london's 22nd annual festival of traditional irish … … · kelly (piano accordion), mike...
TRANSCRIPT
FRIDAY 23RD – SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2020SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
‘TRAD CINEMA’ SCREENING, CONCERTS, WORKSHOPS
LONDON'S 22ND ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC, SONG & DANCE
www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.org
FREEFULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME INSIDE
Covid Secure Venues: BFI IMAX Waterloo, Cadogan Hall, Ashford Place Virtual: www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown
MAGAZINE
CONTENTS
TICKETS All tickets for festival events can be purchased from the following websites: www.returntolondontown.orgwww.irishmusicinlondon.org www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown
FESTIVAL VENUES
DIRECTOR: KAREN RYANCO-EDITORS: KAREN RYAN, JAMES CARTY, SAMANTHA SCREENEDESIGN: ANTONIA BAILEY
BFI IMAX WATERLOO1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank, Waterloo SE1 8XR
CADOGAN HALL 5 Sloane Terrace, Belgravia, London SW1X 9DQ
ASHFORD PLACE 60 Ashford Rd, Cricklewood, London NW2 6TU
Online: www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown
Safety is of utmost importance to us and to those who are hosting at our Covid Secure venues (BFI IMAX, Cadogan Hall and Ashford Place) – All tickets for our 'Trad Cinema' Concert Screening on Friday 23 October and Live Concert on Saturday 24 October should be booked in your 'bubbles'.
Please arrive at venues wearing a face covering (unless exempt) and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated seat – capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one way system measures will be in place for everyone's safety.
WELCOME03 DIRECTOR'S
WELCOME
LISTINGS06 FESTIVAL
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CONTENTS
WELCOME
London's 22nd Annual Festival of Traditional Irish Music 'Return to London Town' has been in planning stages for months, remaining
flexible at every turn in these unusual times – we are absolutely delighted to announce what we have organised for the weekend of Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2020. A blended offering of socially distanced concerts (one in a 'Trad Cinema' style screening of our headliners from Ireland and another – a live performance with some favourite acts from the London Irish music scene) plus socially distanced music workshops, held in the beautiful Covid safe spaces of BFI IMAX (Waterloo), Cadogan Hall (Chelsea) and Ashford Place (Cricklewood).
Our concerts will be streamed for those who wish to purchase online tickets to enjoy at home (making them available worldwide for the first time), we will also be presenting a day of virtual music workshops with our tutors from Ireland.
Friday’s ‘Trad Cinema’ concert features: Dervish/ Noreen O’Sullivan, Seán and Frankie Gavin/ Gatehouse. This concert was filmed on location at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. I would like to extend a huge thanks to Sarah Searson, Keith Conroy, Ray Duffy and all at the venue – in addition to James Clenaghan and James Ryan for their brilliant work in producing such a beautiful looking and sounding film for us to enjoy on Britain’s largest cinema screen at the BFI IMAX (as well as at home for those who choose to stream).
Saturday’s Live Performance Concert features: John and James Carty (album launch), The London Lasses and Pete Quinn with special guest: Terence O’Flaherty, Le Chéile. Our socially distanced audience can attend the concert at the beautiful Cadogan Hall. I would like to thank all of the venue team and a special thank you to our technical (and now stage/ equipment sanitising) guru: Gerry Logue for all the work to make this happen. We are delighted that this concert will also be live streamed and available to rent for a time.
We are hugely grateful to the Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland and Flannery Plant Hire – whose support has made it possible to stage all our events, socially distanced and virtual.
My personal heartfelt thanks go to Margaret Reilly and James (fiddle) Carty, along with the rest of the IMDL Organising Group for their belief and teamwork in realising this year’s Festival in difficult circumstances.
We have made all of our plans in the knowledge that if Government guidelines change once more, we will respond accordingly – reschedulding or cancelling and refunding if necessary. At time of going to print, we are pleased to announce that we are in a position to present all our socially distanced events while London enters Tier 2. We are determined to provide a shared experience to enable us to enjoy the music we love in a safe way this year.
www.returntolondontown.org 3
An exciting development for Return to London Town Festival – we have merchandise for sale! Good quality T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeved tops in a variety of colours and styles – with this year's Festival logo featured.All available online through our websites: www.returntolondontown.org • www.irishmusicinlondon.orgor directly from: https://www.mudchutney.co.uk/collections/return-to-london-town-festival-2020-clothing
ABOUT MUDCHUTNEY: All our clothing is printed on demand so there's no waste, no boxes of odd colours and sizes hanging around collecting dust. It does mean our shipping times are longer than Amazon, but we think it's worth it for the quality products we produce.Profits are shared with 'Return to London Town Festival'
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RETURN TO LONDON TOWN PROGRAMME LISTINGS
RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD
www.returntolondontown.org 5
FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER‘TRAD CINEMA’ CONCERT SCREENING AT BFI IMAX WATERLOO(and streamed online)•DERVISH•NOREENO’SULLIVAN,SEÁNANDFRANKIEGAVIN, WITHGEORGEGRASSO
•GATEHOUSEMC:JOHNCARTY7pm Doors open • 8pm Film starts Tickets for socially distanced screening at BFI IMAX: £20/£6 under 18s Tickets for streamed concert: £12.50 (www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown) Filmed on location at The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. This film features performances of a triple bill concert with some short artist interviews. It will be screened at Britain’s largest cinema screen and streamed online
Please note: Tickets for BFI IMAX should be booked in your 'bubbles'. Please arrive at venues wearing a face covering (unless exempt) and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated seat – capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.
