Issue 8 2/99

The English articles of this issue:

• Paddy's Passion
  Paddy Moloney, head of the Chieftains about his ideas and projects.Paddy Moloney, one of the busiest folk musicians around, was busy again during the last few months: Last summer marked the launch of his new World Music label Wicklow Records, with the first few albums produced by Paddy; he has toured with the Chieftains, and found the time to guest on quite a few recordings. And then of course he has put together and recorded the new album 'Tears of Stone', which will be released in late February.
  Ireland, news and collaborations of best known Irish trad band

• Ambrozijn's Ambitions for Flemish Folk
  One of the greatest new Belgian Folk Bands. A highly professional CD with highest quality Belgian music - something that catches directly the interest of FolkWorld. Up to now, you would not often hear anything in Germany of the folk music of our Flemish neighbours. Ambrozijn - whose CD was No. 4 in the FolkWorld Charts 1998 - were simply a 'Must' for an online interview, to find out more about the current scene over there.
  Win Ambrozijn CDs!
  Belgium, traditional Flemish Music

  

• Swedish Swapping
  Swåp about differences and similarities between Irish and Swedish music. The foyer of the Gaul-Roman Museum, just beneath Cologne Cathedral; a place full of history is the setting for this interview. Just the right place to talk about very old relationships between two very old music cultures, between Swedish and Irish traditions. We met the two Swedish fiddlers Ole Backström and Carina Normansson, and the English accordionist Karen Tweed and guitarist Ian Carr, who are together known as Swåp. This band has experienced the challenge trying to learn with a Swedish background Irish music, and with an English-Irish background Swedish music.
  Sweden/England/Ireland, Connections of European music cultures

• Peatbog Fairies from a modern Scotland
  Mighty, clubby stuff with strong folk roots. Have you ever seen Peatbog Fairies? If you come to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, you may see them there. These creatures are not exactly what you traditionally would imagine. They are not that small as Fairies often are, but still they are very friendly creatures, that always try to make you happy with their wonderful music...
  Scotland - trancy-dancy Scottish Roots Music

Celtic Connections live reviews:
All the following live reviews are from Celtic Connections festival 1999, which was held in January in Glasgow, Scotland. In the next issue there will be more live reviews and an interview with arts co-ordinator of the festival Colin Hynd.

• Northern Spanish Folk Music - Simply the best stuff!
  Kepa Junkera & Banda, Xose Manuel Budino & Band. Since Carlos Núñez' ventures with the Chieftains, and afterwards on his own, the message has spread the world that there is some great music from Northern Spain to discover. Now more and more North Spanish musician are appearing on international stages, showing that they have just the same calibre of a Carlos Núñez; they are taking the hearts of quite a few of lovers of Celtic, Spanish and European folk music. What all these musicians have in common is combining very catchy tunes, that often have some Celtic influences, with a very energetic stage performance that is full of the Spanish temper.
  Spain: Basque Country & Galicia - high energy traditional music

• Wolfstone & Alain Genty Band
  Who would have thought that there is a time when Wolfstone has to struggle to follow his support. Well the time is there - while the Alain Genty Band was simply brilliant, for me Wolfstone were the Celtic Connections flop 1999.
  France (Brittany) / Scotland

  

• Canadian Connections
  John Allan Cameron Trio, Slàinte Mhath and La Bottine Souriante.The final night of Celtic Connections, 31 January 1999 in Glasgow, has plenty of exciting music on offer: From the most traddy concert, the 'Belle Stewart Tribute Concert' featuring some of Scotlands finest singers, over English folk rockers Oysterband supported by the Lush Rollers, and Capercaillie supported by the magic Alain Genty Band to the Canadian Concert with the John Allan Cameron Trio, Slàinte Mhath and La Bottine Souriante in the Old Fruitmarket. Not an easy decision - but without doubt we were on the right side to visit the sold out Canadian Concert. What a great night!
  Canada: Cape Breton & Quebec - fresh youngsters and old heroes

• Six Dannys at Celtic Connections
  (This review is part of Danny's Corner, please use the 'BACK' button of your browser to return to the articles-&-live-reviews index page!)
  Danny Kyle's Open Stages live on. Celtic Connections 1999 saw the return of the legendary Danny Kyle Open Stage. During the 18 days of the festival, And it is planned to extend the Danny Kyle Open Stage on all the festivals Danny has been involved in.
  Scotland - Chances for new talents

  

