Coming back to Ireland in June. Hoping there will be shows at that time, but I only see the one late in June. Any plans to add shows for early to mid June?
Looks like more stirring than dunking to me. I bet they’re lovely with coffee.
Anyone else like mcvities chocolate digestives. They’re my favourite.
I had another look at the planxty 2004 video, I thought I might be confusing myself, but it’s there I think https://youtu.be/Nt4ySrsBBSQ
It’s in the 3 reels that Liam plays
Jenny’s wedding, the Virginia and Garret Barry
From around 55:43 minutes on the YouTube video
There’s definitely a few switches between bodhran and keyboard there, am I looking at it wrong?
I guess you’re very versatile a d go with what you feel like?
Now and again a van appears in town here – packed with goodies from Ireland…music CDs are always worth a rummage, but the sights to stir the heart are – Mikado/ Kimberley/ Taytos/ mini bars of Cadbury choc..and the drink of the gods – red lemonade… hallelujah when the van lands…
You quoted from the gondoliers and it’s all still there, must have been buried pretty deep, I’d no idea. Here it is, newly emerged.
A wandering minstel I, a thing of shreds and patches
Of ballad songs and snatches and dreamy lullabies
My catalogue is long, through every passion ranging
And to your humours changing, I tune my subtle song
I rune my subtle song
I was surprised to find it still there.
Christy's reply
at 16 I sang Koko in The Mikado, at 17 Sir Despard in Ruddigore….cannot recall a single iota from the latter…..my heart was not in it….The Clancys were calling….I was focusing on C and G7
Hello Christy,
I’m so pleased to see the marquee in June up on the gig page. It’s looking very healthy on there.
Your patchworking with Walter Samuel must have used very fine stitching. The seams are invisible to me still. Maybe if I went all out to find them. That would be so sad tbough. Music is not about tearing things apart, is it.
There’s something similar on the planxty 2004 dvd. A song towards the end, can’t remember which one. You go between keyboard playing and bodhran nursing several times very quickly. When I noticed it it did my head in. The sound feels seamless. Could not get my head round the audio and video relationship. I think they must do it with mirrors.
I really get the exposed thing of solo performing. It was a big shock to me the first time. Hiding behind the harp and clinging onto it for dear life. It’s ok now. Your acapella stuff is brilliant. I love to watch what you do with your hands when they’re not busy with the guitar. The actor comes out to play.
The photos on Brian’s site are a treasure trove, for sure…many of my favourite musicians ( friends of yours) from a golden time.
I’ve just read a great piece on Billy Bragg – and his adapting ‘A New England’ for Kirsty MacColl. I play both of their music a lot. Always, sad to think of Kirsty being taken so young…
Dave
Christy's reply
Such a treasure trove you shared…..snapshots of Owen Hand, Mairtín Byrnes,Maggie Barry, Jeannie Richardson, Fred Jordan, Packie Manus Byrne,Gabe Sullivan, Watersons,Bert Lloyd,Bob Pegg, Ian Cambell to name just a few of those recalled…Cyril Tawney, Annie Briggs on and on it goes and I did not even reach the final page…..The McPeakes, The Ranters,Archie Fisher,Jimmy McGregor,
I spoke once to Kirsty on the phone, met Billy Bragg on a plane between Sydney & Perth…he invited me to sing at a protest he was supporting on a huge building site in West Australian back in the mid 80s….
Hi Christy,
Mick Blake has a brand new song on youtube, with an interesting story. He is so thpughtful in his music, a much under estimated talent.
So glad that great writers get to a wider audience when folks like you pick up one of their songs…like Oblivious.
I wish the world could hear his “another child, another war’.
Stay well
Rory
Christy's reply
Early Morning, The Black Lagoon:
I agree with you Rory….Mick Blake writes,sings and records vital songs….Thank You for sharing
http://www.brianshuel.co.uk in the ‘music’ section has a stellar collection of photos of folkies… I’ve just had a flick through the Margaret Barry selection (photos by John Harrison of The Watersons) – lots linked to the previous info about Bill Leader.