DERVISH At the end of 2019 Dervish received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the BBC, a fitting tribute to the band after over 30 years of recording and performing all over the world. Described by the BBC as ‘an icon of Irish music’, the band have played at festivals from Rio de Janeiro to Glastonbury. They accompanied the Irish President on state visits to Latvia and Lithuania and Prime Minister of Ireland on a trade mission to China as Cultural Ambassadors taking time out to play an impromptu session on the Great Wall of China. In 2004 Dervish were given their home town’s highest honour when they were given the freedom of Sligo City in a civic reception, an accolade they share with Yeats himself, Michael Flatley and Countess Markievicz.
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NOREEN O’SULLIVAN, SEÁN AND FRANKIE GAVIN WITH GEORGE GRASSONoreen, Seán and Frankie were born in Corrandulla in County Galway, where their father, J.J. Gavin, ran a small thatched pub. As children, they remember spending many a night listening from the top of the stair to visiting musicians, such as Eddie Maloney, Tommy Mulhaire, John Conneely, Jimmy Hill and Paddy Farrell, playing in the kitchen after a céilí in the local parish hall. Music is in their blood.
Seán Gavin, the eldest of the family, is a senior All Ireland champion on the button accordion and has toured extensively. He has performed on TV and radio and has recorded the screen music for the hit TV series ‘The Irish RM’. In 2011 he received a Gradam an Chomhaltas medallion. He teaches accordion, gives workshops and master classes and has recently recorded his debut solo album.
Noreen Gavin O’Sullivan is one of the finest tin whistle players in the world of traditional music. She has been playing since she was 5 and has been teaching music in the Connemara Gaeltacht for over 30 years, she has also taught the tin whistle at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, France. Noreen released a CD ‘The Quiet House’ of rare traditional tunes plus three of her own compositions.
Frankie Gavin, is the youngest member of the family. Frankie began playing Irish Traditional music from a very young age and is largely self-taught. At the age of six, Frankie played for President Kennedy when he visited Ireland in 1963. In 1973 at the age of seventeen, he won the All
Ireland Under 18 fiddle and flute competition on the same day. Frankie founded and performed with De Dannan, eventually recording 16 albums. He has also played with Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones as well as Elvis Costello, Earl Scruggs and Yehudi Menhin before returning to his traditional Irish music roots. In 2010 Frankie officially became the fastest fiddle player in the world finding a place in the Guinness book of world records.
This renowned musical family have been playing together for most of their lives and have an equal understanding of the music, which comes very naturally. They are joined in concert by the multi-instrumentalist, George Grasso from Santa Cruz, California. Now resident in Galway, George’s bouzouki playing was heavily influenced by the great Alec Finn (RIP).
The Guardian newspaper commented: ‘Dervish are simply brilliant…they carry Irish history with them.’ They are regular visitors to the US, performing sell out shows from coast to coast. However, their fan base stretches across several continents, including Europe, Asia and South America. The band signed to renowned American roots label, Rounder records in 2018 and launched ‘The Great Irish Song Book’ to great critical acclaim in 2019.
They launched the album with a spectacular show at the London Palladium in September 2019 with special guests: Imelda May, Kate Rusby, Brendan Gleeson, David Gray and more. A second ‘Great Irish Song Book’ album is currently in planning stages. We are delighted to welcome Dervish back to our annual Festival for the first time since 2010.
Dervish are: Cathy Jordan (vocal/bodhrán), Shane Mitchell
(accordion), Liam Kelly (flute/whistles), Tom Morrow (fiddle), Brian McDonagh (mandola/mandolin) and Michael Holmes (bouzouki). www.dervish.ie
www.returntolondontown.org 7
GATEHOUSERoscommon based traditional band, Gatehouse celebrate the history and beauty of Lough Key Forest Park, through their name, taken from the ‘Tiara’ gate lodge, situated at the entrance to the Rockingham Estate near Boyle in the west of Ireland. The two Johns go back a long way and after initially focusing on the music of North Connaught, they broadened their focus to explore the story telling potential of song and tunes from other parts of Ireland – and so Gatehouse was born. With the addition of Rachel’s captivating
singing and Jacinta’s delicate accompaniment, for the band it’s all about sensitive and tasteful innovation – though there’s also grit and substance when needed.
Following the release of their highly acclaimed debut album, Tús Nua, Gatehouse decided to take a more intricate approach to the arrangement on Heather Down the Moor with the help of John Joe Kelly (bodhrán), Alan Kelly (piano accordion), Mike McCague (bouzouki), Conor and Paddy McEvoy (fiddle and piano). Heather Down the Moor was co-produced with Dónal O’Connor.
