JULY/AUGUST 2001
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 7
CEOL AGUS CRAIC
The 11th Annual
Canmore Highland Games
Sunday, September 2, 2001
in the Alberta Rockies
Summer: Music, Sun, Fun Enjoy the Celtic Sounds
By ERIN MULL AN
Ceol binn a bhaint as an saoll A big shout of congratulations goes out to all the hardworking folks here at The Celtic Connection on the paper's tenth anniversary. I'm grateful to Maura, Cathleen and the rest of the crew for the opportunity provided by this column to proselytize about the music I love.
Good thoughts go out to Culpepper's Jackie Meltzer, who is thankfully on the mend after a sudden serious illness. Here's to a speedy recovery for one of the best friends of Celtic music in this town.
Cape Breton master musician J.P. Cormier and pianist Hilda Chaisson-Cormier won't be able to make the Vancouver Folk Music Festival this year due to J.P.'s long-standing aversion to flying. I guess he must be driving out to get to his gig at the Edmonton festival next month.........Cormier may not
be playing the Vancouver festival but every self-respecting Celtic music aficionado ought to be in Jericho Park July 13-15 to enjoy this year's stellar
lineup.........The Mission Folk Festival on July 20-
22 should also be a treat for Celtic music fans, with a rare local appearance by hot fiddler Eileen Ivers and her full band, which includes piper Jerry
O'Sullivan.........Ottawa Valley fiddle champion
Pierre Schryer will also be at Mission. Cape Breton's Barra MacNeils headline the Sunday finale and Scottish Young Tradition Award Winner, Gillian Frame, brings her fine band to Mission as well. Another rare treat is Seattle's Jim Page (who wrote a few songs for Moving Hearts in the Eighties, including "Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette") accompanied by fiddler Billy Oskay. The Celtic contingent is rounded out by Quebec's Entourloupe, Alberta's Maria Dunn and The McDades, and BC's Prydwen.
Steve Edge tells me the summer shows could be "make or break" for the Rogue Folk Club. "It's not exactly all hands to the pump, but it will be if these
shows don't do well," he says.........On July 17 the
wonderful Galician group Laio will be joined by renowned piper Edelmiro Fernandez for a not-to-be-missed Rogue Folk gig at The W.I.S.E.
Hall.........The following night Entourloupe will
play a concert set and then a called Quebecois dance in the second half of the evening. The band features Claude Methe on fiddle and the amazing Stephane Landry on accordion, as well as one of Quebec's most accomplished dancers, Jean-Francois Berthiaume.........The Quebecois flavour
continues on July 26 when the always entertaining
Matapat return to The W.I.S.E..........On August 1
Oysterband play Richards on Richards.........Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean is at The W.I.S.E. On August 8.........There'll be a very different type of Scottish music August 17 at the Croatian Cultural Centre when Shooglenifty fire
up the dance tunes.........On August 22 The
Shoogles play a watershed benefit on lovely Salt Spring Island. For info about tix and accomodations call The Salt Spring Conservancy at (250) 538-
0318.........There'll be a night of Irish accordion
wizardry on August 24 when the John Whelan Band plays theW.I.S.E.
The Rogue folks are working on a possible date for Solas around Labour Day at The Cultch. Fall possibilities include Paddy Keenan and Kevin Burke in late October (with Tommy O'Sullivan on guitar) and Richard Wood should be back in late October as well.........In early November watch for a
special gig with former De Dannan accordion player Charlie Piggott and fiddler Gerry Harrington. They will be accompanied by New York guitarist and singer Nancy Concscu.
Local motion: Culpepper's will be sorely missed as a session venue . Here's hoping some other laud-lords will step up to fill the void.........The Irish
Heather has Randy Vic hosting an Irish session on Tuesday nights and Six Crows Gold playing on
Thursdays.........Monday nights diis summer there's
Scottish country dancing at Stanley Park's Ceperley Playground (weather permitting). On July 16 the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra will be providing the music. Details: (604) 263-9911.
Recording News & New Releases:.........The third
release from Lunasa, entitled The Merry Sisters of Fate, is just out and is the Irish band's finest recording to date.........Ashley Maclsaac and Howie
MacDonald.have released a live CD featuring some cracking pub sessions called Cape Breton Music: Not.Calm.........Lunasa's Kevin Crawford is joined
b}' a who's who of Irish fiddlers on In Good
Company.........The awesome new album from
Shooglenifty, Solar Shears, makes for great summer party music.........While in Brittany recently
Steve Edge picked up a hot new CD from Kornog flautist Jean Michel Veillon. It's called Beo! ("Live!" in Breton) and was recorded in Belfast. It's on An
Naer records ww\v.an-naer.com/.........On the same
label is a young Breton band called Spontus. who play some spicy swing fiddle alongside the bombarde and accordion.
