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THE CELTIC CONNECTION •OCTOBER 1992
7©\? ©HDAlLflW * MAMMAE)!
made of pure wool sheepskin soles all sizes available cosy & long lasting 'breathe' all year use super comfortable excellent selection
Cottage is open Friday afternoons and Saturdays. 1035 Shakespeare Ave., N. Vancouver (604) 980-0748
ALWAY TRADER*
s
CrAOAlAitTie nA 5Ailltmrie
• Sweaters, capes, scarves & hats from Ireland & Scotland
• Gaiway crysul, Tara china & Belleek
• Records, tapes & printed music from the Celtic World
• American Indian & Celtic jewelry
• Irish books
• Bewley's & Barry's teas
7518 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle, WA 98117 / (206) 784-9343
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(Bartatifi Sc ®uiee&0
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Whidbey Islands' only Celtic Shop
Featuring
• Ballantyne Sweaters • Jimmy Hourihan Fashions • • Tartan items, Fragrances • Celtic Jewelry & Momentos •
Open Daily
#4 Front Street, Coupeville, WA 98239 Tel: (206) 678-6244 ^
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CELTIC HERITAGE BOOKS
P.O. Box 637 Woodside, NY 11377 (718)478-8162
Archeology, Art, Children's Books, Folklore, History, Literature, Language & Music.
Learn Welsh the EASY way, Cassette Tape and Book available for $24.95.
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Complete Catelogue available for $2.00 send cheque or money order U.S. currency only please
THE LEVELLERS -- LEVELLING THE LAND FROM BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
Simon Friend, Mark Chadwick, Jeremy Cunningham, Charlie Heather, Jon Sevink
Most Immediately Appealing Band I've Heard in a Long Time
THE LEVELLERS: Levelling the Land Electra/Warner
By BLAIR CHURCHILL
I have just received a very interesting CD, Levelling the Land, by The Levellers from Brighton, England.
I was somewhat bemused to write a review on a band I haven't heard of in more than the vaguest of ways. So I stared at the CD jacket for awhile, hmmm....looks like Bart Simpson artwork, urban hell cartoon images. It's probably another modern rock band like The Red Hot Chili Peppers or Living Colour.
In the next 45 minutes I was to learn that Levelling the Land was a folk, a folk-rock, an alternative dance floor, and a pub rocking sing-along recording. The Levellers formed in the now defunct Eagle Public House in Brighton in 1988. The were five
musicians who had recently left other Brighton bands.
In 1989 the band put out two EP's on their own independent Hag label. Touring that year to Scotland, Ireland and Holland ended with the band being signed with Musidisc in Europe.
In 1990, The Levellers recorded A Weapon called the Word in Wales with Phil Tennant, best known for his work on the Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues.
Simon Friend, an acoustic circuit notable, joined the band, bringing his influences and material The Levellers toured with New Model Army through France and Holland, attracting their own following and ending the year as headliners themselves.
Early 1991 saw The Levellers retire to Ridge Farm Studio with producer Al Scott to record Levelling the Land, Electra/Warner picked up the option for North America, and thus, to our notice
30th Belfast Festival
The Belfast Festival at Queen's University celebrates its 30th anniversary between November 9 to 29.
The largest arts festival in Ireland, and the second largest after Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, the Belfast Festival takes place on and around the campus of the university, in local theatres and in the magnificent Grand Opera House in the city centre.
The festival has been captivating audiences for over three decades, with its international programme of performing arts which ranges from opera and
at The Celtic Connection office.
The Levellers are the freshest, most immediately appealing band I've heard in a long time. From the first few seconds, I'm a fan. Levelling the Land is a delightful and engaging mix of traditional acoustic elements such as violin, mandolin, harmonica, banjo with electric guitar, bass and sampled sounds.
The sound is in turn folk, on the songs "The Boatman" and "Far from Home," techno-dance that would rival Sinead O'Connor, poignant social commentary in Another Man's Cause" and "Fifteen Years," and bar-crowd pleasers "One Way" and The Riverflow."
The Levellers handle the diverse mediums with the skill of born musicians and the result is brilliant work. They are meaningful songwriters in touch with modern realities. Look to hear much more from this band in the near future.
classical music to theatre, ballet and dance, jazz, folk music, comedy and film, plus lectures and exhibitions.
More than 200 performances of almost 100 different events will take place in the three week period of the festival.
This year performers from all over Europe, many in association with the nationwide European Arts festiva will attend.
For more information contact Rosie Turner, Festival House, 25 College Gardens, Belfast BT9 6BS or telephone (232) 667687 or fax (232) 247895.
Am I Not Your Girl?
Ireland's favourite sharp-tongued daughter, Sinead O'Connor, is back in the music biz and due to release a new album, called Am I Not Your Girl?
It will be her cover version of eleven songs that "inspired and comforted" her in her life. The release date was September 22. — Blair Churchill