Brian’s site is intriguing… there’s a brew on now and I’m returning to it with a cuppa. I may be there some time…D
Christy's reply
just had a wee trip round the photos..so many old friends spotted along the way…many singers and players once encountered….Hamish, Ewan, Ralph, Watersons,Archie,Billy, Gerry, Martin…
the Bill Leader journals will be interesting…
Got a newsletter from Topic Records today. Always interesting, with today’s carrying lots of news about a bloke, much renowned in these parts – Bill Leader…
‘Sounding the Century’ is a planned 10 book set, packed full of Bill’s amazing career. Not discs as far as I can make out, but works compiled by Mike Butler. Volumes 1 and 2 released in April. Further info via http://www.soundingthecentury.com there might even be volumes about BL in Ireland…great work for you and Planxty…
Warming news on a cold, grey day.
Dave
Christy's reply
Went to Bill Leader’s in London in 1967….recorded 3 songs as an audition for Transatlantic Records ( Carnloch Bay, Once Had a Love and Curragh of Kildare)….Nat Joseph was not interested ….when Bill launched his own label he invited me to record an album….Thanks Be…working with Bill remains a cherished memory, 50 years on the album still resounds
Hello Christy,
It feels like we’re all starting to dream of travelling again on here.
In my dreams a posse of the Scottish and northerners contingent of the 4711ers rolls into Ireland. There are gigs all waiting. Its a good dream.
On a tree by a river a little Tom tit
Sang willow tit willow tit willow
And I said to him dicky bird why do you sit
Singing willow tit willow tit willow
Is it weakness of intellect birdie I cried
Or a rather tough worm in your little inside
With a shake of his poor little head he replied
Oh willow tit willow tit willow
Who’d have thought it would have stuck in my head all these years after the shoe box bass drum episode.
Your answer to Vincent’s question has me curious about unreleased material from the Live at the Point era (pretty sure it’s the mid 1990s album you refer to, as everyone in the country seems to have that one!).
There’s such a unique sound to that time, and particularly those Point gigs. I hear it in They Never Came Home from the Boxset too. A very clear, crisp sound, with just a single guitar and the One Voice. It would be very interesting to know if other material was recorded during those gigs but never (yet) released? Perhaps time for Box Set #2!?
Christy's reply
I enjoyed making that album in the 90s (“Live at The Point”) There were over 20 nights recorded at the Venue.That album was stitched together by Walter Samuel who worked with me on the project..first time I ever mixed music visually on a digital desk….verses from different nights were sometimes amalgamated…I dont think anyone has ever noticed..one song was patched in from 3 different nights recorded in different years…..
I have different ideas floating about recording but no plans at all…I’m more focused on performance at the moment as I find my way back into solo gigging…I was a bit shaky at first..I felt very exposed but, gradually, the solo mojo is re-emerging and I’m starting to enjoy the process…
Great memories of the Donegal gigs over the years….
Our first time to see you live was in the Highlands Hotel in Glenties , mid 80’s… around the time of Ride On…. you returned to Johnny Boyles a few years ago too…
There’s been gigs in Buncrana, Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Bundoran , Ballyshannon , Pettigo and Dunlewey at the foot of Mt Errigal….
Other towns and villages too before we joined the road show too of course….
Not a bit wonder there can be a bit of confusion betimes….. only thing I can suggest is to keep coming back to the Hills…. there are people dreaming…..
