Tuesday 17 July 2012

Liz and Yvonne Kane - Workshops and Concert - 29 July

HOUSE CONCERT and WORKSHOPS
with Liz and Yvonne Kane Sisters
Sunday, July 29th Concert at 8:00 p.m.
202 Main Street, Barriefield (Kingston)

Concert: $20 advance (till July 22), $25 at the door.

Workshops: Intermediate / Advanced Fiddle 4 – 6 pm, 2 hr Workshop: $35 (Workshop & Concert $50)

From North Connemara, Liz and Yvonne Kane, known as The Kane Sisters are truly a dynamic duo, and much respected musicians and educators. Born in Letterfrack, they were educated in Kylemore Abbey School. First learning fiddle from their grandfather, local fiddle player Jimmy Mullen, and Sligo musician and teacher Mary Finn, the Kanes later spent three years touring with accordion player Sharon Shannon as part of her band "The Woodchoppers." Their first solo album was called "The Well Tempered Bow"; this was followed by "Under the Diamond", and just this past summer, "Side by Side". Both full-time fiddle teachers as well as touring performers, Liz and Yvonne succeed in combining their love of playing music with their desire to pass it on to others.

Harp of Tara Web site: http://www.srayner.ca/comhaltas/M_SpecialEvents.htm
The Kane Sisters: http://www.thekanesisters.com/

To arrange tickets contact rmacdiarmid@cogeco.ca

(I love their style of playing, this will be a great concert! - Craig)

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Ottawa Gaels - Gaelic Football match, and Golf Tourny this weekend!

You are invited to the Rideau Carleton Raceway on Saturday, July 14 at 1:30 to see the Ottawa Gaels Women's and Men's Teams face Durham County in Gaelic Football. It is a great way to watch the game (for free!) and meet other members of our fantastic Irish community! See you there!

Also, join us for:
the Ottawa Gaels Golf Tournament CYC fundraiser:
Sunday July 15th
The Irish Hills Golf Course
12:30 Best Ball Play
Come and support our football friends! All are welcome!

( Follow the Ottawa Gaels on Twitter: @ottawagaels , and Facebook )

Monday 2 July 2012

Clannad to play Ottawa - first time since 1993!

The cat's been out of the bag a few weeks now, but if you didn't hear, Clannad is playing the Centrepointe Theatre, Ottawa, 21 September, 2012.  The concert is presented by: Centrepointe Theatres & The Gaelic Hour (way to go Austin!).  The concert starts at 8pm. I expect tickets to sell fairly quickly on this concert, so delay no further! Get your tickets!

For more information and tickets, use the following link:
http://centrepointetheatre.ca/en/events_tickets/september2012/clannad/index.htm

For the more curious, a fairly lengthy Wikipedia entry exists for this group that has been entertaining audiences around the world for decades.

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, July 7th in Tamworth

An open-air Irish festival, Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, is held this week on July 7th in Tamworth , Ontario. The second big activity the open–air Irish festival, Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, has every aspect of Irish culture you are looking for : music, song, dance, storytelling and a whole lot of fun.... Check out this video from last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3TUmkytAjo

Yes it is all in Irish... but fun is fun.... music is music, dance is dance...

Hope to see many of you at these activities... bring along a few friends... goods times are always best shared with good friends...

If you are interested attending, please contact either Sheila Scott at sheila.scott@uottawa.ca or Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh at Kenny-h@rmc.ca .

Celtfest Workshops for fiddle, harp, whistle and bodhran

The Almonte Celtfest is offering workshops for fiddle, harp, tin whistle and bodhran.

This year Celtfest will present a Special Workshop in Intermediate Fiddlefeaturing Cindy Thompson. Cindy Thompson grew up locally where she initially learned and competed extensively in fiddle and stepdance regionally and throughout the province. Cindy is now recognized as one of Canada's premiere combination fiddle player/stepdancers.

