Sean McCann - in concert Saturday 7 December in support of the Queensway Carleton Hospital

An evening of caring, sharing, and singing together.

Join Séan McCann, founder of Great Big Sea, for a special evening with great music, inspiring stories, and a sing-along of your favourite Christmas classics. All proceeds will go to the Hopes Rising campaign in support of a renovated Mental Health Unit at Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Anna Ludlow, Marianne Dumas, Dee Dee Butters, Rebecca Noelle, and Jeremy Fisher will be joining the party!

Presented by Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation.

Tickets HERE
$40.00 – General Public
$20.00 – *Youth (18 years old and under)

The funds raised will be devoted to our Hopes Rising Campaign to improve mental health care at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Masters in the Hall: Celtic Music for Christmastime - NAC Fourth Stage - Tuesday 3 December

Masters in the Hall: Celtic Music for Christmastime

Tuesday Dec. 3rd at 7:30pm, NAC Fourth Stage (1 Elgin)

North American Irish Fiddle Champion Kyle Burghout joins forces with flute/whistle player Justin Thériault and Celtic harpist Susan Toman to perform a collection of traditional and contemporary Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland, and Canada. The concert will feature music specially selected for the holiday season, with accompanying anecdotes about the history of the tunes and stories from the trio's travels. This is a rare opportunity for audiences to hear three of Ottawa's leading traditional musicians performing in concert together.

Tickets: $20, https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/23586

Yuletide Treasures with The Ottawa Youth Harp Ensemble - 1 December 2019

Click on picture to ENLARGE

The Chieftans with Sean McCann and the Ottawa Celtic Choir, National Arts Centre, Monday 14 October

The Chieftains and Friends:The Irish Goodbye

with special guest Séan McCann

If you've been living under a rock, you may have missed that the multi-decadal powerhouse of Irish music, The Chieftans, are coming to Ottawa, this coming Thanksgiving Monday (same as the last time they played here...). It's a rare occurrence, and probably your last chance to see this iconic band. As an added bonus, as is their custom to include local performers, the Ottawa Celtic Choir will be joining them on stage.

"2019 marks 57 years since The Chieftains began their illustrious journey. Since 1962 the six-time Grammy Award winners have been highly recognized for reinventing traditional Irish music on a contemporary and International scale."

I'll save you the torture of searching for the NAC concert link, it's RIGHT HERE !

St. Ignatius the Martyr Church presents the Ottawa Fiddle Ensemble October 20, 2019 at 7pm

FRIEND OF THE HOUSE
St. Ignatius the Martyr Church presents

The Ottawa Fiddle Ensemble
with Special Guest
Sneezy Waters

Sunday October 20, 2019
7:00pm
518 Donald Street, Ottawa

The Ottawa Fiddle Ensemble is a small group of dedicated traditional fiddle music lovers who meet twice a month to play from a wide repertoire of Canadian, Irish, Scottish, European and American fiddle music, for our own enjoyment.

We invite you to join us for A fiddle concert and sing-along event featuring traditional sacred hymns and music.

A musical prelude will begin at 6:45 and postlude will be offered to accompany you as you exit the church.

518 Donald Street, Ottawa
Tickets $20 each available at the door

All proceeds to the needs of the Church.

Info: Adele: 613-240-8143 or Joanne: 613-745-3961 or Eric: 613-232-5081

Notice courtesy of: 
IN THE HOUSE Concert Series
145 Central Park Drive
Ottawa, On K2C4C1
Canada

Concert: Martin Simpson Sunday 6 Oct 2019

A reminder of the October 6 Old Sod concert with English guitar legend Martin Simpson. Details are as follows:


Sunday October 6th at 8pm, doors 7:30
Rosemount Hall, 41 Rosemount Ave in Hintonburg.
Tickets $35, available in advance from www.oldsod.ca. ($37 at the door)
Tickets and information at www.oldsod.ca.

There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin Simpson is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving.




