Milwaukee
Irish Fest 2003
Irish
Fest The Aftermath
Well,
it is over. The 23rd Irish Fest in Milwaukee, now come and
gone again. Another great lineup from the Fest and good
weather assured another success. It all happens at the Fest.
We have fallen in love at the Fest. We have been totally
blown away by acts over the years too numerous to mention.
We have watched our daughter grow up there, measuring her
year by year aging in how much less time spent at the playground,
or the lessening time spent at the Children's Tent. We have
been legless with friends from Galway and Dublin. We even
got to introduce this year's hottest act in their final
Sunday performance at The Old Style Stage. Yet, we are no
different from any other Fest regulars in that each comes
away with special, personalized memories. That is the strength
of Irish Fest. It is so staggering in its variety that each
individual can put in or take out exactly what he or she
wants. It is impossible to list it all. For anyone who has
been there, you know precisely what we mean. For those who
have not been there, no words can do it.
Musically, the hit this year---as we predicted---was Flook.
This high energy quartet left the crowds and other musicians
gaping at the sheer scope of their musicianship. Unknown
to many Fest goers before Milwaukee, Flook is now a force.
La Bottine again had literally thousands on their feet dancing
and smiling. Incredible. North Cregg with the brilliant
singer, Karan Casey sitting in was perfection. Brill! Liz
Carroll and John Doyle offered public lessons as to the
direction of traditional music. Liz Carroll is an amazing
musician and composer. Doyle is arguably at the very top
of trad guitar players. Liz delivers every time. Fiddling
magic. Speaking of which, Tommy Peoples was at the top of
his game in a series of solo performances. This fiddler
is back. We loved Barra MacNeills. We heard Leahy was great,
although we could not get there. John Williams on button
box was stunning, as usual. This Chicago-based musician
released a classic album entitled, Steam a few years ago.
And, it still describes his playing! There are so many acts
covering so many aspects of Irish music that --no matter
how refined your taste is----some one or some act is there
for you! And, don't forget the Irish Theatre. The Hedge
School with great talks this year from the likes of John
O'Regan on traditional music, or Jim Fraher and Connie Scanlon
on the history and importance of the Irish bogs. The curragh
races. Gaelic football. Hurling. The tug-o-war competition.
The stunning and beautiful Omagh Choir in performances that
showed the real depth, courage and vision of the Irish experience.
The Literature Tent. The vendors--always a threat to the
wallet each year!! Stages full of Irish dancers. The Irish
breed dog show. The food! Culver's butter burgers are destined
to be an international American export sure to bring peace
to a troubled world. No one can be violent when they are
that full!!
But
best of all are the families. Thousands of them. Smiling,
dancing, hauling their kids around the playground, buying
them an ice cream cone, or just walking along the beautiful
lakefront area. In the final analysis, this Fest is about
a lot of things--too numerous to even contemplate. But,
each year we become more and more convinced it is, after
all is said and done, about family. Period.
Another great year, and we are already making our reservations
for next year. Thank you Milwaukee--and thank you, Irish
Fest!!
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