THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MAY 1992
Page 7
World Music Converges on Dublin
By CHRISTY NOLAN DUBLIN — Guest ethnic bands from around the world, hosted by leading Irish musicians, have banded together to do a series of concerts. Musicians from as far away as Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Angola packed out houses up and down the country.
An unusual pairing of musicians was when the Bulgarian group, Pludiv, played with a local group, Dervish. Dervish hail from Sligo with an added dimension to their crew, Cathy Jordan, from neighbouring Co. Roscommon, and ranked among Ireland's top traditional singers.
The band's reputation has been rapidly rising in traditional circles in Ireland and Europe. In the past two years, the band has been appearing at many of the major folk festivals, both home and abroad and on the strength of their performance has gained a strong grassroots following.
The rest of the band are Liam Kelly, flute, whistles and vocals; Shane McAleer, fiddle; Shane Mitchell, accordion; Brian MacDonough, mandolin; Michael Holmes, bazooka/guitar. Dervish is currently recording a new CD for release in the spring. The band is also mostly renowned for its ecstatic singing and, in particular, the play-
Dervish, a band whose
reputation in traditional circles both In Ireland and Europe is rapidly rising has been described by Folk Roots magazine as "one of the most promising groups we've seen in years due to their superb, crisp and energetic playing."
ing of traditional instruments.
Folk Roots magazine has described Dervish as "one of the most promising groups we've seen in years due to their superb, crisp and energetic playing."
Plovdiv, six Bulgarian musicians (four women and two men) are currently touring Ireland and Scotland on their way to the Edinburgh International Folk Festival. They appear in the costume of their local region,
providing a colourful backdrop to their rich, vital folk music and song. Between them, they play, pipes, bazooka, fiddle, flute and tupan. Others in the lineup include "Loyki" from Russia, who introduced' themselves to Irish audiences last year and almost immediately sold out concerts all over Ireland. They have recorded two tracks with Ron Woods and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and also played with Marie Bhreatnach on her new album. Their lineup
of two violinists and a guitarist, all of whom sing, provides a wild, romantic form of ethnic music drawn from the timeless melodies and rhythms of old-world Central Russia. Also in the world series lineup are the Kafala Brothers, from Angola, who provide quite a performance in their set. Between them they play a guitar and flute. Relatively little is known about contemporary Angolan culture and music out-
side Africa. Modern Angolan music blends traditional and urban styles. The music has been mainly influenced by Congolese, Zairian, Brazilian and Cuban rhythms and has itself had an impact on other contemporary African and Latin Music, f
For more information about Dervish contact Mr. Des MacCulagh at 56 Lombard Street West, Dublin or call 011-353-1-536796.
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