Hi Hilary and all, I must confess I’m admiring your memory banks… yours, Christy, seems to be outstanding. “Our” Bundoran was as far back as 2014, October, when my wife and I, our youngest daughter and good old friend Peter hit the West Coast coming over from Derry (yes, Rory, same way) for a Christy gig in the Great Northern that we all still vividly remember — the sea was rough, the Hotel’s charme of fading glory, the music just fantastic. We took a signed gig poster with us that day which still hangs here at our wall, so I can exactly tell the date 🙂
A detail that deeply impressed me that very day was how diligently the crew checked the sound and placed the chairs in the ballroom that afternoon… so that “for every listener it will be a delight“ as they told me when I snooped around in anticipation. Preparing the room for the gig seemed to be a passion to all of them, more than merely a job…. When you sang The Voyage for us that night, Christy, it took us away. And the sound was perfect 👍
Christy's reply
that Bundoran room has good energy…hope to get back there again….first played that town 50 years ago..I was in a Band called Planxty….my first visit to Germany that same year…discovering Schnappes, Apfelkorn, Eintopf & Strudel, every Autobahn had many Michael Schumachers
Hi.Rory & C that Bundoran gig was Oct 2019 I think…there was a fair gaggle.. off the top of my head..Marty n Ger..Patsy Mc C..I think maybe Traudel and Horst..maybe more Germans ..Dietmar ? Ellen and Bud from USA…I remember the shorts ! Beir bua agus beannacht.H
Christy's reply
I’m always getting my Bundoran mixed up with my Buncrana…when I read Great Northern I was brought back to reality….Letterkenny can confuse my memory Bank too..I gets my gigs mixed up when I ponders upon the North West….Dungloe and Dunfanaghy, Glenties and Gortahork, Pettigo and Raphoe,…there is something in the water up there that befuddles my Bog Memory Bank…
“as down the Foyle the waters boil
we’ll know the reason why”
………..(Johnny Moynihan, The Poisened Glen, 1979)
Hi Christy,
It was only about 4 years ago in Bundoran.
2 brothers in law and 3 sons.
A night in the Cathedral View BnB in the Bogside, another Derry historical walking tour with the son of one of the victims of the Bloody Sunday horror, a road treck to Bundoran with a treasured walk on the beach with son Charlie , a couple of pints in a Bundoran pub adorned with an array of republican memorabilia where charlie met and shared fags with a traveller lad who had come for a prize fight, a quick couple of euros lost in a puggie or slot machine on the same main drag, and off to the Great Northern for songs and stories , singalong and smiles ,before piling back into the car to Derry.
I was wearing my shorts though it was hardly summer, but the surfers were harder than me.
Regards
Rory
Hello Christy and All,
These days I’m learning learning learning how to be a folk singer so I’m very focused. I only listen to where I want to go and that includes gigs. Christy is it for me, there’s a couple of others but I don’t stray far. I only have so much time and I want to do this as well as I can.
A lot of my memories of gigs are of disasters when I was performing. Other are of singing. They linger the most.
Counting 300 bars to play one massive crash on an orchestral gong, then watching it jump off its harness, roll down the side of the stage, straight off the front and land on the very surprised front row.
Playing in front of the composer with the national youth wind orchestra when my tubular bells collapsed in a massive clanging mess and no one noticed. That was pretty humiliating.
Playing percussion in the mikado with a bass drum that sounded like a shoe box. Percussionists are expected to play whatever gear the company provides.
Early memories of singing are better.
Andrew Lloyd webber’s pie jesu when I was 14. The lead in the gondoliers at Bradford University. The curry houses round there are brilliant, I almost turned nocturnal.
Then a huge gap of wilderness ended by a harp that helped me get back into it.
So now it’s work work work, listening, exploring songs, and getting to know them. A few precious outings when I get to share them with other people.
I’ll stop rambling now. If you’re still reading I am very grateful.
As Rory referenced, it’s great to see your gig page is getting busy.
I haven’t played or attended a gig in 2 years +, but regularly trawl the memory banks…there’s a great collection there…folk/ rock and folk rock.
Played a few great kitchen gigs, loved the sweaty, packed Planxty gig, ditto you at ‘Slane’ House pub, late ’70s…taking my youngest son (at 16) to see an ace Oasis gig at Hull Arena (a boarded over ice rink)…hosting a gig at a local record shop for a Canadian friend http://www.lynnehanson.com she was a few hours off the plane from Canada, starting her first solo tour. No one in the audience knew her music, but she soon won them over…a lovely night – such a buzz.
Keep on truckin’, Christy – have a good day
Dave
Christy's reply
had some great nights in Suffragette City
MSG,St Clares, Crown & Anchor.. and out in the ‘burbs and satellites
Dear Christy,
Gigs , i note, are back on the horizon, good man.