Gatehouse are: John McEvoy (fiddle/mandolin), John Wynne (flute/whistles), Rachel Garvey (vocal) and Jacinta McEvoy (guitar/concertina)
www.gatehousetrad.ie
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Best wishes to: 'RETURN TO LONDON TOWN'for this year's Festival and we look forward to hosting back at the Hotel next year' (in accordance with Government guidelines at the time).
FRIDAY 22ND – MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2021
CLAYTON CROWN HOTEL142-152 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 3ED
If you would like to stay with us, we are happy to offer special reduced rate B&B accommodation for Festival goersFestival B&B rates per person at the Clayton Crown Hotel:£100 (single), £110 (double/twin), £120 (triple), £130 (quad).All rates are per room, per night, to include accommodation, full English breakfast, WIFI Connections all around the hotel, 20% VAT and service.Should there be any change in VAT or the introduction of any new tax by the UK government the agreed rate will be adjusted to reflect the change.
Please contact the hotel for bookings: www.claytoncrownhotel.com Tel. 020 8452 4175
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FLASHBACK: MUSIC NETWORK TOUR CONCERT - JIM MURRAY, DÓNAL O'CONNOR, JACK TALTY AND ANXO LORENXO – KINGS PLACE, JAN 2020
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FLASHBACK: THE TRAD GATHERING REHEARSALS OF 'TUNES FROM THE REPERTOIRE OF LUCY FARR' (JAN – MARCH 2020)
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SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBERVIRTUAL INSTRUMENTAL AND VOICE WORKSHOPSPlease note that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Beginners are welcome to purchase tickets to attend as observers.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
11am–1pm: SINGING WORKSHOP WITH CATHY JORDAN (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: BUTTON ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH SHANE MITCHELL (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH TOM MORROW (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH LIAM KELLY (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL HOLMES AND BRIAN MCDONAGH (DERVISH)
11am–1pm: PIANO ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH MARTIN TOURISH (ALTAN)
2–4pm: WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH NOREEN O'SULLIVAN
2–4pm: UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH SHEILA FRIEL
2–4pm: CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH JACK TALTY
2–4pm: HARP WORKSHOP WITH TUTOR ÉADAOIN NÍ MHAICÍN
2–4pm: BANJO WORKSHOP WITH ANGELINA CARBERRY
Virtual Workshop Tickets: £10/ £6 under 18s (www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown)
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Damien O'Reilly and John Blake in ConcertTUESDAY 13TH APRIL 2021at The Green Note, Camden 106 Parkway, Camden Town NW1 7AN(Please note: venue/event date may need to change according to Government guidelines)This concert is part of the 'Return to Camden Town Event Series' presented by 'Irish Music and Dance in London' (IMDL)Promoting Damien's solo album 'Dúchas' with accompanist, John Blake
Doors open: 7pmMusic starts: 8.30pmTickets: £10 (plus booking fee) available from: www.irishmusicinlondon.org
This series of concerts is presented by 'Irish Music and Dance in London'. IMDL would like to thank Culture Ireland and the Emigrant Support Programme for supporting these events.
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CATHY JORDAN Cathy Jordan was born in Scramogue, County Roscommon. Her love for traditional singing was instilled at an early age, especially by her father. Cathy began singing publicly at all kinds of Feiseanna and concerts as a child. She is a songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, bodhrán, bones and bouzouki. Her career spans three decades, during
which time she has worked with some of the top folk stars in the world and performed at landmark concerts in places like China and Israel. She has been the lead vocalist for the traditional Irish music band Dervish since 1991. She combines this role with a highly successful solo career. Jordan is also a member of the group The Unwanted. Her first solo album, entitled All the Way Home, was released in January, 2012.
SHANE MITCHELL is a native of County Sligo. Having started playing instruments at the age of seven. Shane went on to learn the Accordion from the legendary Sligo Accordion player Alphie Joe Dineen. From a very young age Shane frequently found himself drawn to local sessions as
well as competing with regular success in competitions. Shane is a founding member of Dervish and has played accordion in the band since 1989. He was one of the co-founders of the Sligo Live Festival in 2005 and has remained in his role as artistic director ever since.
TOM MORROWTom Morrow is a former All Ireland fiddle champion and is a member of the popular Irish traditional group Dervish. Tom is a native of Carrigallen in county Leitrim and is the eldest of a musical family. He has played extensively with a wide range of musicians around Leitrim and Cavan with
including the Cornafean Group and Antoinn McGabhann. While studying in Limerick, he was part of the vibrant session scene that existed in the area. Tom then lived and worked in Dublin and is regularly involved in music sessions in Dublin and throughout the country. He has toured the world extensively with Dervish.
LIAM KELLY is a native of Sligo and now lives in Dromahair, County Leitrim. He began playing traditional Irish music at the young age of eight, starting on the tin whistle. He also played the accordion and later switched to the flute, mainly learning from local player, Carmel Gunning. His style is firmly rooted in
the North Connacht flute tradition. Liam is a founding member of the band Dervish one of the most successful, consistent and long-standing groups on the traditional circuit. Liam recently began presenting a traditional music radio programme on Radio Sligo.
