Fiddle Fair '07 - Wrap
Hello everybody,
Some of you have probably been wondering if we were EVER going to get around to putting something about this year's festival on the site but it did take us quite a while to recover fully from an amazing 4 days of some of the best music on the planet.
We did manage to put up some good photos up courtesy of our in-house photographer that tell some of the story, as well make sure and check out Con Kelleher's great portraits and live shots over at his myspace site.
I'd like to start by thanking all of you who attended Fiddle Fair '07 and who helped to make it without doubt, the best yet. Every year we seem to say "How on earth will we top that next year?" but somehow it does manage to get better and better.
Highlights
There were so many highlights this year, right from Bruce Molsky's beautiful opening concert, which set the tone for a great weekend of music, through to Crooked Still's electrifying finale with all their special guests.
Cathal Hayden, Máirtín O'Connor and Seamie O'Dowd *rocked* the place on Thursday night with their magical blend of high-octane traditional music. They played a version of Rory Gallagher's Barley & Grape Rag, which would have had the great man smiling in appreciation.
The Schools Concert on Friday morning was a special treat - the children of Rath National School and the Gaelscoil in Skibbereen were treated to a great show, featuring Bruce Molsky, Gilles Apap and Myriam Lafar, and Cathal Hayden and Máirtín O'Connor. The kids had a great time singing along. Bruce had them all singing a cowboy song. Gilles and Myriam took the kids on a round-the-world tour of music, asking them to guess what country the music came from. All the musicians thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even though Cathal reckoned they were the toughest audience they had played to in a long time.
On Friday night the incredible Gilles Apap and Myriam Lafar blew us away at the hotel with their wonderful, eclectic, and magical mix of music. Gilles is truly an amazing musician who made a huge impression on all of us down here and we hope he will come back next year with his great group The Colours of Invention.
The tribute to Arty McGlynn on Friday night was a Fiddle Fair first as the amazing Arty became the first member of the Fiddle Fair Hall of Fame. Some great fiddlers, Sean Regan, Nollaig Casey, Cathal Hayden, and Shane McAleer, and some great old photos of the great man in his Showband days - when he looked like the coolest rock 'n roller on the planet - helped to make this a very memorable occasion. Already musicians are scrambling to follow in Arty's footsteps.
There were two special concerts in Dún na Séad Castle over the weekend - both were brilliant and there really is something magical taking place when you hear great music in that ancient site. Connie O'Connor, Eibhlín de Paor, Caoimhín O'Raghallaigh and Mick O'Brien all played blinders and everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed their shows. On Saturday afternoon there was a great gig by Stephanie Coleman and Mick Daly at the hotel. Mick was very offended when someone asked if he was Stephanie's grandfather.
Saturday night was also very special when the Fiddle Fair hosted an African band for the first time.
Afel Bocoum and Alkibar treated us to an amazing spectacle awash in a kaleidoscope of colour and I can honestly say that the whole room was smiling during their show, especially their njarka player who should be advertising toothpaste. And another Fiddle Fair first on Saturday night saw a group of musicians, including Giles, Myriam, Arty and Nollaig Casey, boarding the ferry to Cape Clear for a concert on the Gaelic-speaking island, spreading the Fiddle Fair literally over the sea.
Sunday was another amazing day of great music featuring a World Premier when Derek Hickey, Dermot Byrne and Mike McGoldrick played fiddles together for the first time in history. Dermot reckons it's definitely the last too. Backed by the "Keith Moon" of the trad world, John Joe Kelly, and the only living member of the Fiddle Fair Hall of Fame Arty McGlynn, the 3 boys played fiddle better than a lot of "seasoned" fiddle players - the Bastards!
They were followed by the very special Cork talent that is Mick Flannery who played a great gig with his band and instantly won a lot of new fans who will spread the gospel.
The Fiddle Fair closed with two great shows and, for many people, the favourite gig of the weekend, Mike and the 3 Johns - McKusker, Doyle and John (Joe) Kelly. I'm listening to it as I write this and it rocks. One guy left after their spot saying "You couldn't get better than that".
