Old News – February 2005
updated 24th feb 2005 – since Sept 2004
Well I have been pretty lazy of late writing news so I do apologise…
Where do I start – prob near where I left off after the end of Sept!! We had a quiet enough month in October with Salsa Celtica apart from a great gig at the new Eastgate Theatre which is absolutely beautiful and a joy to play in. We also played a small gig for Elle MacPherson and her pals in October too after which we had a loooong journey north to Tarland which resulted in a wonderful and exceptionally hospitable night from the locals.
Somewhere in all this I went home to Ireland for my brother’s engagement party and had a lovely night even getting in a tune with my grandmother Ethna Coyne on a banjo borrowed last minute form the great Dave Boyle who always gets the latest of calls and fields them with such aplomb.
November had also a bit of travelling; a great night with the Salsas at The Arches in Glasgow, and a trip to Northern Ireland for the Kelly (TV) Show and The Belfast Festival. I also did a couple of solo-type gigs; one at the Carrying Stream Festival in Edinburgh with Kris Drever (guitar and vocals) and Conrad Ivitsky (double bass), and one in Salisbury again with Kris.
At the end of November I filled in for the great John Martin with ‘Kevin MacLeod’s Springwell’ on St. Andrew’s night. I had a really enjoyable gig with Kevin MacLeod, Jack Evans and George Duff even though before the night itself it seemed I would never get to the end of all the new tunes and songs I had to learn!! I’m really lazy sometimes and they kept me on my toes!!
December was quieter with a cold cold gig on an OUTDOOR stage in Newcastle with the Salsas. It may have been cold but we had a good time and got everyone a groovin’. I had a great end of 2004 start of 2005 with Hogmanay at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh with Salsa Celtica and of course partied all night afterwards – no early next morning London flight this year.
January as always has Celtic Connections and this year was no exception and I met up and played once more with Alison Brown and her Quartet which included Andrea Zonn and John Doyle. I also played with John at his ‘solo’ gig. We had a couple of fantastic nights at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to capacity crowds with The Transatlantic Sessions led by Aly Bain. Others involved were, Mike McGoldrick, Donald Shaw, Karen Matheson, Donald Hay, Ivan Drever, Dick Gaughan, Maartin Allcock, and Americans, Alison Brown, Garry West, Bruce Molsky, Russ Barenburg, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Mindy Smith and Lex Price.
A couple of weeks later I teamed up with Mike McGoldrick again and we were joined by Ed Boyd and John-Joe Kelly for a great night in Leeds run by fiddle player Des Hurley.
Things are gearing up at the moment for the new Salsa Celtica recording and some unusually small gigs in line with that are happening late March at Henry’s Cellar Bar in Edinburgh so that should be enjoyable. Recording is planned for April/May.
[dotted_title title_text=”UPDATED”]Well I have been pretty lazy of late writing news so I do apologise…
Where do I start – prob near where I left off after the end of Sept!! We had a quiet enough month in October with Salsa Celtica apart from a great gig at the new Eastgate Theatre which is absolutely beautiful and a joy to play in. We also played a small gig for Elle MacPherson and her pals in October too after which we had a loooong journey north to Tarland which resulted in a wonderful and exceptionally hospitable night from the locals.
Somewhere in all this I went home to Ireland for my brother’s engagement party and had a lovely night even getting in a tune with my grandmother Ethna Coyne on a banjo borrowed last minute form the great Dave Boyle who always gets the latest of calls and fields them with such aplomb.
November had also a bit of traveling; a great night with the Salsas at The Arches in Glasgow, and a trip to Northern Ireland for the Kelly (TV) Show and The Belfast Festival. I also did a couple of solo-type gigs; one at the Carrying Stream Festival in Edinburgh with Kris Drever (guitar and vocals) and Conrad Ivitsky (double bass), and one in Salisbury again with Kris.
At the end of November I filled in for the great John Martin with ‘Kevin MacLeod’s Springwell’ on St. Andrew’s night. I had a really enjoyable gig with Kevin MacLeod, Jack Evans and George Duff even though before the night itself it seemed I would never get to the end of all the new tunes and songs I had to learn!! I’m really lazy sometimes and they kept me on my toes!!
December was quieter with a cold cold gig on an OUTDOOR stage in Newcastle with the Salsas. It may have been cold but we had a good time and got everyone a groovin’. I had a great end of 2004 start of 2005 with Hogmanay at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh with Salsa Celtica and of course partied all night afterwards – no early next morning London flight this year.
January as always has Celtic Connections and this year was no exception and I met up and played once more with Alison Brown and her Quartet which included Andrea Zonn and John Doyle. I also played with John at his ‘solo’ gig. We had a couple of fantastic nights at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to capacity crowds with The Transatlantic Sessions led by Aly Bain. Others involved were, Mike McGoldrick, Donald Shaw, Karen Matheson, Donald Hay, Ivan Drever, Dick Gaughan, Maartin Allcock, and Americans, Alison Brown, Garry West, Bruce Molsky, Russ Barenburg, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Mindy Smith and Lex Price.