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CONNECTING IRISH PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD
/TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost /TheIrishPost
www.irishpost.com
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BRIAN MCDONAGH Born in Dublin in 1959, Brian McDonagh moved to Sligo 30 years ago to study art under the instruction of Sean Mc Sweeney and John O Leary at the Sligo Regional College. He became interested in a variety of styles of music and became an accomplished performer on mandola and mandolin, among
other instruments. Brian is a member of the highly acclaimed band Dervish and in is high demand as an accompanist. As well as being a musician and artist, Brian is also a recording engineer and has a studio at his home in Sligo where he has recorded many albums including Kevin Burke's recent release 'Sligo Made.'
MICHAEL HOLMES Michael Holmes is a native of Co. Sligo. He was part of a vibrant session scene in the late 1980s and recorded an album called Boys of Sligo in 1989 with Brian McDonagh, Liam Kelly and Shane Mitchell. It was on the back of this
album that the band Dervish were formed, they have become one of Ireland’s best loved bands. Please note that Brian and Michael will teach one hour each during our ‘Return to London Town Festival’ virtual accompaniment workshop.
in the Connemara Gaeltacht for over 30 years to two generations of musicians. She is a music examiner for the syllabus in Irish traditional music, SCT, run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and has tutored music teachers in their Teastas i dTeagasc Ceolta Tíre (CCTT) program. She teaches master classes in whistle at Scoil Éigse, adjudicates at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, various provincial
fleadhanna, féiseanna and at Oireachtas na Samhain. Noreen frequently plays in a trio with her brother, Seán Gavin, an All-Ireland champion on the button accordion, and her younger brother Frankie Gavin, virtuoso fiddler, founder of De Danann and international recording artist. In 2012 Noreen released a solo CD titled The Quiet House.
SHEILA FRIEL Sheila Friel was born and brought up in Glasgow with family roots firmly entrenched in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Sheila plays the uilleann pipes, flute, whistle and sings. She is a part of the hugely popular group The Friel Sisters along with her sisters, Clare and Anna. They play a mixture of music interspersed with
songs in English and Irish, many from their family repertoire. They have performed worldwide. Sheila appeared on Na Píobairí Uilleann's most recent (Volume 12) 'Piper's Choice' DVD. She is in high demand as a tutor, regularly teaching at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Co. Clare and Scoil Gheimhridh Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal.
NOREEN O’SULLIVANNoreen has been playing music since the age of five and teaching
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Irish Traditional Music is at the heart of the Irish cultureand history, never as a static antiquity, the tradition isalive and vital, open to change yet conservative of its
core values.The essence of Irish Music Magazine is toreflect what is happening in Irish music in contemporary society.From the commercial recordings of traditional tunes, to experimentationwith other musical cultures, Irish Music Magazine keeps readers informedabout upcoming tours, events and festivals from the diverse world ofIrish and Celtic acoustic music.Irish Music Magazine, strives to inform readers and musicians alike,
keeping you abreast of all major developments in the Irish TraditionalMusic community. It is this vital human contact which is at the heart ofthe music experience and is the reason why Irish Music Magazine isthe leading independent voice on Irish music in the world.
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from County Clare. As a performer, producer, and engineer, Jack has contributed to over 80 albums to date. In 2011, he founded Raelach Records, and he has released three albums with Ensemble Ériu. Since 2013, Jack has performed as a section leader with the Irish Memory Orchestra. He has also recorded Na Fir Bolg with Cormac Begley, and in November 2016 Jack released his debut solo album In Flow to widespread critical
acclaim. In September 2018, Jack was appointed Traditional Artist in Residence at University College Cork. Jack recently released an audio-visual installation project with photographer and filmmaker Maurice Gunning as Clare Arts Office Creators in Residence at the Irish Traditional Music Archive.
excess of 10 All Ireland titles to her name and The Camac Trophy from Lorient Interceltique Festival, she has played to thousands of people all over the world in multiple different venues. In 2019 she co-founded the band EADAOIN who went straight to number 1 on the iTunes world music charts with the release of their singles 9 Years and Bunalaka. She achieved a First Class Honours in her Master’s degree in Music at the University of Limerick
and received her TTCT (Teaching Diploma from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann) this year also. Éadaoin has appeared on numerous, national and international, radio and television stations such as RTÉ, BBC, TV3 and TG4.
the highly acclaimed album ‘Memories from the Holla’ with her father Peter on Accordion and John Blake on guitar and piano. In addition to performing, Angelina is also a respected music teacher and popular banjo tutor at many festivals throughout the country and abroad. She has taught master classes at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University Limerick, Scoil Éigse and the Willie Clancy Summer School. She has toured throughout Ireland, Europe and Japan and North America,
appearing at major festivals such as Catskills Irish Arts Week.Angelina has also played on TV program Fleadh Cheoil from Cavan in 2012, popular series Bosca Ceol TG4 in 2014 and 2015 TG4 series Hup!