There is no-one who has more successfully combined the diverse elements of British, Afro-American and old-timey music than Simpson. His 15 years living in the US were well spent. In addition his own songwriting has produced some real gems, from the truck-stop epic, "Love Never Dies" to the profoundly moving "Never Any Good" and "One Day".

His career includes collaborations on stage and record with Richard Thompson, June Tabor, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jackson Browne, Danny Thompson, Danú, Martin Carthy, Cara Dillon, David Lindley, Roy Bailey, Martin Taylor, David Hidalgo, Steve Miller, Dick Gaughan and many more.

Martin has been nominated an astounding 26 times in the twelve years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - more than any other performer - with 9 consecutive years as nominee for Musician of The Year, which he has won twice. 2008 saw an incredible 5 nominations for "Prodigal Son' and 2 wins, whilst in 2010 he had an unprecedented 6 nominations for his CD, "True Stories" and a win for Best Traditional Track, "Sir Patrick Spens". 2012's nominations for Martin include, Best Album for 'Purpose & Grace", Best Traditional Track for "The Lakes Of Ponchartrain" and Best Musician.

Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Martin Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.

Concert: Flute and Harp on the Rocks - 18 July

Enjoy this upcoming gig at the Orange Gallery with plenty of traditional and new celtic tunes to share!

Thursday July 18

Doors & Cash Bar open at 7pm

Music at 8pm

Chill out to the sounds of flute & harp!

Sheila White and Lucile Brais Hildesheim in concert at the Orange Art Gallery.

Flowing from the traditional to the contemporary and a twist of jazz, their unique voice is reflected in their original arrangements for various flutes and harps.

Tickets $20 in advance / $25 at the door

More info and tickets LINK
On Facebook LINK

In Concert: The Legendary Andy Irvine, 21 July 2019

ANDY IRVINE is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as "a tradition in himself".

Musician, singer, songwriter, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his over 50-year career.

Andy has been at the helm of legendary bands like Sweeney's Men in the mid 60s, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s, and then Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD and recently Usher's Island. Andy has been a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians.

Note: We regret that this venue is not wheelchair accessible.

Tickets and info at www.oldsod.ca

As a soloist, Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie. To quote the Irish Times, "Often copied, never equalled", his repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dance tunes and a compelling canon of his own self-penned songs.

Full biography at https://www.andyirvine.com/bio.html

Listen to/watch Andy:
https://youtu.be/xRg6X1sHBt4
https://youtu.be/5lU1980v4hg (full concert)

We hope to see you in July!

The Old Sod Crew

Traditional music: Fánaid! The Ontario Tour (July 2019)

Fanaid, a toe-tapping trio from Belfast play up-beat jigs and reels on fiddle, flute and guitar combined with songs that are by turn funny and poignant.  Their unique and energetic repertoire champions the music of their native Ulster, but also includes tunes from Brittany, Galicia and Cape Breton.  Don’t miss them on their first visit to Canada!

Dates:

Mon July 1, 7 pm – Canada Day house party/concert! - TLC Bed and Breakfast, 103 Fowler Street, Richmond. 613 838-5890, https://www.facebook.com/events/330390254313986/  $20.

Thurs July 4, 7 pm – Sivarulrasa Gallery, 34 Mill Street, Almonte. http://sivarulrasa.com/culture22/

Fri July 5, 7:30 pm – Log Drive Café, 2 Monk Street, Ottawa. https://p-upload.facebook.com/events/1231764753638659/  $15

Sat July 6, 2:10 pm – Celtfest, Gemmill Park, Almonte. https://almonteceltfest.com. Donations.

Fri July 12, 7 pm - The Cove, 2 Bedford Street, Westport. http://coveinn.com/index.php/event/fanaid-traditional-ireland/  $10.

Sat July 13, workshop 4 pm, concert 7.30 pm - Harp of Tara Branch - Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – Kingston, https://www.harpoftara.com

Sun July 14, 2 pm - Richard’s Coffeehouse, 234 King St. W., Brockville.  Tickets $15 at the Coffee House, or from eithne@myhighspeed.ca or phone 623 342 5641.