The first i ever went to was Elvis Costello at Carlisle market hall.
The furthest afield was Francis Cabrel in Grenoble.
The biggest non-festival would have been Murrayfield for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers ( though the North of Ireland support band Ash were better).
The smallest was downstairs in Camden’s Green Note ( which holds 17 gig-goers) for a ragtime trio.
Youngest would be taking my then 10 year old son ( and his brother) to Gorillaz in Edinburgh.
Most recent David Keenan in a church in Glasgow.
Most intimate was having ex Love and Money front man James Grant do a house concert in my kitchen area.
Grandest setting was probably The Alexander Brothers at Thirlestane Castle,
and my favourite was probably seeing you in Bundoran after a stop over in Free Derry.
I think that all of us 4711ers love a gig, some may have memories also to share, perhaps you might too.
You are an absolute top man and i hope to see you performing soon…in the sweaty flesh.
Time to get up for a strong cup of black tea .
Rory
Christy's reply
Rory mo cara,
A truly remarkable Sunday Morning Reflection…
Happy to share with you:
After early years packed with family/school/social music, my first “real”gig was The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem,Olympia Theatre,Dublin, circa 1962
The most distant gig would be Mark Knobfler and Dire Straits in Exhibition Centre Sydney in mid ’80s
Biggest non-festival was Rinty Monaghan singing “Danny Boy” after winning a Stock-Car final in Shelbourne Park in 1957
Smallest may have been Ramblin’ Jack Elliot in Thomas St Dublin in 1976 or, perhaps,Derrol Adams in the Police Club Edingurgh in 1968,
Took our then 10 year old to The Prodigy circa ’92 (they were awesome)
I cant recall most recent…perhaps Peggy Seeger in The Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire with her Son Calum in 2019
Most intimate was Liam Óg O’Flynn and Paddy Glackin in Downings House Prosperous in 2004 ( same house we recorded the”Prosperous”album in 1971)
“Grandest” ? Depends on definition of the word
Favourite is very hard to decide:perhaps among the following;
Brian Wilson doing “Pet Sounds” in Dublin circa 2005
The Watersons in Pennine Folk Club,Hyde Chesire in 1967
The Humblebums in The Glasgow Folk Centre Montrose St in 1968
The Clancys and Tommy as above
Janis Ian at Vicar St Dublin 2011 (when did the encore accapella without the PA)
Otmar Arthur Remy in “Showboat”, The Curragh Camp, County Kildare, 1958
our Mother Nancy singing “Ave Maria” in Dominican Church Newbridge in 1954
Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill playing at Bantry Masters of Tradition
I’m curious as to which Bundoran gig you reference….I’ve played 4 or 5 different venues in the beautiful, ramshackle, sea side town….
Coming back to Ireland in June. Hoping there will be shows at that time, but I only see the one late in June. Any plans to add shows for early to mid June?
Hello Christy,
Looks like more stirring than dunking to me. I bet they’re lovely with coffee.
Anyone else like mcvities chocolate digestives. They’re my favourite.
I had another look at the planxty 2004 video, I thought I might be confusing myself, but it’s there I think
https://youtu.be/Nt4ySrsBBSQ
It’s in the 3 reels that Liam plays
Jenny’s wedding, the Virginia and Garret Barry
From around 55:43 minutes on the YouTube video
There’s definitely a few switches between bodhran and keyboard there, am I looking at it wrong?
I guess you’re very versatile a d go with what you feel like?
Rebecca
Good point, Christy
Now and again a van appears in town here – packed with goodies from Ireland…music CDs are always worth a rummage, but the sights to stir the heart are – Mikado/ Kimberley/ Taytos/ mini bars of Cadbury choc..and the drink of the gods – red lemonade… hallelujah when the van lands…
Back to photos and the first Planxty LP.
Have a good day
Dave
Oops, I think it’s the mikado
a remarkable biscuit, not suitable for dunking
You quoted from the gondoliers and it’s all still there, must have been buried pretty deep, I’d no idea. Here it is, newly emerged.