ANGELINA CARBERRY was born in Manchester in the late 70’s into a County Longford musical family steeped in traditional music. Angelina moved to Galway in the late 90’s where she recorded
JACK TALTY is a multi-award-winning musician, composer, producer, and researcher
ÉADAOIN NÍ MHAICÍN Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín is a multi-award winning Harp and Fiddle player from County Mayo, Ireland. With an
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SATURDAY 24TH OCTOBEREVENING CONCERT ‘IRISH NIGHT AT CADOGAN HALL’ (and streamed online) IN MEMORY OF JIMMY PHILBINSponsored by: and in Association with
•LECHÉILE•JOHNANDJAMESCARTYWITHJONASFROMSEIER•THELONDONLASSESANDPETEQUINN6pm Doors open • 7pm Concert startsTickets for socially distanced concert at Cadogan Hall: £20/£6 under 18s Tickets for streamed concert: £12.50 (www.thelockinn.io/returntolondontown) Please note: Tickets for Cadogan Hall should be booked in your 'bubbles'. Please arrive at venues wearing a face covering (unless exempt) and continue to wear unless eating or drinking in your allocated seat – capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.
Le Chéile was the cult Irish band of 1970s London. Their classic album Lord Mayo was reissued on CD in 2006. To coincide with that release, the surviving original band members – master fiddler Danny Meehan, Liam Farrell (banjo), John Roe (piano) and Kevin Boyle (guitar) reformed alongside new recruits, flautist Paul Gallagher and accordionist Andy Martyn.
Now they’re back, with a slightly changed line up. Adding powerful
momentum to the revivalist movement within Irish music today with their exciting big band mix of back to basics traditional music from Donegal and Galway. Their third album Out of the West was released in 2010.
This evening’s line up features: Andy Martyn (accordion), Paul Gallagher (flute), Mark Conyard (fiddle/ banjo), John Roe (piano) and Kevin Boyle (guitar).
LE CHÉILE Le Chéile was formed in the early 1970s by musicians who played regularly in the famous sessions at The White Hart, on Fulham Broadway. The 1960s and 70s were golden years for traditional Irish music in London, when musicians played to packed houses and sparked the revival which went on to spread back home and around the globe.
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28 March 2020 • Issue No.1715 • ££11..6600wwwwww..tthheeiirriisshhwwoorrlldd..ccoomm
thetthhee ppaappeerr ffoorr tthhee IIrriisshh iinn BBrriittaaiinn
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People are being advisedagainst travel betweenBritain and Ireland un-less it really is essential.
And anyone travelling toIreland MUST isolate themselvesfor fourteen days, says the Irishgovernment.
Here in Britain the Foreign &Commonwealth Office (FCO) hasadvised against all but essentialinternational travel to anywhere inthe world - the first time in its
history to make such a recom-mendation.
The emergency travel guid-ance comes as the President ofIreland Michael D Higginsreaches out to Irish people herewith a message especially for themin this week’s Irish World (seepage 5).
President Higgins, whorepeats calls for social distanceand self-isolation, points out thatvery many of the Irish people whocame to this country in the greatwaves of emigration of decades
past are now older and especiallysusceptible and vulnerable to thisCovid-19 virus.
But they have not been forgot-ten, he says.
Ireland’s Ambassador toBritain Adrian O’Neill, also onthese pages, says the Embassy willensure there is financial help forthose organisations helping themost vulnerable in the commu-nity, via its own Emigrant SupportProgramme (ESP) funding.
BByy DDaavviidd HHeennnneessssyy
� President reaches out to Irish people in UKas Ambassador says funds are there fororganisations helping the most vulnerable
The Warwickshire ladies’ footballers fighting Covid-19 in the NHS
greatindoorsthe
THE PRESIDENTADDRESSES THE UKIRISH COMMUNITY
PAGE 5
IRISH PRIDEGENTLEMAN JACK BROUGHT LEEDSSINGER BELINDA O’HOOLEY TO A HUGENEW AUDIENCE...BUT SHE’S GOT ANEVEN BIGGER REASON TO CELEBRATE
PAGE 15
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KEEP YOURSELF ENTERTAINEDWHILE SELF-ISOLATINGKEEP YOURSELF ENTERTAINEDWHILE SELF-ISOLATING
2iiwwIn our section
‘YOU ARE NOTALONE’
Continued on page 3
MIZZELL, MCNICHOLL AND OTHERSTARS OF IRISH COUNTRY ONREACHING FANS DURING LOCKDOWN
SHOW MUST GO ON[LINE] THE PAPER FOR THE
IRISH IN BRITAINEVERY WEDNESDAYIN ALL GOOD NEWSAGENTS
My WEEK in TRADwith HelenMullen
TOP ROW
BOTTOM ROW
E A G B C D E F G A G B E D G F G A E B
F# C#D# A#B G#F# ED# C#B A#F# G#D# EB G#F# A#D# G#
IN OUT
John Ryans
JUGGLING AND REELING
NOW FOR something completely di�erent...Check out this video of Oxford University student Hira
Javaid who made a video of herself juggling to traditionalIrish music (as you do) which has since clocked up just shy ofone million views since it was posted on her twitter accountlast month.