Yet, that was before he heard the closing act Crooked Still, who did not disappoint as they put on a great show to finish the Fiddle Fair. They were eventually joined by Mike and the 3 Johns, Stephanie Coleman, and members of Uncle Earl for a rollicking conclusion to the best, pound-for-pound, trad music fair on the planet. There were a large Clonakilty contingent in the audience and they, along with everyone else, helped to create the cracking atmosphere that lasted long into the night and early the next morning.
There were a few glitches this year for which I'd like to apologise. Next year we will have our volunteers looking after all our artists and guests, especially the classes and students. We never stop learning at Fiddle Fair Central and we will put into practice for Fiddle Fair '08 what we gleaned in '07. The fair is growing and evolving and gaining new fans all the time, but the intimacy shall always be an integral part of our event.
Apart from the concerts there were lots of other special highlights during the weekend.
The Australian Super Model who was part of The Céilí All Stars on Friday evening outside Bushes was definitely a highlight.
The lunchtime session at Rolf's was great considering that 90% of the musicians were dying from the previous all-night session. I hear the smell of drink at Marty's workshop on Saturday morning was brutal - both master and students suffered on though for the cause.
The by now traditional late night gig on the last night of the festival by the Suzy McGoldrick Big Band went on around 3 a.m. to an enthusiastic crowd.
There were some mighty sessions all weekend and a great atmosphere in The Algiers, Bushes, Casey's and The Síbín throughout the festival. I'd like to thank all the participating Baltimore publicans and businesses for their support. The Fiddle Fair would not maintain the special intimacy without them.
For the select few who witnessed it though, I think the undoubted highlight of the Fiddle Fair was the 7.30am "Doo Wop" performance on Monday morning by the 2 As - Arty and Archie will soon be world famous if the reaction of those who saw it is anything to go by - Legends!
All in all I think it definitely was the best Fiddle Fair yet and thanks to all of you who supported it.
The line up is almost complete for next year - mark your calendars - Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th May 2008. Make sure to check in often at www.fiddlefair.com or subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news and information about our Summer and Special programs.
Until then, keep the tunes rolling.
Slán for now.
Declan
THANK YOU!
The Fiddle Fair could not take place without the help of many people and organisations, so a very big thank you to all the Fiddle Fair Committee, Catherine Roantree, Brendan McCarthy, Caoimhín Vallely, Liam Cotter, Clíodhna McCarthy, Christy Leahy, Pete Perry, and Michael Morris.
Thanks to our main funders: The Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Cork County Council, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Ballyburden Meats.
Special Thanks to Willie Buckley and everyone at The Baltimore Harbour Hotel, Patrick and Bernie McCarthy at Dún na Séad, Peter and Jean Perry at Glebe Gardens, Inish Beg Estates, The Algiers Inn, Bushes Bar, Casey's Hotel, The Síbín, Rolf's Hostel, The Customs House, The Mews, Chez Youen, and Glenans Sailing School.
Thanks also to Thornhills Electrical, West Cork Arts Centre, Damian Long, Dermot O'Reagan, Neil Bohane for the Poster, The Skibbereen School of Traditional Music, Tess Leek, Sarah Baker, Suzy McCarthy, Jo Perry, Fintan O'Connell, Una McCarthy, Marie Keane, Ian McDonagh, Eibhlín de Paor, Méabh O'Hare, Jim O'Donnell, Shane O'Neill, Naomi McCarthy, Kieran Gilmore, Gerry Godley & Improvised Music Company, Tom Sherlock, Eithne McCarthy, Mike Coleman, Rodger Colohan and Barbara Ward, Tom and Carol Henry, Aoife Granville, All at Club Cléire, Paul Dromey, Brian McCarthy at 103 FM, Eoin Brady at Lyric FM, Michael John Collins, Deirdre Townes, Ronan Sheehy, The Baltimore Beginners, and everyone who helped in any way at all to make this happen - Go Raibh Míle Maith Agaibh go Léir.
We would like to dedicate the 2007 Fiddle Fair to the memory of Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.
