dublin.
FESTIVALS
Our regular update on Festivals & Summer Schools from Ireland, UK, Europe and North America.
THE 18th GATHERING TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL
Toes will be tapping all the way to Killarney for the 18th anniversary of the Gathering Traditional Festival which is set to take place at the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney from February 22nd – 26th, 2017.
DERRY SAYS FAREWELL TO WINTER AND WELCOMES THE ARRIVAL OF IMBOLC
After months of planning, the organisers of Derry’s award–winning International Music Festival are currently gearing up to unveil the line up and headline acts of the upcoming festival in 2017.
TRADFEST TEMPLE BAR
TradFest Temple Bar festival started out in 2006 as a small niche traditional music festival, a first for Dublin. The 2017 Festival takes place from January 25th–29th.
REGULARS
TUNE STORY – THE PARTING GLASS
Slain by the Noble Irish spirit. How Bob Dylan was impacted by traditional Irish music. Clive Price reports.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
For this IMM exclusive, Heather Laffey, who teaches ukulele classes in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, put the New Zealand made Duke banjo–ukulele through its paces.
LIVE REVIEWS
KATE RUSBY
University Concert Hall, Limerick, October 31st, 2016. Seán Laffey reports.
BOOK REVIEWS
WILL WE BE BRILLIANT OR WHAT?
John Spillane 2016, The Collins Press, Hard back 220 Pages, ISBN: 9781848892859. Seán Laffey digests the content.
NAKED MUSIC THE SONG BOOK
Eleanor McEvoy, Hot Press Books 2016, Paperback A4, 64 pages, ISBN 978-0-9576114-2-9, www.eleanormcevoy.com. Seán Laffey reviews.
TUITION
Another selection of tutorials brought to you in association with Waltons Music. You can now listen to these tunes on-line at www.waltonsmusic.com
CD REVIEWS
Another selection of CD Reviews from the International World of Folk and Traditional Music.
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