My VERY special guest on this Monday's show (April 27,2009) will be Shannon Heaton. Matt and Shannon are two of my favorite musicians and they are lovely people. Matt was my first phone interview subject and it was great. I'm sure "the craic will be brilliant." You can tune in at or better yet, on iTunes at Radio > College/University Radio > WBGU 88.1 FMShannon has just been named the Female Musician of the Year by the Irish American News.
They're about to launch a tour through PA, OH, IN, IL, WI and MN. Don't miss the chance to see these outstanding performers.And the next week, May 4, 2009, Boston fiddler and singer Laura Cortese will be my guest!
I am very excited to announce a special event. On Sunday, April 26 we will be hosting workshops, a concert, dance, and a session with internationally renowned musicians, Randal Bays, Dave Marshall and Aine Meenaghan and famed set dance instructor, Anne McCallum.Randal Bays and Dave Marshall are a fiddle & guitar duo that represent some of the very best in authentic traditional Irish music. Randal also happens to be one of the two organizers of the Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp that Mary and I are attending next week. You can find more information about Randal at his web site:http://www.randalbays.com/And hear examples of his seven CDs with various musicians on iTunes and CDBaby.comAine Meenaghan is considered by many to be an example of the very best traditional Irish sean nós singers. This is a unique and very special style of historically accurate, solo, unaccompanied singing that reaches back into the inner sanctum of Irish music history. If you have never heard this type of singing before this would be a perfect opportunity. Here is some information copied from Aine’s web site:Heir to the archaic tradition of bardic poetry and song which declined with the demise of Gaelic civilization in the eighteenth century, it is sustained today by a unique cohort of singers in the Gaeltachtaí, or Irish speaking communities along the west coast of Ireland. It also enjoys prominence among Irish communities in the US, especially in Boston and Chicago, where it is patronized by immigrant communities from south Connemara.A native of Muiceannach-idir-dhá-Sháile, Camus, Áine Meenaghan (nee Ní Dhonnchadha) began singing as a child and was strongly influenced by the singing of her grand father. Encouraged by her aunt, schoolteacher Treasa Uí Chartúir, she began to take an interest in sean nós and, at the age of eight, entered her first competition. During the 1970s, Áine or Nan Chamuis as she is known in Connemara, became a household name in the sean nós pantheon. She won the All-Ireland title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and in 1974 she won the coveted Corn Uí Riada at Oireachtas na Gaeilge, the highest honour awarded to a performer in Ireland. Since immigrating to Chicago, she has performed on many occasions with Martin Hayes and Randal Bays, and tours the festival circuit throughout the U.S. She's also taught at many music camps and has adjudicated a number of singing competitions. Her rendition of the poignant love song Bríd Thomáis Mhurchadha highlights the richness of her subtle and distinctive style.Anne McCallum is one of the very best traditional Irish set dance instructors. We are fortunate that she lives relatively close, in Windsor, Ontario, thus we have had several events with her in the past. She will be joining the other musicians on April 26 to offer a workshop and to lead the dancing after the concert.It is extremely rare that we have this caliber of musicians performing this type of authentic, traditional Irish music in northwest Ohio. So mark your calendar for this very special event. To view information about the concert on the web:http://toraigh.com/Bays_Marshall_Meenaghan_BowlingGreen.htmlTo download the flyer for printing:http://toraigh.com/Bays_Marshall_Meenaghan_BowlingGreen.pdfWorkshops 2:00-3:30pm:Traditional Irish fiddle: Randal BaysAccompanying traditional Irish music on guitar: Dave MarshallTraditional Irish sean nós singing: Aine MeenaghanTraditional Irish set dancing: Anne McCallumConcert beginning at 6:00pmDancing and traditional Irish music session to follow the concertConcert tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the doorConcert + workshop: $35Location: South Main Common Space Auditorium, 437 S. Main Street, Bowling Green, OHFor advance tickets PRIOR TO APRIL 17 send a check payable to Bob Midden to:549 Monroe Ct.Bowling Green OH 43402-1541For more information call 419/352-8050 or email bob@toraigh.comPlease help us spread the word - we hope that we can reach everyone who might be interested not only in northwest Ohio but also Ann Arbor, Detroit, Windsor, Cleveland, Fort Wayne and anywhere there are people who might enjoy the highest quality traditional Irish music.Best Regards,Bob Midden
---- Special Announcement ---- (from Bob Midden)
Come join us for an Irish Gathering, Ceili (party) and traditional Irish music session at the Southbriar Restaurant, 5147 Main Street, Sylvania on Sunday, April 5, 4-7pm. All are welcome to attend but we especially hope that members of the Toledo Hibernians and the Toledo Irish American Club will take advantage of this opportunity to gather, party, renew old acquaintances, and make new friends. There will be excellent Irish food for sale for about an hour starting at 5pm, as well as free music (a traditional Irish music session - musicians take note!) and traditional Irish set and step dancing for those who want to enjoy that. The menu is given belowThe restaurant also serves Guinness and other soft and hard drinks. This will be a family friendly atmosphere and we encourage bringing the WHOLE family. The restaurant will be open just for this party. The only cost will be for whatever food and beverages you choose to order.So come on out and bring your family and friends. If this goes well, we will do this on the first Sunday of every month on a regular basis. You want to be sure you’re there because you know your friends will be and you don’t want to miss out on having a great time with them.MenuIrish Seafood ChowderCream style filled with fish, clams, potatoes, onion and sweet corn Potato Bacon CakesPotatoes, scallions, milk and butter with sour cream. Chicken WingsServed plain or spiced with blue cheese and celery Cod Fish & ChipsAtlantic Cod fillets beer battered and deep fried golden brown with French fries and coleslaw Crab CakesLow country style accompaniedby Cajun remoulade and lemon Spinach Artichoke DipWarm and creamy topped with parmesan with fried tortillas Beer Battered VeggiesA seasonal blend of fresh veggies batter dipped and fried golden brown servedwith house made cocktail sauce Beef and Guinness StewWith onions, garlic, carrots and thyme.Bob Midden
A HUGE thank you to John Doyle and Liz Carroll for calling into my radio show today. They played a GREAT show at the Ark in Ann Arbor on Friday night. It was awesome. Here is John and I with a painting that my daughter did of John's daughter Rossasgh, dancing for her dad at last year's Cleveland Irish festival.Tomorrow John and Liz fly to Washington, D.C. to play at special reception for President Obama at the U.S. Capitol. And then John has to fly out right away to re-join the tour with Joan Baez.So again THANKS for taking the time to call my show today. I'll get it posted as an archive ASAP.
