I’d like to open this
program guide article with a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who helped make our 1998 Marathon
fund-raiser a success. Due to your commitment and generosity, we were able to raise over
$60,000. On Celtic Airs alone, 185 callers pledged over $8,300, a new record for a three
hour program!
Thanks as well to all those who attended the Solas concert
3/18/98 and the Nomos concert 4/2/98. These were our thirteenth and fourteenth sell-outs
in the Celtic Airs concert series benefiting the station. Your continued support of these
events has produced over $16,000 to support the operation of commercial-free WWUH radio.
From the audience response at the shows, I’d say the concert series has also provided
a lot of good entertainment for those in attendance. You’ve had the opportunity to
meet these wonderful musicians "up close and personal" in our intimate venues
with their wonderful sound and excellent sight lines.
The concert series continues to roll along. Upcoming shows will
include Danu (from Dublin and Waterford) on 6/12/98, Craobh Rua (from Belfast) 9/25/98 and
possibly The House Band on 12/10/98. All three events are scheduled for 7:30 PM in the
Wilde Auditorium. Tickets for Danu and Craobh Rua are currently on sale through the
University Box Office. Call 1-800-274-8587 or 768-4228 to order yours. (No service charge
for WWUH sponsored events.)
Danu is a talented sextet of young instrumentalists who perform
with a traditional vocalist who sings in Irish. Danu was the mother of the divine people
or "Tuatha DeDannan" or Irish mythology. She’s also the goddess of
prosperity. Tom Doorley on wooden flute is from Glenageary, Dublin. He began his musical
apprenticeship at a young age, getting his first lessons from Vince Broderick at the
famous Pipers club in Monkstown, Dublin. His style is very reminiscent of Matt Molloy, one
of his major influences. Daire Bracken is from Monkstown, and has been playing fiddle
since age eleven after being inspired by the fiddle school at "Willie Week" in
Miltown, Malbay, Co. Clare. Brendan McCarthy is from Deelish, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
He’s been playing button accordion since age thirteen, greatly influenced by the
likes of Jackie Daly, Joe Derrane and Mairtin O’Connor. He’s also proficient on
the single-row melodeon. Donal Clancy of Co. Waterford has been immersed in traditional
Irish music since birth as his father is one of the famous Clancy Brothers. He plays
guitar in Danu, replacing the recently departed Timmy Murray. Eamon Doorley is also from
Glenageary, Dublin. Though originally trained as a fiddler, he is now the bouzouki player
for Danu. His change in course was inspired by Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine. Uillean
piper/bodhran player Donnchadh Gough is another Co. Waterford native. He’s also the
resident joker of the band. The group’s vocalists change from time to time and the
identity of the singer who will accompany them on this US tour was unavailable at the time
of this writing.
Belfast based Craobh Rua (pronounced Creeve Rua) will be our
guests 9/25/98. I’ll give you more details on this fine quartet in an upcoming issue
of the program guide. I’ve seen them twice myself and am very pleased we now have the
opportunity to present them at the University of Hartford.
Christy Moore, claiming exhaustion, canceled all his UK/European
concert dates January through March, 27 dates in all! Hope he’s back in good shape
after some R&R.
Speaking of Christies, long time Boys in the Lough uillean piper
and singer Christy O’Leary left the band on less than amicable terms. Newest (at the
time) "Boy," guitarist Chris Newman left in sympathy with Christy. The two are
now members of a fine new band fronted by Christy. I’m actively pursuing them for a
Celtic Airs concert! Christy was replaced by accordion player Brenden Begley, who also has
his own quartet called Beginish. I’m not sure who will replace Chris Newman.
In a more friendly change of personnel, long time Battlefield
Band guitarist/vocalist Alisdair Russell left to manage/produce the young duo of Chris
Sherburn and Denny Bartley. He was replaced by Davey Steele, seen here as a member of
Ceolbeg in 1995, who also plays with the Scottish quintet Caledon which includes his wife
Patsy Seddon of the harp duo Sileas. Coincident with Alisdair’s departure, piper Ian
MacInnes also left the band to return to a quieter life on his native Isle of Lewis. He
was replaced by piper Mike Katz, also a former member of Ceolbeg! Best wishes to all
involved in these changes.
Deanta, an excellent band from Belfast have broken up. Many of
the band’s members have demanding day jobs and they felt unable to keep up with the
increasing demands of their second profession as they became increasingly popular.
There’s a new supergroup on the loose in Ireland, somewhat
reminiscent of Moving Hearts. The band is called Lunasa and is made up of John McSherry
(uillean pipes and low whistle), Michael McGoldrick (wooden whistle, uillean pipes,
whistle), Trevor Hutchinson (double bass), Sean Smyth (fiddle and whistle) and Donagh
Hennessy (guitar). They have no vocalist but feel that the energy and versatility of the
band make their performances varied and energetic enough that they don’t need one.
Their pedigrees/current associations include The Sharon Shannon Band, Donal Lunny’s
band, Capercaille, Niamh Parsons and The Loose Connections and Flook! There’s a rumor
they may make their first brief foray to America this fall. If so, I’ll try to snag
them for a Celtic Airs concert.
I look forward to seeing you at some of our upcoming events and
rely on you to be listening to Celtic Airs every Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 am on WWUH, 91.3 FM.
Copyright©WWUH: May/June Program Guide, 1998 |