A couple of weeks later I teamed up with Mike McGoldrick again and we were joined by Ed Boyd and John-Joe Kelly for a great night in Leeds run by fiddle player Des Hurley.
Things are gearing up at the moment for the new Salsa Celtica recording and some unusually small gigs in line with that are happening late March at Henry’s Cellar Bar in Edinburgh so that should be enjoyable. Recording is planned for April/May.
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We were all saddened by the news that Martyn Bennett died on 30th January 2005, following a long struggle with cancer. Our thoughts are with his family.
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I played with Salsa Celtica at the last night of Proms in the Park in Hyde Park, London on 11th Sept in front of 40,000 people. Also on the bill that night were The Corrs, Bjorn Again and the wonderful Evelyn Glennie. Terry Wogan was there to keep Steve Kettley of Salsa Celtica happy!! Following this was a quick visit to Italy again with Salsa Celtica which included a lovely diversion in the form of a fantastic meal and day in Venice on top of the gig in Vicenza.
Last weekend I was in Ireland at the wonderful Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival. I played at the first of these festivals in 2002. This year had the pioneering Earl Scruggs at the age of 80 playing his first gig in Ireland. What a coup for Chris and Kathy to bring him and his band over from the States for such an event. Other players at the festival included among a long list of banjo players and others, stateside visitors Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus with whom I enjoyed one heck of a banjo finale at the end of the last festival concert. Dirk and Casey Driessen and myself had a little bit of fun after that with a few corridor tunes. Mayo may have lost the All-Ireland football final that day to the dismay of many people passing through the town on their way home from Dublin that evening but banjo-mania continued long into the night in Longford. (My mother Mary wasn’t too pleased about the result of the football either and my Grandad Fleming would have banged his fist in resignment!!)
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Following on from the Salsa Celtica English tour was the Scottish tour!! Shetland and Orkney were mental affairs when the hospitality overflowed but that is not to say that the rest of Scotland didn’t live up to this. Suffice to say that a great time was had by one and all. This was the first extended tour that I did with ‘The Salsas’ and I came out smelling like a new pin!!
One of the many highlights of both tours had to be the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank where the band sold-out (as they did at many venues) and raised the roof with all 900 people dancing in their seats, aisles and anywhere else they got a chance to boogie. The Lino Rocha fan club was out in full force. view qeh photos
This followed a great night at the Inverness, Eden Court and preceeded another great night at Rothes Hall, Glenrothes. A lot of travelling for one small banjo player in a big Salsa band…
The Summer season is starting to hot up after some recent transatlantic and banjo gigs which you can read more about in the TOURING section. These involved a quick visit to the States for the 14th Annual Irish Connections Festival in Boston which had a stellar line-up. After this a weekend at the Bath Banjo Festival made for a welcoming return to this part of the world.
Salsa Celtica are about to begin a string of dates which include; Hitchin; the National Theatre, South Bank, London; Belgium; The Skye World Music Festival; Loch Lomond; The Latin Quarter Festival, Dublin when Éamonn gets a chance to play at home in Ireland for the first time with Salsa Celtica; The Edinburgh Jazz Festival; Forfar; Aberdour; the Celtic Fusion Festival in Castlewellan, Northern Ireland; before two gigs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Spiegeltent.
Along the way there are some solo banjo-type gigs which keeps the diddley soul happy!!
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I have just finished the English tour with Salsa Celtica taking in Chichester, Milton Keynes, St Helens, Hebden Bridge, Liverpool, Colchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Leicester and a session for the Andy Kershaw radio show recorded on St Patrick’s Day for BBC Radio 3 at Maida Vale Studios London which airs Sunday 4th April.
Another visit to London is planed for 16th April when Salsa Celtica play at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank as part of the La Linea festival which has acts such as the great Eddie Palmieri, Omara Portuondo (the first lady of the Buena Vista Social Club) and Calexico among this years lineup.
This date comes towards the end of an extensive Scottish tour which started with The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh last Thursday and finishes in The Cottier Theatre, Glasgow via among other places, the North Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Other stops include Findhorn, Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William, Oban, Glenrothes.
This will see me into May when more Salsa Celtica dates are planned. Check out the gigs page for further info.
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At first glance my Celtic Connections 2004 seemed quiet but three gigs with Salsa Celtica – including a TV gig for BBC4 and TG4 (in Ireland) – and three gigs with Alison Brown Quartet (which was actually a quintet this year with special guest Andrea Zonn on fiddle and vocals) made for quite a busy festival.
Along with Dermot Byrne and John Blake we had a sell-out gig in Carlow in Ireland on 6th Feb (well sold out based on a comment by John – ‘when the shadow of the front row covers your set list you know the place is well packed’). Thanks to Ger, Dave and Michelle for a great time.
Things are now gearing up for a few busy months ahead with Salsa Celtica who I tour England and Scotland with in March and April. Then follows a busy Summer; check listings for details etc.