Hira, who was born in Pakistan and brought up in SaudiArabia, fell in love with Irish trad music and culture from visitsto Ireland - where her father is a doctor.
She told the Irish Mirror : “I've been unable to visit my dadfor several months and since I missedIreland, I decided to bring the Irishvibes to me instead.”
She juggles her love of Irish musicand juggling (pun intended) with hervery serious PhD studies in Oncology,which is the study of cancer.
Hopefully won’t even think of usingjuggling when delivering bad news.
Love the video Hira, well done!
Learn to Play!
ButtonAccordion
SEARCH ‘IRISH MUSICJUGGLING’ ON TWITTER
LEARN ANEW TUNEEVERY WEEK INOUR TRADCOLUMN!
PROUD SUPPORTER OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSICAND THE RETURN TO LONDON TOWN FESTIVAL
/THEIRISHWORLD @THEIRISHWORLD THEIRISHWORLD.COM
ALSO AVAILABLE TO READ ON
YOUR DEVICEPOCKETMAGS.COM/
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www.returntolondontown.org 21
John Carty is one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians having been awarded TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. He was recently appointed Sligo Traditional Musician in residence. Born in London, fiddle and banjo player John Carty has established himself among the elite in Irish traditional music and as a staunch supporter of its preservation. Carty developed his love for fiddle, banjo, and flute, all of which he has mastered, through his multi-instrumentalist father who was a member of the Glenside Ceili Band in London in the 1960’s.
Since moving to Ireland in 1991 he has recorded extensively and performs worldwide both as a solo player, in duets notably with Matt Molloy and as part of John Carty’s Festival Band, At the Racket and as a member of super group,
Patrick Street. John has performed in two feature films Jimmy’s Hall and Brooklyn, for which he also arranged all the traditional music pieces. In addition, John is a tutor on the BA course at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick and with such experience is a highly sought tutor for workshops and summer schools
James Carty Fiddle player, James Carty from Boyle, Co Roscommon comes from a long line of traditional Irish musicians and a family highly respected in the traditional idiom. James however is cutting his own path in the traditional music scene with his own distinctive style which he developed having grown up listening to the recordings of the old Sligo masters Michael Coleman, James Morrison, Paddy Killoran to name just three. He has toured throughout Ireland, the UK, Canada
and the USA exploring the rich and varied tapestry of the of North Connaught fiddle tradition.
James has spent several years living in London where he has taught extensively.
James has appeared on a couple of commercial recordings, most notably The First of May with Harry Bradley on flute and At Complete Ease, a milestone fiddle recording, with his father John and Brian Rooney. He released his debut solo album Hiding Daylight in Dark Corners in 2017 to high critical acclaim.
John and James are delighted to present their latest album The Wavy Bow Collection which will be for sale this evening.
John and James focus on the art of duet playing utilising material from a wide variety of sources including their local area of Boyle which lies in North Roscommon cushioned by neighbouring counties Sligo and Leitrim. During this evening’s concert, they will be joined by Danish born bouzouki player, Jonas Fromseier who also features on the album. Primarily a banjo player, Jonas is now living in London after a spell in Galway. He was also a member of the groups Mórga and Arcady 3.
www.johncartymusic.net www.jamescartyfiddle.com
JOHN AND JAMES CARTY ‘WAVY BOW’ ALBUM LAUNCH
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Band highlights include headlining at Dublin City Hall as part of Temple Bar Trad Festival’s celebration of The Gathering, closing the night after Camille O’Sullivan’s performance at the St Patrick’s Day Festival in Camden’s iconic Roundhouse, appearing on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, supporting The Chieftains on their 50th Anniversary Tour appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, plus various TV appearances, including Ardán, Geantraí and Hup! (TG4), plus a memorable turn on EastEnders (BBC1).
This evening’s line up features: Karen Ryan (fiddle), Elaine Conwell (fiddle), Maureen Hankins (accordion), Annie Quinn (flute/ uilleann pipes) and Pete Quinn (piano). www.londonlasses.net
The band will be joined by special guest: Co. Clare singer, songwriter, guitarist and bouzouki player, Terence O’Flaherty.
TERENCE O’FLAHERTY from Ennistymon, Co. Clare, is from a family of singers. He learned his earliest songs from local musicians and travelling storytellers and singers. In the early 1970s, he emigrated to London and joined the thriving Irish music scene in the capital as part of the popular band Crusheen, with Kevin Shanahan, Chris Hayes and Joe Searson. He has performed with musicians from many different backgrounds, including classical, jazz and funk and has performed widely in the UK, Europe and the USA. He has released three CDs to critical acclaim and is currently working on a new album due for release soon.
THE LONDON LASSES AND PETE QUINNDescribed by Irish Music Magazine as “one of the best bands on the scene today”, the six-piece traditional Irish group The London Lasses have released four critically acclaimed albums with pianist, Pete Quinn and a fifth with pianist/guitarist Chris O’Malley.