• The new look (and sound)
  Fresh power from Old Blind Dogs and Anam. The Festival Club is one of the greatest features of Celtic Connections Festival. Every night when all the official concerts are finished, at about 11.30 p.m. the Festival Club programme starts, with many major bands playing in the intimate club atmosphere. You can be sure that once you are there you won't be home much before 4 a.m. or even later. The festival club is also a popular place for the better-known bands to try out if the new programme or line-up works in front of an audience. This year, two old hands of the Celtic scene could be seen (one of) the first times in their new line-up on stage - and for both the Old Blind Dogs and Anam it's been very successful.
  Scotland - succesfull line up changes

Other English live reviews of this issue:

• Altan rocking around
  In Germany, you often find old factories and industrial halls that are used these days as culture clubs and discos. The Getaway in Solingen is one of those. Surely, it is not the usual place to experience a renowned Irish trad band...
  Altan - traditional Irish Music

  

• The Concert for Omagh in Brussels
  Joe Hennon went to see the likes of Altan, De Dannan, Frances Black, The Liam O'Flynn Band, La Lugh, Paddy Keenan, Paddy Glackin, Micheal O Domhnaill, Eleanor Shanley, Tommy Hayes. A memorable benefit concert in Brussels.
  Ireland - Top Star Irish Folk Concert Evening

• Annual Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy, 28/12/98 to 2/2/99
  The 5th Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy showed concerts and long sessions in the homes of Donegal. On the 28/12/98 American journalist Earl Hitchener ("Irish Echo", "Wall Street Journal") introduced fiddler Paddy Glackin to a rather small audience in "Ionad Cois Locha" in Dún Lúiche, Co. Donegal. Glackin himself opened the SGFK with a few words in Irish and English
  Ireland / Donegal - winter school, sessions and concerts

• Ayub Ogada and The Drummers of Burundi
  Kathy Tan went to the Corn Exchange, Cambridge on 8/2/1999. Neither of the two acts at the Corn Exchange tonight are newcomers to the scene. Both have releases on the RealWorld record label, started and managed by Peter Gabriel. Being the almost unmentioned support act to the Drummers wasn't exactly the fairest situation to be in, but the crowd that filled the Corn Exchange at 7:30pm proved Ogada's popularity amongst lovers of World/ African music.
  Africa

Do you have a festival or concert you like to review here? Or an article for us? Just send it!

In the German version there are some other Articles & Live Reviews:
(Please use the 'BACK' button of your browser to return from the German articles/Live reviews to the English articles-&-live-reviews index page!)

The German articles of this issue:

• "The Fiddle - a cool instrument"
  Michael & Christian Moll versuchen, einen kleinen Einblick in die spannenden Welten der europäisch-kanadischen Folkszene zu geben. Schottische, Irische, Französische Traditionen; coole Fiddle-Spieler, Steptanz, Gälischer Gesang und vieles Mehr...
  Canada - European Music in Exile

• Mittelalter als Show
  Christian Rath berichtet von der Berliner Gruppe "In Extremo", die derben Dudelsackpunk mit buntem Varieté und hartem Rock verbindet. Gab es im Mittelalter schon Sonnenbrillen? Und waren Dudelsäcke wirklich mit Teufelsköpfen verziert? Egal, "In Extremo" macht das Mittelalter zur Show. Und die beginnt im fahlen Bühnennebel, die Scheinwerfer tauchen die Szenerie in tiefblaues Licht. Plötzlich treten drei Gestalten aus dem Nebel hervor, mit weiten Umhängen, dunklen Brillen und blasen in ihre elektrisch verstärkten Dudelsäcke. Das Konzert beginnt.
  Germany - Modern Medival Hardrock

The German live reviews of this issue:

• Ein Triumph der Dorfmusik
  Christian Rath besuchte ein Konzert mit Tarafs de Haidouk im Freiburger "Jazzhaus". Die Leute waren gekommen, um die rumänische Gypsi-Kapelle "Tarafs de Haidouk" zu sehen. Doch was ihnen im Freiburger "Jazzhaus" geboten wurde, waren gleich mehrere Konzerte in einem. In immer neuen Zusammenstellungen betraten die insgesamt zwölf Musiker die Bühne in dem rustikalen Gewölbekeller.
  Roemanian Gypsy music.

To the (older) articles & live reviews of Nr. 7
To the (newer) articles & live reviews of Nr. 9 (as soon as issue 9 is out)

To the content of FolkWorld Online Magazine Nr. 8

© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 2/99

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