Incredible show at The Ark last Night with John Doyle and Liz Carroll. Very special guests included from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (on spring break the Berklee School in Boston) was Kimberley Fraser.But alas, our family fiddler couldn't be there because she was playing three small parts in her school's production of "Jekyl and Hyde."We'll all be going to see her tonight.
I have to post a complete concert review later, but for now, I just wanted to offer a big THANK YOU to Karan Casey and the lads from mighty, mighty Lúnasa for a fantastic show on Friday. And I want to give mad props to Michael Fuhrman, the director of the Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst College and to Ms. Bruce Parkhurst, the assistant director. The staging and production were fantastic. Great venue, great sound, wonderful lighting-- what an event.
This is from the indefatigable Bob Midden. More as we get into April:
I am very excited to announce a special event. On Sunday, April 26 we will be hosting workshops, a concert, dance, and a session with internationally renowned musicians, Randal Bays, Dave Marshall and Aine Meenaghan and famed set dance instructor, Anne McCallum.
Randal Bays and Dave Marshall are a fiddle & guitar duo that represent some of the very best in authentic traditional Irish music. Randal also happens to be one of the two organizers of the Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp that Mary and I are attending next week. You can find more information about Randal at his web site:
http://www.randalbays.com/
And hear examples of his seven CDs with various musicians on iTunes and CDBaby.com
Aine Meenaghan is considered by many to be an example of the very best traditional Irish sean nós singers. This is a unique and very special style of historically accurate, solo, unaccompanied singing that reaches back into the inner sanctum of Irish music history. If you have never heard this type of singing before this would be a perfect opportunity. Here is some information copied from Aine’s web site:
Heir to the archaic tradition of bardic poetry and song which declined with the demise of Gaelic civilization in the eighteenth century, it is sustained today by a unique cohort of singers in the Gaeltachtaí, or Irish speaking communities along the west coast of Ireland. It also enjoys prominence among Irish communities in the US, especially in Boston and Chicago, where it is patronized by immigrant communities from south Connemara.
A native of Muiceannach-idir-dhá-Sháile, Camus, Áine Meenaghan (nee Ní Dhonnchadha) began singing as a child and was strongly influenced by the singing of her grand father. Encouraged by her aunt, schoolteacher Treasa Uí Chartúir, she began to take an interest in sean nós and, at the age of eight, entered her first competition. During the 1970s, Áine or Nan Chamuis as she is known in Connemara, became a household name in the sean nós pantheon. She won the All-Ireland title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and in 1974 she won the coveted Corn Uí Riada at Oireachtas na Gaeilge, the highest honour awarded to a performer in Ireland. Since immigrating to Chicago, she has performed on many occasions with Martin Hayes and Randal Bays, and tours the festival circuit throughout the U.S. She's also taught at many music camps and has adjudicated a number of singing competitions. Her rendition of the poignant love song Bríd Thomáis Mhurchadha highlights the richness of her subtle and distinctive style.
Anne McCallum is one of the very best traditional Irish set dance instructors. We are fortunate that she lives relatively close, in Windsor, Ontario, thus we have had several events with her in the past. She will be joining the other musicians on April 26 to offer a workshop and to lead the dancing after the concert.
It is extremely rare that we have this caliber of musicians performing this type of authentic, traditional Irish music in northwest Ohio. So mark your calendar for this very special event.
To view information about the concert on the web:
http://toraigh.com/Bays_Marshall_Meenaghan_BowlingGreen.html
To download the flyer for pinting:
http://toraigh.com/Bays_Marshall_Meenaghan_BowlingGreen.pdf
Workshops 2:00-3:30pm:
Traditional Irish fiddle: Randal Bays
Accompanying traditional Irish music on guitar: Dave Marshall
Traditional irish sean nós singing: Aine Meenaghan
Traditional Irish set dancing: Anne McCallum
Concert beginning at 6:00pm
Dancing and traditional Irish music session to follow the concert
Concert tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Concert + workshop: $35
Location: South Main Common Space Auditorium, 437 S. Main Street, Bowling Green, OH
For advance tickets PRIOR TO APRIL 17 send a check payable to Bob Midden to:
549 Monroe Ct.
Bowling Green OH 43402-1541
For more information call 419/352-8050 or email bob@toraigh.com
Please help us spread the word - we hope that we can reach everyone who might be interested not only in northwest Ohio but also Ann Arbor, Detroit, Windsor, Cleveland, Fort Wayne and anywhere there are people who might enjoy the highest quality traditional irish music.
Best Regards,
Bob Midden