The London Lasses have toured Germany with the St Patrick’s Day Celebration Festival, performed the first ever ceilidh in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, and played at Ireland’s longest running folk festival, Ballyshannon. They have brought their unique sound to some of the world’s most prestigious festivals and concert halls including Cambridge Folk Festival, the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Glastonbury, Philadelphia Irish Festival and Sidmouth International Festival.
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SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBERSOCIALLY DISTANCED WORKSHOPSAT ASHFORD PLACEPlease note: that instrumental workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced level players. Please arrive at workshop venue (wearing a face covering, unless exempt) no more than 15 minutes before start time to allow for registration. Advance booking is strongly recommended as workshop places are limited due to social distancing – capacity monitoring, social distancing, sanitising and one-way system measures in place for everyone's safety.
WORKSHOPS
11am–1pm: FLUTE WORKSHOP WITH EIMEAR MCGEOWN
11am–1pm: UILLEANN PIPES WORKSHOP WITH RITA FARRELL
11am–1pm: PIANO ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH COLETTE O’LEARY
11:30am–1:30pm: BANJO WORKSHOP WITH JOHN CARTY
11:30am–1:30pm: FIDDLE WORKSHOP WITH BEN GUNNERY
2–4pm: WHISTLE WORKSHOP WITH PETER MCALINDEN
2–4pm: HARP WORKSHOP WITH JEAN KELLY
2–4pm: CONCERTINA WORKSHOP WITH ALEX KELLY
2:30pm–4:30pm: BUTTON ACCORDION WORKSHOP WITH CORMAC MURPHY
2:30pm–4:30pm: ACCOMPANIMENT WORKSHOP WITH TAD SARGENT
Socially Distanced Workshop Tickets: £10/ £6 Under 18s
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one of the world’s most versatile exponents of both the classical and Irish flute. She has appeared as a soloist throughout the USA, South America, South Korea, Japan, China, The Philippines, Russia and Europe. She has recorded with various artists on albums for Universal, Decca and Chandos Record labels and played on BBC Radio, Classic FM and RTÉ Lyric FM. Having performed for President Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and
Prince Edward, Eimear received an invitation by Her Majesty the Queen, to attend a Royal Reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate her achievements in the Performing Arts.
On the Irish flute, she holds two All-Ireland titles and released her debut album Inis launching it at the Irish Embassy in London, hosted by Ambassador Adrian O’Neill.
Co. Leitrim, she started playing the tin-whistle at the age of five. She eventually progressed onto the concert flute and uilleann pipes under the direction of Marion Gill, Damien Mullane and Emmett Gill going on to win multiple national and international medals at the Fleadh Cheoil.
After studying to become an architect, Rita remains a prominent figure in the traditional Irish music session scene, and organises
the London based International Uilleann Piping day annually.
Over the years, she has played at many traditional music festivals worldwide and has featured in concerts at Willie Clancy Summer School. Most recently, she appeared on The Graham Norton Show, playing alongside Robbie Williams and featured in Na Píobairí Uilleann’s recent online series Piping in the Parlour series.
raised in Dublin. She began playing at the age of five and by the age of eighteen, had won two All-Ireland titles.
Colette was a founder member of highly acclaimed all girl Irish group Bumblebees before moving to London in 2001 and recording her first solo album The Attic Room.
Between 2007 and 2012, Colette recorded and toured extensively with the ‘The Long Notes’. They released two albums The Long Note
and In the Shadow of Stromboli.
Colette participated in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s first Irish Sea Sessions which also featured Dublin’s luminary singer songwriter Damien Dempsey. She has also performed at countless more festivals around the globe and has recorded on albums with Wolfstone, Máire Breatnach, Mark Nevin and Russian legend, Boris Grebenshikov.
EIMEAR McGEOWN Irish flautist Eimear McGeown has steadily built a reputation as being
RITA FARRELL Rita Farrell is a London born uilleann piper, flute and piano player. With family roots firmly in
COLLETTE O’LEARY Colette O’Leary, London based piano accordionist, was born in the highly musical area of Sliabh Luachra in Co. Kerry and
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parentage. In his formative years Ben won the All Ireland fiddle title at the Fleadh Cheoil and also won numerous classical competitions. Ben graduated at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music London under Gillian Findlay and Hugh Bean respectively.
Ben is a virtuosic violin player, a multi-instrumentalist and a multi genre artist. He has toured extensively from the age of
15 till the present day. He has performed and toured with Michael Nyman Band, Steph Geremia, Gaelforce, Riverdance, Celtic Legends and many more.
As well as performance, Ben is a tutor at World Heartbeat Academy and gives online tutorials internationally for festivals and students.
County Cork and County Down. Encouraged by a neighbour Kathleen Murray, Peter gradually developed a love for traditional Irish music, and learned to play Flute, Tin Whistle and Piano. In 1979 he won the senior competition in the All Ireland fleadh in Buncrana.