Check out the touring section for photos and info of past gigs. This section is also updated periodically.
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I performed on ‘Traveling Folk’ with Archie Fisher on Thursday 21st November for BBC Radio Scotland; interview and music with the wonderful Kris Drever. Listen to this show online at the BBC Radio Scotland ‘Traveling Folk’ site by clicking on the ‘Listen Again’ link.
I am featured on tradmusic.com Q&A interview section this month. Click here to read what he had to say about his music and influences.
Don’t forget the gig with Mike McGoldrick, Kris Drever and Aaron Jones at the UK’s best folk Club – BBC Radio 2 2003 Folk awards voted – the Edinburgh Folk Club, The Pleasance, on Nov 26th.
Also check out BBC Radio Scotland on Tues 9th December for the Celtic Connections’ live celebration of Radio Scotland’s 25th Anniversary. This live performance from the Paisley Abbey will feature Salsa Celtica (who I am playing with) and Irish band Kila. It should be some celebration so come along if you can or tune in if you can’t!! This show will also be available on-line, again from the Radio Scotland site on the Celtic Connections page.
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We record Irish TV Show ‘Geantraí’ for the Irish language station TG4 on 23rd October. Geantraí is on location in Glasgow, Scotland after doing another on-location in Manchester two nights previous. Check back to gigs page to see location of recording which is located in a Glasgow pub.
On the Halloween weekend I will play at the internationally renowned Return to Camden Town Festival in London, now in its 5th year.
fRoots magazine described last years festival…
‘Ambitious programming, accomplished musicianship, expert teaching and skilful organisation were the keys to this year’s huge success. Long may RtCT thrive!’
Fellow ‘Through the Round Window’ musicians Dermot Byrne of Altan and Tom Morrow of Dervish, along with renowned multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Garry O’Briain will join me at the festival to play at the London Irish Centre on 31st October. Other musicians on the night include Johnny Connolly and Charlie Lennon.
I will also do a banjo workshop at the festival on Sat 1st Nov.
Just confirmed for New Year, I will play with Salsa Celtica at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland. Shooglenifty will also play on the night with Salsa Celtica closing the Hogmanay party festivities.
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The summer has included visits to Holland, Italy, Germany, England, Ireland and of course home in Scotland on the odd occasion.
A brief visit to England with the extraordinary talents of Michael McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly, Kris Drever and John-Joe Kelly was a feast of music and band member meetings. Following this was a big night of music in Irish-Manchester, a gig with all of the above plus Ewan Vernal and Tim Edey and other special guests including wonderful tin whistle player Grace Kelly and Michael’s niece.
In August I toured in Ireland as a guest with the Alison Brown Quartet getting to spend some more time with the great people in this band. Including the ever growing Hannah, Gary and Alison’s 13 month old daughter, who learnt to walk in Ireland and walked out onto the huge National Concert Hall stage in Dublin clapping back at the rapturous crowd as she arrived and waving as she said goodbye. A star in the making no doubt!!
During the fabulous Edinburgh Festival I played two sellout gigs with Salsa Celtica at The Queen’s Hall and The Famous Speigeltent and am due to play the final night of the festival (before the fireworks) at the reknowed Folk at the Oak series in Edinburgh’s own Royal Oak.
I am due to do some trio gigs with Fine Friday’s Kris Drever and Dervish’s Tom Morrow in early September.
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I am to play the Galway Arts Festival on Saturday July 19th.
I am working on and off with Salsa Celtica over the Summer months having recently played the “Burns an’ a’ that!” Festival in Ayr on May 11th.
Also, another trip to Ireland with the fabulous Alison Brown Quartet is planned for August.
Now buy both ‘through the round window’ and Russell’s House cd ‘Russell’s House’ on this site using ‘PayPal’.
See pictures with Salsa Celtica at the Queen’s Hall on Friday 7th March.
Check out the recent review of ‘ttrw’ in FRoots.
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Over three weekends at Celtic Connections 2003 I played with the Alison Brown Quartet at the Fruitmarket, Salsa Celtica at the Barrowlands, and Eddi Reader (for ‘Hummingbird’ at both the Fruitmarket, along with ABQ, and at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall, along with her big band and the RNSO). I also made late night appearences with Dervish, Danú and with Mike McGoldrick’s big band on the closing night.
I have recently been working with Salsa Celtica on their new cd ‘El Agua de la Vida’ (see review). I have co-written a track on the cd with trumpet player Toby Shippey producing a type of Colombian dance/tune called a cumbia – with tenor banjo. We recorded this in early December.
I recently did an interview with Áine Hensey on Sunday 5th January on RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland, for the programme ‘The Late Session’.
And also did ‘Traveling Folk’ with Archie Fisher on Thursday 9th January for BBC Radio Scotland; interview and music with the wonderful Kris Drever.
Both these shows are available on-line at the relevant sites (given above) for a limited period.
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