OCTOBER 1999
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 5
Traditional Celtic With a Contemporary Beat
to be influenced by the musical world around them. Given freedom to explore, he weaves his way in and out of jazz while remaining true to the roots of the music.
Sarah Allen from London, is a founding member of The Barely Works and BIGJIG. She seems one minute to let him go and the next to bring him back into her space, her alto flute drawing in and hypnotizing the listener with its sensual earthiness.
John Joe Kelly from Manchester, has played with Altan and Paul Brady. He plays phenomenal bodhran and kicks in and the whole thing takes off. He bounces off Brian and Sarah's variations with incredible awareness.
Ed Boyd on guitar is from Bath. He is founding member of Kershaw faves Red Ciel.
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For more information, call the Arden Theatre Box Office at (780) 459-1542.
FLOOK! an innovative group from the U.K. features Brian Finnegan, Sarah Allen, John Joe Kelly and Ed Boyd.
EDMONTON — Two top Celtic groups will appear at The Arden Theatre this fall. The Barra MacNeils bring their own Atlantic down-home sounds with traditional Irish Scottish tunes alongside jazz and world beat on October 19.
Then, from the U.K. comes Flook! Regarded as highly innovative, this group combines traditional tunes with contemporary beats for a stunning musical experience on November 4.
The Barra MacNeils have been making music all their lives but it's been the last 10 years that the family group has truly made their mark in the public eye. Siblings, Lucy, Sheumas, Kyle and Stewart have delighted audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship steeped in the Cape Breton tradition.
Celtic harp, bodhran, violin, keyboards, accordion and tin whistle all find a home in the talented hands of the MacNeils.
The group takes its name from the
NEW COMHALTAS EXECUTIVE
VANCOUVER — Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann Vancouver Branch held its annual general meeting on September 14. The new executive for the following year is as follows:
Tarla Curran - President Brien Gallagher - Vice President Janet Feiriu - Treasurer Chris Slater - Secretary Tarla Curran - Language Officer Brien Gallagher - First Delegate Janet Feirin - Second Delegate
Comhaltas fall schedule begins on October 5 and continues every
Tuesday at the WISE Club Green Room located at 1882 Adanac Street in Vancouver.
The Irish cultural studies include:
Irish language — 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Irish traditional dance — 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Irish traditional music — 9:30 PM to 10:30 AM
Old and new members are always welcome.
Scottish Isle of Barra and has always been steeped in the Celtic tradition. The Barra MacNeils have won fine East Coast Music Awards and a Top Ten hit with their song, Darling Be Home Soon.
Along with numerous appearances at festivals and on television around the world, the Barra MacNeils have been featured in a number of movies, including the critically acclaimed Margaret's Museum.
Flook! features four talented young musicians on flutes, guitar, bodhran and accordion and Irish music has never sounded so good.
Their unique combination of flutes underpinned by fluid guitar and hugely impressive bodhran playing has made them hugely on the live music circuit in Britain today.
Brian Finnegan from Armagh, is a founder member of Upstairs in a Tent. His unique style of flute playing comes from growing up amongst a generation of Irish musicians who allowed themselves
Daniel O'Donnell ^Nearly Cracked Up'
BELFAST — In an extract from his new biography, singer Daniel O'Donnell says he almost "cracked up" under the pressure of his career and hectic personal schedule. He revealed the pressure became so bad, he suffered a "terrible pressure" in his chest when he tried to sing.
The near-breakdown came early in 1992, and it took him almost two years to fully recover. "I was near to cracking up. I was working too much. I kept saying 'yes,, yes' to everything. Apart from the shows, I was visiting people who were sick or disabled, calling here, therejand everywhere. Now this was a pressure I brought upon myself, because I really didn't have to do all those things.
The Donegal star suffered panic attacks before shows and at one point had to support himself on a speaker during his performance. He saw a herbalist, a throat specialist and healing priest Father Peter Rookey as part of his recovery.
"I was treated at the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin and put on all sorts of inhalers and steroids," he said. But after a performance in January 1993 where he shared his problems with the audience, a nun wrote to him and recommended he see Father Rookey.
The star now says he never goes on stage without saying a prayer given to him by the "nun who recommended he see Father Rookey.
— The Irish News
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