Following his retirement from school teaching in 2012, Peter
has become an integral part of the traditional music scene in London, both in teaching and in sessions. In 2010 his whistle solo album Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part received much positive critical acclaim. He was a member of the popular Saint Colmcille's Ceili Band which won the senior All Ireland title in 1988 and 1991.
been awarded TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. Born in London, Carty developed his love for fiddle, banjo, and flute, all of which he has mastered, through his multi-instrumentalist father who was a member of the Glenside Céilí Band in London in the 1960s. He has released 15 albums including five solo works and collaborations with artists such as Matt Molloy,
Bryan Rooney and Patrick Street.
In addition, John is a tutor on the BA course at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick and with such experience, is a highly sought-after tutor for workshops and summer schools. He has recently been appointed joint director of the Leitrim Youth Trad Orchestra.
BEN GUNNERY Born in Dublin, Ben was bought up in London of Irish and French
PETER MCALINDEN Peter was born in London in 1960 to parents who hailed from
JOHN CARTY John Carty is one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians having
Bonnie Shaljean. She then won a scholarship to study harp at the Royal College of Music, London. Jean is in great demand as a versatile harpist, with an eclectic career ranging from Early Music to Classical and Folk Music.
Jean performs on film soundtracks, for composers such as Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Dario Marianelli and Max Richter. She has performed at Áras
an Uachtarán, and at Windsor Castle for the historic visit of President Michael D Higgins.
Jean is a member of The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments. They undertake regular UK and European tours and have recently released a CD ‘The Longest Night’ featuring Jean on Irish harp with Benedicte Maurseth on hardanger fiddle and Clare Salaman on nykelharpa.
JEAN KELLYJean Kelly hails from a family of several generations of professional musicians. Jean started playing Irish harp in Cork, studying with
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THE ICC SEISIÚNS
A new series of recorded concerts starring an exciting line up of London’s great Irish musicians and artists.
06/11
THE DEVINE FAMILY
13/11
LUKE COUGHLAN
20/11
BRENDAN MCAULEY & MICK SANDS
27/11
THE QUINN FAMILY
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES: FIONA DALY & COLMAN CONNOLLY, JACQUELYN HYNES,
TIM LOGUE, CAROLYN HOLT & PAUL MCKENZIE
www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk/digital#ICCSEISIÚNS
The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith presents
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of the national award-winning Sligo group: Tog a hOcht. He has been a highly valued member of the traditional Irish session scene here in London ever since he moved over in recent years – first playing regular sessions in West London with Dublin accordionist, Conal Cuttle and fiddler, Deirdre Glynn. In 2019 he was involved in performances of the ‘De Cuéllar Suite’ which was
composed by Michael Rooney and pays tribute to the Spanish Armada. Alex works in the capital as a secondary school teacher.
Alex taught concertina at the 20th Return to Camden Town Festival at the London Irish Centre and received great reviews from his workshop students – we are delighted to welcome him back to teach for our annual Festival this year.
by the music of Galway’s great accordionist, Joe Cooley, one of his early musical performances at the ‘Music under the Mountain Festival’ in neighbouring Wicklow, saw him play support to legendary musicians Seán Keane (fiddle) and Liam O’Flynn (pipes). He spent a number of years playing in Dublin – during his time there, he was involved in playing with the project ‘All in Good Time’ who released a
CD at Smithfield’s ‘The Cobblestone’ in 2013. He was also a member of the band Tramú and more recently has been performing with London’s popular ‘Parish Céilí Band’
ALEX KELLYCounty Sligo concertina player, Alex Kelly, comes from a very musical family. He was a member
CORMAC MURPHY Kildare button accordionist, Cormac Murphy is an All-Ireland champion on the instrument. Influenced
started playing the bodhrán in 2002 after re-discovering his childhood love for Irish music. Learning about Irish music took years of attending sessions run by the London Irish banjo player Mick O’Connor
Now a multi-instrumentalist, Tad is an experienced performer on the Guitar, Bouzouki, Bodhrán and Tin Whistle among other instruments. He has performed/recorded and worked with many great musicians and groups such
as Tony Christie, The Kelly Family, Brian McNeill, Sylvain Barou, Michael McGoldrick, Mohsen Amini, Benedict Morris, Cara Dillon, Joby Talbot, Kristina Train, Luke Daniels, The Dhol Foundation, and The Long Notes. He released albums with the band CrossHarbour, Breton uilleann piper Loïc Bléjean and London fiddler, Matt Tighe. Tad teaches regularly at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.
TAD SARGENT London Born Tad Sargent, whose family roots hail from Castlebar in Co. Mayo, started playing music at a young age on the piano. He
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FLASHBACK: RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD
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FLASHBACK: RETURN TO LONDON TOWN 2019 – CRICKLEWOOD
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www.returntolondontown.org facebook.com/returntocamdentown @ReturntoCamden irishmusicdanceinlondon
COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY NO. 9031004 FOUNDED 2014
presents London's 22nd Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance 'Return to London Town' and would like to thank its 2020 partners, funders and sponsors: