Margeson on the Music
Margeson on the Music
Well, well, well. Didn’t our column set off some discussion in July! If you didn’t see it, we were critical on the current state of American Irish Festivals in general, excluding Milwaukee. Of all the musicians and vendors with whom we spoke after the column appeared here, not one– not one– disagreed with us. Most felt we didn’t go far enough criticizing the rockification of the fests, and the non-communicative nature concerning the dwindling attendance numbers. It remains up to the festivals themselves to stop looking at numbers and beer sales, and look at who is not coming and why. Let’s see if they do.
Milwaukee Irish Fest this month. The big kahuna. No long article here–just the assurance that this is their best lineup ever. If you are planning on being there one day only, you won’t see them all, but here is a quick list of whom we consider the must-sees of the Fest, set for August 16-19. Google their site. A new innovation this year lets you click on your favorite artists and see their individual stage and time schedules. Here are this year’s stunners, no explanation needed. As usual, trust us. NOT in any order! Here we go: Cathie Ryan, Dave Munnelly Band, Eddi Reader, Cherish the Ladies Reunion concert Sunday afternoon, Liz Carroll and John Doyle, Mick Moloney and Michelle Mulcahy, Barra McNeils, Beoga, The Fuchsia Band, Millish, Liadan, Leahy, Tommy Makem and Blarney. See what we mean about one day? We will be up all three days, and probably won’t be able to see them all. Wonderful dilemma! The Fest producers Chuck and Ed Ward, Barry Stapleton and Jane Andersson are all scheduled to be on our radio show, Blarney on the Air, Monday night, August 6 from 7-9 Central time in America, to talk about it all. We will see you there !
We are swamped with albums this month, and will do a major haul on them all next month. We have to mention the best of the lot, however. The album is out on Clo-Iar-Chonnachta and is entitled, A Tribute to Andy McGann. There are few more revered or well-remembered musicians in the tradition than Sligo/New Yorker, Andy McGann. This fiddle player is so influential in the music that many of the younger players of today are emulating at least a piece of his fiddle playing style, probably not even realizing it. Andy passed in 2004. Years before (1964) he, the legendary button box player, Joe Burke and pianist, Felix Dolan had recorded a dedicated Michael Coleman album, Tribute to Coleman. Coleman is the greatest of all the great Sligo fiddlers (Morrison fans notwithstanding). Indeed, as a young man, Andy had briefly known Coleman and even played with him. Fiddler, Brian Conway was mentored by McGann, and his playing on this album makes the salute perfect. There are times when you would close your eyes, and hear Andy himself coming through the hands and soul of Conway. Brill.
Coleman is a god in the pantheon, but there were many Sligo musicians like McGann who basically invented the elegant New York/Sligo style of playing traditional music. So, when Andy died, Joe Burke and his wife Anne, joined pianist, Josephine Keegan and a number of other musicians in a concert in Donegal a few months later. It basically turned into a McGann memorial concert, and a great time was had by all. There at the concert was Chicago’s own master fiddler and creative force at The Irish-American Heritage Center, John Daly. What a fortuitous coming together! John immediately struck on the idea of a McGann tribute at the Heritage Center. Joe Burke and Felix Dolan had joined McGann on the 1964 Tribute to Coleman album, which has since become one of the required albums in a comprehensive trad collection. With Daly at the helm of a growing ship of volunteers at the Center, the concert began to take shape. Arrangements. A flurry of activity. Phone calls. E-mails. Back and forth, back and forth and then WHAM! It was time. On April 1, 2006 it all came together at the Heritage Center’s auditorium with well over 400 people there on a memorable night. We were there. We’ll never forget it. This album was recorded that night, and added to in subsequent sessions in Chicago. Some of the tunes here are from the actual concert, and some from the studio work that followed. It is all brilliant, and the sound is superior, thanks to recording engineer, Jim Reeves. The transcendent warmth and musical magic coupled with great humor that night, and became one of those magical moments you take with you forever. We sat behind Chicago’s own fiddle legend, Liz Carroll, that evening. No one was having more fun than she. Magic. At the end, the 400 and more did not want to leave the auditorium. After some encores, we began to slowly leave, but staying just a bit longer to bathe in the moment. A stunner. And, it is all here on this album. Contact the Center, get to your Irish vendor, go online to Clo-Iar-Chonachta or contact us here at LiveIreland.com. Do what you have to. Get this album. No excuses. You can be part of it all, too. Just crank it up, sit back and smile. What a deal. Chicago is easily the pre-eminent city in America for Irish music now. There can really be no argument on the point anymore. And, a big, big part of that position goes to John Daly. He is a treasure, and the Heritage Center– and Irish music — are lucky to have him. Thanks, John, on behalf of everyone who loves the music. Up Cork!! Rating: Four Harps .
Advertise you festival on liveIreland to 50,000 listeners per day! Advert packages to suit all budgets.