Sun July 14, 7 pm - StoneCropAcres Vineyard and Winery, 5242 Smiths Rd, Morrisburg. https://www.harmonyconcerts.ca/event-info/fanaid  $20 before 14.7, $25 on the night.

Stop Press!  Fánaid will also be playing informal sessions at three Heart and Crown pubs in Ottawa.  You can catch them Sun. 7.7.19, 1-3 pm, at 353B Preston St; Wed. July 10, 6-8 pm, 3161 Stranherd Drive, Barrhaven; and Thurs. July 11, 8-10 pm, 62 William St. 

For more information, or to book Fánaid, contact Kathleen, 613 838 – 4201, kath@kathmc.com.  Their website: https://traditionalmusicbelfast.wordpress.com/

Film: The Peacemaker - Saturday, 18 May 2019

The Irish Film Festival Ottawa (IFFO) in association with the Irish Film Institute (IFI) present the documentary film The Peacemaker by James Demo, Saturday 18 May at 6:30 PM.

An intimate portrait of international peacemaker Padraig O'Malley - who helps make peace for others but struggles to find it for himself. The film takes us from Padraig's isolated life in Cambridge, Massachusetts to some of the most dangerous crisis zones on Earth – from Northern Ireland to Kosovo, Nigeria to Iraq – as he works a peacemaking model based on his recovery from addiction. We meet Padraig in the third act of his life in a race against time to find some kind of salvation for both the world and himself.

Join in on the post-screening for a talk back with the peacemaker Padraig O'Malley and General (retired) John de Chastelain.

More information and tickets HERE.

A Celebration of Irish Music with Ellen MacIsaac & Danny Doyle, 29 March 2019

The Log Drive Café

Click picture to enlarge

Dreamers of New Worlds - 14 April 2019, St. Luke's Concert Series

An delightful upcoming concert "Dreamers of New Worlds - Musical Reflections from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and South America." The focus is on immigration from the British Isles in the past and South America in the present. The concert will in part also to showcase the rich musical heritage of South America especially as related to the harp.

Click picture to enlarge

Celtic guitar legend Tony McManus in concert, Saturday 13 April 2019

Guitar players take note!

Tickets: 

$34 in advance, from www.oldsod.ca
$36 at the door (if not sold out!)

The Trial of Thomas D'arcy Mcgee: April 12th, 2019, St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts

Click picture to enlarge

St Brigid's Centre for the Arts and the Limelight Theatre Group are very happy to announce that the Newpoint Players will be back in Ottawa on Friday April 12th, 2019 to perform their latest play: The Trial of Thomas D'arcy McGee, by Anthony Russell.

Hailing from the town of Newry in county Down, the Newpoint Players will be performing this hilarious and supremely historical courtroom drama for one night only in Ottawa, as they embark on their third Canadian tour.

On trial during the performance: Thomas D'arcy McGee, the Irish-Canadian politician and a father of Canadian Confederation. Charged with treason, the battle of arguments for and against his innocence, conclude with the audience acting as jury.

We invite you join us on April 12th at St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts, for this hilarious and historical courtroom drama. Please feel free to spread the word to your friends, families, colleagues, and Irish Community organizations and partners. We have attached an event poster, and we encourage you to share this event via your Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media feeds.

Advanced Online tickets can be purchased HERE.

For more information, please email limelighttheatregroup@gmail.com or call 613.304.5705

The Trial of Thomas D'arcy Mcgee, by Anthony Russell

Friday April 12th, 2019

St. Brigid's Centre for the Arts

Doors: 7 PM

Play: 8 PM

(Brigid's Well will be open as usual for pre- and post- play pints!)