A wandering minstel I, a thing of shreds and patches
Of ballad songs and snatches and dreamy lullabies
My catalogue is long, through every passion ranging
And to your humours changing, I tune my subtle song
I rune my subtle song
I was surprised to find it still there.
at 16 I sang Koko in The Mikado, at 17 Sir Despard in Ruddigore….cannot recall a single iota from the latter…..my heart was not in it….The Clancys were calling….I was focusing on C and G7
Hello Christy,
I’m so pleased to see the marquee in June up on the gig page. It’s looking very healthy on there.
Your patchworking with Walter Samuel must have used very fine stitching. The seams are invisible to me still. Maybe if I went all out to find them. That would be so sad tbough. Music is not about tearing things apart, is it.
There’s something similar on the planxty 2004 dvd. A song towards the end, can’t remember which one. You go between keyboard playing and bodhran nursing several times very quickly. When I noticed it it did my head in. The sound feels seamless. Could not get my head round the audio and video relationship. I think they must do it with mirrors.
I really get the exposed thing of solo performing. It was a big shock to me the first time. Hiding behind the harp and clinging onto it for dear life. It’s ok now. Your acapella stuff is brilliant. I love to watch what you do with your hands when they’re not busy with the guitar. The actor comes out to play.
Rebecca
no patchwork in 2004….
Hi Christy
The photos on Brian’s site are a treasure trove, for sure…many of my favourite musicians ( friends of yours) from a golden time.
I’ve just read a great piece on Billy Bragg – and his adapting ‘A New England’ for Kirsty MacColl. I play both of their music a lot. Always, sad to think of Kirsty being taken so young…
Dave
Such a treasure trove you shared…..snapshots of Owen Hand, Mairtín Byrnes,Maggie Barry, Jeannie Richardson, Fred Jordan, Packie Manus Byrne,Gabe Sullivan, Watersons,Bert Lloyd,Bob Pegg, Ian Cambell to name just a few of those recalled…Cyril Tawney, Annie Briggs on and on it goes and I did not even reach the final page…..The McPeakes, The Ranters,Archie Fisher,Jimmy McGregor,
I spoke once to Kirsty on the phone, met Billy Bragg on a plane between Sydney & Perth…he invited me to sing at a protest he was supporting on a huge building site in West Australian back in the mid 80s….
Thanks for sharing Dave
Hi Christy,
Mick Blake has a brand new song on youtube, with an interesting story. He is so thpughtful in his music, a much under estimated talent.
So glad that great writers get to a wider audience when folks like you pick up one of their songs…like Oblivious.
I wish the world could hear his “another child, another war’.
Stay well
Rory
Early Morning, The Black Lagoon:
I agree with you Rory….Mick Blake writes,sings and records vital songs….Thank You for sharing
http://www.brianshuel.co.uk in the ‘music’ section has a stellar collection of photos of folkies… I’ve just had a flick through the Margaret Barry selection (photos by John Harrison of The Watersons) – lots linked to the previous info about Bill Leader.
Brian’s site is intriguing… there’s a brew on now and I’m returning to it with a cuppa. I may be there some time…D
just had a wee trip round the photos..so many old friends spotted along the way…many singers and players once encountered….Hamish, Ewan, Ralph, Watersons,Archie,Billy, Gerry, Martin…
the Bill Leader journals will be interesting…
Hi Christy
Got a newsletter from Topic Records today. Always interesting, with today’s carrying lots of news about a bloke, much renowned in these parts – Bill Leader…
‘Sounding the Century’ is a planned 10 book set, packed full of Bill’s amazing career. Not discs as far as I can make out, but works compiled by Mike Butler. Volumes 1 and 2 released in April. Further info via http://www.soundingthecentury.com there might even be volumes about BL in Ireland…great work for you and Planxty…
Warming news on a cold, grey day.
Dave
Went to Bill Leader’s in London in 1967….recorded 3 songs as an audition for Transatlantic Records ( Carnloch Bay, Once Had a Love and Curragh of Kildare)….Nat Joseph was not interested ….when Bill launched his own label he invited me to record an album….Thanks Be…working with Bill remains a cherished memory, 50 years on the album still resounds
Hello Christy,
It feels like we’re all starting to dream of travelling again on here.
