THE CELTIC CONNECTION » DECEMBER 1996/JANUARY 1997
Page 19
A New Celtic Music Column
By ERIN MULLAN
VANCOUVER — Cead milefailte! This new column is dedicated to news and views about Celtic music.
For those of you who fancy music with a Quebecois accent, the new La Bottine Souriante CD, En Spectacle, captures the band at their best. Recorded live at a concert celebrating the group's twentieth anniversary, the album finds La Bottine in peak form playing some of the most joyous music on the planet.
If you're stumped for ideas for "Xmas prezzies," here are a few suggestions for the music lovers on your list. The debut album from Irish-American group Solas features gorgeous singing and great playing.
There's also fine playing on Loretto Reid & Brian Taheny's recent CD, Celtic Mettle. For lively fiddle music, Eileen I vers' disc, Wild Blue, is definitely among my picks of
the year. She's also one of the artists on Green Linnet Records' Twentieth Anniversary Collection, an excellent Celtic musical sampler.
CEOL AGUS CRAIC
Local Celtic rockers the Paperboys have been picked as one of the showcase artists at the annual Folk Alliance conference in February. The conference, which will be held in Toronto this time 'round, is a massive smooze-fest of the North American folk community.
There's fierce competition for the showcase spots, as the ones chosen get the opportunity to play for an audience of people who book festivals and concerts all over Canada and the U.S.
The Paperboys (& girls) also have a regular gig every Wednesday nights at the Gate, on Granville.
Congrats to Steve Edge and the Rogue folks for a fine series of concerts by Irish acts in recent months, the last of which was Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill on November 23. The packed house at the WISE Hall was ready to stand up and roar after the very first set of tunes.
Martin and Denis are currently in studio, working on the first
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recording of their amazing musical partnership. A recent comment on the Irish "trad" list on the internet said, "They play as if they shared the same soul."
We can all look forward to Niamh Parsons & the Loose Connections' return to Vancouver in February. The chance to hear Niamh's spine-tingling rendition of Tinkerman's Daughter live is worth the price of admission alone. The group should have their second release out by then.
On December 6, Blackthorn had their new CD release party at the WISE Hall. The evening was also a benefit toward the cost of bringing a group of five musicans from Donegal to Vancouver in March. Those lads will be playing around town and offering Irish language workshops.
Questions or comments? Write to me, c/o The Celtic Connection at #741-916 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1K7 or e-mail me at "celtic@portal.ca".
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Erin Mullan hosts a radio show In the Claddagh Ring every Friday in Vancouver, on CFRO 102.7 FM, from 6:30 PM to 8 PM.
A Note of
Appreciation
Dear Celtic Connection: It is with sincere gratitude and appreciation I extend personal thanks and thanks on behalf of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Vancouver Branch, for your unwavering commitment to ensure the strengthening and furtherance of Comhaltas through your dedication of your time and work, thereby ensuring the success of the last tour.
Once again, Maura and Catho-line, our sincere thanks.
Sincerely, Brian Maslsaac, President Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Vancouver Branch
A WORD OF THANKS
The Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann concert was a great success thanks to those who helped organize a great night at Charles Tupper school. Due to lack of space in last month's issue, we tnank everyone for their great effort in putting the night together in particular:
Bill Forbes (Chairman) Eileen Dooley (Ticket Manager) Gary O'Brien (House Manager) Erin Mullen (Public Relations) Tania Mclntyre (Transportation) Jamie Marin (Ticket Manager) Philomena Daly (Accounting) Steve Edge (The Rogue Folk Club) Thelma at Irish Fancy Helen at Celtic Creations Sean at Oscars Books and Art Books Violet Moore School of Irish Dancing The Irish Sporting & Social Ciub J.J. Hyland, Bernard McKenna, Paul Stack, Liam Keegan, Liam Murphy, loe Burke
CBC Radio and The Hal Wake Show AM1040 Radio Host Dave Abbott Guinness (Ireland) Jameson (Ireland)
The Media Club and Ray, Helen and Heidi Carton Culpepper's Restaurant
Well done, all who tool: part.
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Land of Passages
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