The premise is that Thomas D'Arcy McGee (1825 – 1868), Irish rebel and Canadian patriot, is called from the grave to answer, in the Court of History, the charge that he committed treason against Ireland and her people. The prosecutor is John Mitchel (1815 – 1875), an unrepentant physical force republican from both Young Ireland and the Fenians. Sir Charles Gavin Dufy (1816 – 1903), former prime minister of Victoria, defends Thomas D'Arcy McGee against the charge of treason. Both Lawyers have returned from the grave for the occasion.

John A. Macdonald (1815 – 1891), a founding father of the Canadian Confederation and its first prime minister is called as a witness for the prosecution. McGee's long suffering and loyal wife, Mary Teresa Caffrey (abt. 1830 – 1871) whom he married in 1847 is called as a witness for the defence.

All of the ghosts are aware of what has happened in the world since they entered the grave. The protocol of an earthly court loosely applies. As in previous Russell plays, the audience plays the part of the jury and their decision determines McGee's innocence ..or guilt.

(blogger's note: these are really fun plays, and the audience participation as jury was a lot of fun last time)

Old Sod Concert News: Duncan Cameron, Laura Risk, Nicholas Williams - 30 March

Another Old Sod double header concert, with Duncan Cameron plus Laura Risk and Nicholas Williams.

Click image or link to concert info

Another Old Sod double header concert on March 30th, featuring singer and multi-instrumentalist Duncan Cameron, plus the great Montreal-based fiddler Laura Risk and Genticorum's Nicholas Williams.


Date: Saturday, March 30th 2019, at 8:00pm. (doors open 7:30 pm)
Location: Rosemount Hall, 41 Rosemount Ave. in Ottawa's Hintonburg neighborhood
Tickets: $22 in advance, $25 at the door. HST included.

Tickets are now available for this concert from www.oldsod.ca

Listen to/watch Duncan
www.duncancameron.com

www.laurarisk.com
Listen to/watch Laura and Nicholas

Kevin Dooley & Friends - St. Patrick's Day at the Westboro Legion

Kevin Dooley & friends will perform on St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17th from 3 to 6 pm at the Westboro Legion, 391 Richmond Road, Ottawa.

-  a traditional concert of tunes, songs and stories
-  food served
-  all proceeds to the Legion Veteran projects.

Harp Workshops with Susan Toman - March through June 2019

Harp Workshops

SATURDAY MARCH 2, 11:30-12:30
Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns

SATURDAY APRIL 6, 11:30-12:30
Chord Reading "Jam Session"

SATURDAY MAY 4, 11:30-12:30
Playing by Ear

SATURDAY JUNE 1, 11:30-12:30
Ensemble Playing, with prepared material

NOTE: Maximum of 5 participants per workshop, so register early!

~ Participants must bring their own harp and music stand

~ Payment required 2 weeks in advance to secure your spot: $35 by e-transfer to susan@susantoman.com

Workshop location: my teaching studio in Barrhaven

Workshop Registration


www.susantoman.com

Susan Toman, Tyson Chen, Kyle Burghout - Concerts for March 2019

St.Patrick's day is just around the corner, and I have some exciting CONCERTS you won't want to miss!

SATURDAY MARCH 9, 7:30pm
Kyle Burghout (fiddle), Susan Toman (harp), Tyson Chen (piano)
Mill Road Community Space, 8 Rue Mill, Chelsea QC
Tickets: $20




SUNDAY MARCH 10, 7:00pm
Kyle Burghout (fiddle), Susan Toman (harp), Tyson Chen (piano)
House Concert in Kanata, contact Gary.palmer@unb.ca to reserve
Tickets: $20 ONLY A FEW SEATS LEFT!