Questions, comments, or complaints? Write me c/o The Celtic Connection, #741 - 916 West Broadway, Vancouver V5Z 1K7, or email: celtic@istar.ca . (Erin Mullan hosts the Celtic music radio show In the Claddagh Ring, Fridays from 6:30 to 8 PM on CFRO 102.7 FM.)
Airport Renamed after Lennon
LIVERPOOL - In a lasting tribute to one of its most famous sons, Liverpool will honour former Beatle John Lennon by renaming the city's airport after the musician. It will be called Liverpool John Lennon Airport when a new terminal opens next spring.
This is the first time an airport in Britain will have been named after a famous person. The new terminal will feature a self-portrait of Lennon with the words "Above us only sky," taken from his classic anthem Imagine. In the early days of the band, The Beatles regularly used the airport on their travels.
His son Sean Lennon, said, "It is a great honour for my dad and for our family. My mom and I are very proud and would like to thank the people of Liverpool for all their warmth and support over the years."
Sinead O'Connor to Wed Newsman
DUBLIN - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has announced that she is engaged to marry British journalist Nick Sommerlad (27). He said he is "delighted," that O'Connor (34) has accepted his proposal. The couple have not set a date yet, but plan to marry some time next year.
O'Connor met Sommerlad a few months ago when she was introduced through a mutual friend. She recently split from her bovfriend of two years Dermott Hayes (43).
Prior to that she had a relationship with another newspaper columnist, John Waters of The Irish Times, father of her daughter Roisin (5). She was formerly married to musician John Reynolds, father of her son Jake (13).
First Corr sister to Tie Nuptial Knot
CRATLOE, County Clare - Sharon Corr (31) arrived at the tiny white-washed church to say "I do" to her barrister boyfriend of six years, Gavin Bonnar (32), in an intimate ceremony at the charming St John's Church at Cratloe, County Clare.
The couple met when making the video Runaway, and the glowing bride said, "We have been together for six years, but we would have married in six days but for our careers. We're so happy.
Wearing an off-white Elspeth Gibson halter-neck gown, decorated with antique lace and featuring a long train and carrying a simple spray of sweetpea and gypsophila, Sharon looked radiant as she stepped out of the blue Bentley wedding car.
The first Corr sibling to marry was escorted up the aisle by her Dad Gerry (68) to the sound of traditional fiddler Martin Hayes. The wedding was attended by 200 relatives and friends.
Centennial Park Canmore, Alberta
FULL HIGHLAND GAMES & EVENING CEILIDH
Events go on Rain, Snow or Shine!
Further information: PH 403-678-9454 FAX 403-678-3385 Email: chg@telusplanet.net www.discovercanmore.com/highlandgames/
Western Canada's Premier Highland Games
m | Rogue Folk Club Vancouver's best Celtic / Folk / Roots Music " www.roguefolk.bc.ca
Mon-Wed JULY 16-18th Folkfest Hangover A full dose of some of the best of this year's Van Folk Music Fest Monday - tb.a Tuesday - Laio (Galicia) Wed. - Entourloupe (Quebec) WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street) Wed. AUGUST 1st Brush English folk / rock combo Oysterband Richards on Richards
Wed. AUGUST 8th Scotland's finest songwriter Dougie MacLean WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street)
Thursday JULY 26th (8:00) Quebecois trad, with a twist ! Matapat WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street) Friday AUGUST 17th Trad Scots Acid Croft / Trip Hop! Shooglenifty Croatian Hall (3250 Commercial)
Friday JULY 27th (8:00) Wild surfln' guitar and fiddle dfto Willie & Lobo Richards (1036 Richards Street) Friday AUGUST 24th Irish accordion wizard John Whelan Band venue to be announced
& lots more fine music to come!
9 Tickets at Black Swan, Highlife, Rufus', Virgin ^ Information & Reservations: (604) 736-3022 ^
Would your like to see a Celtic Centre in Vancouver?
Then join a group of likeminded people, who are interested in your ideas at an evening of discussion and entertainment
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 7:30 P.M. at the
CROATIAN CULTURAL CENTRE 3250 Commercial Drive, (by 16th Avenue) Vancouver
For more information: (604) 434-3747