Celtfest 2012 will also present a Workshop in Celtic Harp with Joanne Griffin. Joanne is a retired schoolteacher who presently works as a freelance musician, teacher, arranger and publisher, and therapeutic harpist (IHTP graduate). After many years of studying piano, for which she is an accredited teacher (ARTC Piano), Joanne began exploring the harp and after 10 years of study received the 2007 Silver Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music for the highest mark in the Grade 9 exam. She has also received a number of other awards including the New Century Harp Competition in 2007.

Have you been waiting and wondering when you would get a chance to learn how to play that tin whistle you got for Christmas or the bodhran you bought on your trip to Ireland? Introduction to the Bodhran, with Art Solomonian, will cover the basics such as how to hold the drum, how to hold and use the tipper, how to “voice” or provide texture to bodhran playing so it doesn’t sound like you’re just beating on a hollow log. Introduction to the Whistle, with Chuck Quick, will cover basic fingering, breathing technique, scales and scale exercises, and work on a couple of simple tunes to get you started (but not Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!). We are hoping to obtain extra whistles, but if you have or intend to buy one, a D whistle for the workshop is recommended. During the last 20 minutes or so of the workshop, Chuck will demonstrate the fascinating world of the Uilleann pipes, the traditional pipes of Ireland: how they’re made and how they’re played.

For more information (time, place, cost) please visit:
http://almonteceltfest.com/Almonte_Celtfest/Celtfest_College_Workshop_Progam.html

Sign up today!

Almonte Celtfest Celebrates 16th Year Showcasing Amazing Ottawa Valley Talent and Guests From U.S

Almonte Celtfest, July 6-8, celebrates the music, song and dance traditions of the Ottawa-Ottawa Valley region. This 16th annual festival of Valley talent is thrilled to have as special guests, The Elders as main stage headliners for this year’s festival. Since forming in 1998, The Elders have set the Celtic-rock world internationally on its ear thanks to a mix of stories of Irish history, traditional instrumentation fueled by creative energy and a superb stage presence, and a unique sound that “falls somewhere between Van Morrison and U2”. The Elders have been called "One of the best, if not THE best Irish rock band in America" (Joe Farrell on "Celtic Crossings" Hot Talk 1510 AM) Another reviewer states “Forget everything you think you know about Irish music. This isn’t your father’s version of “Danny Boy,” and you don’t have to dance a jig to keep time to every tune. States Elders band member Steve Phillips, “It’s got enough Irish to pass for Irish, but it’s definitely rock ‘n’ roll and folk, too.” Steve (guitar, mandolin, vocals) is joined onstage by Ian Byrne – vocals, percussion, whistle, flute, Norm Dahlor – bass, guitar, banjo, vocals Brent Hoad – fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals, Joe Miquelon – accordion, keyboards, and Kian Byrne – drums, bass. The Elders take to the main stage July 7th Saturday night, and as closers of the festival, on, Sunday afternoon.

Celtfest commences on Friday night with music in area pubs and Saturday morning with Celtfest College instrument workshops (check www.almonteceltfest.com for listings) Gemmill Park’s Main Stage events commence on Saturday at 2:00 pm with Opening Ceremonies and run continuously until dusk with The Barley Shakers, Les mots dits Anglais, Elly Squared, Cindy Thompson & Jake Butineau, Julie Fitzgerald & Friends, Brandy ‘n’ Port, and The Elders. 

Celtfest Sunday begins at 10:30 am with an “everyone welcome” Fiddle Mass at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church. The Main Stage festival commences at Noon in Gemmill Park and extends to 6pm with the Monday Night Fiddlers, Triple Trouble,Dai Bassett, Celtic Cross Dancers, Neil McDaniel with Kyle Felhaver, Salty Dog and The Elders closing of the weekend.

Almonte downtown, and Gemmill Park are about 2 blocks from each other and are wonderful settings for Celtfest 2012. The shops, pub/restaurants and The Riverwalk are great complements to the activities in Gemmill Park. The festival site features artisans, children’s activities and an open “jam” session for all who bring instruments and great food and beverages for all. Come and celebrate the “unofficial” kick-off to summer in the Ottawa Valley. For more info see www.almonteceltfest.com .