SUNDAY MAY 12, 2:30pm
Susan Toman, Celtic harp solo concert
Traditional music from Ireland & Scotland
Glebe St.James United Church, 650 Lyon St. South, Ottawa
Tickets: $15/10, at the door

Choral: Star of the County Down - Saturday 2 March 2019 (Kingston)

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Cantabile at "Star of County Down"! Help us welcome Irish conductor, Bernie Sherlock, conductor of one of Europe's finest award-winning choirs, New Dublin Voices, Sat. Mar. 2 7:30 at the Spire, when she is guest conductor of the Cantabile Teen and Adult voices. A delightful programme of adventurous contemporary works by Zoltan Kodaly, Jake Runestad, Anuna's Michael McGlynn, plus charming Irish folk songs arrangements. Tickets: www.cantabilechoirs.ca (613) 549-0099; Novel Idea, Church Book Room

Sat March 2, 2019

The Spire, 82 Sydenham St., Kingston, ON

Communiqué pour diffusion immédiate- Camp Violon Trad Québec

 

Camp Violon Trad Québec- 5 jours de formation en violon, guitare, mandoline et piano ! Inscris-toi !

Joliette (Québec)- 4 février 2019, La période d'inscription est lancée pour la 12e édition du Camp Violon Trad Québec qui se déroulera du 21 au 26 juillet 2019 à Plein Air Lanaudia à Saint-Côme.

Les co-fondateurs Stéphanie Lépine, André Brunet et Eric Beaudry accueilleront dans la cohorte des enseignants des artistes d'expérience et de réputation tels que les violoneux Louis-Simon Lemieux, David Boulanger et Dâvi Simard, le guitariste André Gagné et la pianiste Rachel Aucoin. Une nouveauté cette année, une classe de mandoline qui sera menée par nul autre que Michel Bordeleau. Violon Trad Québec aura la chance d'accueillir également pour une classe de maître, Madame Danielle Martineau, artiste et médiatrice du patrimoine vivant, spécialiste des chansons et des danses traditionnelles de l'Amérique française. De plus, se joindra en tant que Porteur de tradition, Daniel Lemieux. Ils vous partageront leur riche bagage musical pendant cinq jours de formation où la musique traditionnelle est vigoureuse et où le patrimoine est bien vivant.

Venez parfaire votre technique tout en élargissant vos connaissances et votre aisance au violon, à la guitare, à la mandoline et au piano et vivez toute une expérience de partage musical et de rencontres entre passionnés de la musique traditionnelle québécoise. Concerts, jams, soirée de danse, fête de la mi-carême, souper chantant et plus sont au programme ainsi qu'une panoplie d'activités plein air telles que le rabaska, canot, kayak, tyrolienne vous attendent pour des vacances uniques et mémorables !

Le camp est accessible aux jeunes et aux familles grâce à sa Bourse qui offre une aide financière aux 18 ans et moins et son tarif réduit de 35% pour les accompagnateurs non musiciens. De plus, en vous inscrivant avant le 30 avril, épargnez 50$ ! La période d'inscription et de demandes de bourses se poursuit jusqu'au 1er juin. Depuis ses début le Camp Violon Trad Québec a rassemblé plus de 1500 musiciens d'ici et d'ailleurs et a offert près de 35 000$ en bourse à près de 160 jeunes de la relève ! C'est un rendez-vous !
Inscriptions : www.ViolonTradQuebec.ca - Renseignements : 514 378-0918/ camp@violontradquebec.ca

https://www.facebook.com/CampVTQ/

Chamber Pints: Anna Ludlow - Saturay 2 March 2019

This pay-what-you-can event is on March 2nd, and will feature Anna Ludlow, an internationally renowned fiddler and vocalist from Nova Scotia, currently the lead fiddler for the Toronto production of Come From Away.

This bar-concert in two parts begins at 5pm and will be at the Rainbow Bistro in the Byward Market. For more information, please visit our website at www.chamberfest.com or you may reach me at 613-234-8008 ext. 241 or by email at tcroken@chamberfest.com.

Event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1986434644994908/

Concert: Aerialists team up with locals From Away for night of prog-trad music - Saturday 9 February 2019

Transatlantic quintet Aerialists meld their ferociously creative harmonic sensibilities and deep love for folk traditions into a post-rock coloured sound called prog-trad. Featuring Scottish harpist Màiri Chaimbeul (Darol Anger), and Canadian neo-folk innovators Adam Iredale-Gray (Fish & Bird) on guitar and Elise Boeur (Jenny Ritter) on fiddle with a stellar rhythm section, the group draws from the wells of Nordic and Gaelic music, adding expansive textures and meticulously sculpted arrangements to create captivating, genre-defying new music.

From Away is a Trad/folk duo with captivating original sounds and its roots in tradition. Graham Lindsey is a tune-writer, performing and session musician and Trad session host. Four of his tunes have been performed on the Carillon (the 53 bells) in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill where he was welcomed as guest composer in 2019. Kristan Couture is originally a Saskatchewan girl where she won the 2018 Saskatchewan Country Music Award for Fiddler of the Year, and received final ballot nominations for her roots album "You Just Fooled Me". She performed as a classical violinist with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra for four years, as well as toured and performed with local country bands and folk artists across Canada.

In From Away, a new blend of voice, fiddle, guitar and gorgeous Canadian hand-crafted mandolins will take you back and forth between the timelessness of the prairie folk singer and upbeat jigs and driving reels.

Bar Robo (Chinatown), 692 Somerset St. W.

Show at 9pm
$15 at the door

--> Click here for the Facebook Event notice

How playing an instrument benefits your brain (TED-Ed)

The TED-Ed videos are excellent. Here's one about the benefits of playing an instrument benefits your brain.

Link to YouTube Video

Stars and Seas", an evening of storytelling and music from far and away, Saturday 26 January 2019

The Spirit of Rasputin's, Ottawa's Folk Music Society, invites you to "Stars and Seas", an evening of storytelling and music from far and away...

Award-winning Storyteller Jacqui du Toit will lead you on a magical voyage with a tale of an Inuit sea goddess, under a soundscape of the Northern lights, the story of a Water Kelpie, a shape-shifting malevolent water horse that dwells in the dark icy Scottish lochs, with swirling stars and oceans crossing over to West Africa, Australia and the Andes mountains of South America.

Joining Jacqui will be Acacia Lyra Celtic harp duo, who perform original and traditional world music in many languages, along with exotic multi-instrumentalist Jack Pyl on flutes and percussion, and Marc Vautour on a variety of didgeridoos. The music will speak of fire, ice and ocean waves with drum rhythms echoing the heartbeat of all living things.

This will be a unique concert - I hope you can come !

Saturday January 26, 8:00 pm
Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill Ave. N. at Byron
Tickets $20 at rasputins.org

Live Theatre - Canadian Premiere of "Minding Frankie" by Maeve Bunchy at The Gladstone, 17-26 January 2019

The Canadian Premiere of Maeve Binchy's "Minding Frankie" starts this Thursday night at Ottawa's The Gladstone Theatre. Produced and Directed by the local resident and Irish born, John P. Kelly, of SevenThirty Productions. Featuring Vivian Burns and Lawrence Evenchick.


"Maeve Binchy was probably Ireland’s greatest romantic fiction writer.  Here, her 2010 hit novel Minding Frankie has been adapted for the stage by Shay Linehan. Watch Noel, a middle-aged Dublin alcoholic as he sets about raising baby Frankie.  “I intend to be the best mother I can be” he says.  Watch his whole community join in to share the responsibility – “It takes a village to raise a child. Or a street.” And watch well-meaning social worker Moira, a woman with secrets of her own, go beyond her call of duty to make his life as hard as she possibly can."


Visit The Gladstone Theatre webpage for the remainder of the description and to purchase tickets, to another fantastic production.

Enjoy an interview with John P. Kelly about the play on Irish Radio Canada.

Your blogger has never been disappointed in a John P. Kelly production!

Listening and Watching RTE - Online

If you haven't given it a thought lately (or ever), you can watch and listen to Ireland's national public service broadcaster, RTE, on your computer.

For radio, on your home computer use (requires Flash, which you probably already have):
http://www.rte.ie/radio/

Also, look for the RTE Radio app on iTunes or for Android. It's very good.

For television use the Player:
http://www.rte.ie/player/