In my dreams a posse of the Scottish and northerners contingent of the 4711ers rolls into Ireland. There are gigs all waiting. Its a good dream.
On a tree by a river a little Tom tit
Sang willow tit willow tit willow
And I said to him dicky bird why do you sit
Singing willow tit willow tit willow
Is it weakness of intellect birdie I cried
Or a rather tough worm in your little inside
With a shake of his poor little head he replied
Oh willow tit willow tit willow
Who’d have thought it would have stuck in my head all these years after the shoe box bass drum episode.
Rebecca
A wandering minstrel I
Hello Christy,
Your answer to Vincent’s question has me curious about unreleased material from the Live at the Point era (pretty sure it’s the mid 1990s album you refer to, as everyone in the country seems to have that one!).
There’s such a unique sound to that time, and particularly those Point gigs. I hear it in They Never Came Home from the Boxset too. A very clear, crisp sound, with just a single guitar and the One Voice. It would be very interesting to know if other material was recorded during those gigs but never (yet) released? Perhaps time for Box Set #2!?
I enjoyed making that album in the 90s (“Live at The Point”) There were over 20 nights recorded at the Venue.That album was stitched together by Walter Samuel who worked with me on the project..first time I ever mixed music visually on a digital desk….verses from different nights were sometimes amalgamated…I dont think anyone has ever noticed..one song was patched in from 3 different nights recorded in different years…..
I have different ideas floating about recording but no plans at all…I’m more focused on performance at the moment as I find my way back into solo gigging…I was a bit shaky at first..I felt very exposed but, gradually, the solo mojo is re-emerging and I’m starting to enjoy the process…
which one of your albums sold the most
“Live at The Point”
Great memories of the Donegal gigs over the years….
Our first time to see you live was in the Highlands Hotel in Glenties , mid 80’s… around the time of Ride On…. you returned to Johnny Boyles a few years ago too…
There’s been gigs in Buncrana, Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Bundoran , Ballyshannon , Pettigo and Dunlewey at the foot of Mt Errigal….
Other towns and villages too before we joined the road show too of course….
Not a bit wonder there can be a bit of confusion betimes….. only thing I can suggest is to keep coming back to the Hills…. there are people dreaming…..
lets do it Marty
Hi Hilary and all, I must confess I’m admiring your memory banks… yours, Christy, seems to be outstanding. “Our” Bundoran was as far back as 2014, October, when my wife and I, our youngest daughter and good old friend Peter hit the West Coast coming over from Derry (yes, Rory, same way) for a Christy gig in the Great Northern that we all still vividly remember — the sea was rough, the Hotel’s charme of fading glory, the music just fantastic. We took a signed gig poster with us that day which still hangs here at our wall, so I can exactly tell the date 🙂
A detail that deeply impressed me that very day was how diligently the crew checked the sound and placed the chairs in the ballroom that afternoon… so that “for every listener it will be a delight“ as they told me when I snooped around in anticipation. Preparing the room for the gig seemed to be a passion to all of them, more than merely a job…. When you sang The Voyage for us that night, Christy, it took us away. And the sound was perfect 👍
that Bundoran room has good energy…hope to get back there again….first played that town 50 years ago..I was in a Band called Planxty….my first visit to Germany that same year…discovering Schnappes, Apfelkorn, Eintopf & Strudel, every Autobahn had many Michael Schumachers
Hi.Rory & C that Bundoran gig was Oct 2019 I think…there was a fair gaggle.. off the top of my head..Marty n Ger..Patsy Mc C..I think maybe Traudel and Horst..maybe more Germans ..Dietmar ? Ellen and Bud from USA…I remember the shorts ! Beir bua agus beannacht.H
I’m always getting my Bundoran mixed up with my Buncrana…when I read Great Northern I was brought back to reality….Letterkenny can confuse my memory Bank too..I gets my gigs mixed up when I ponders upon the North West….Dungloe and Dunfanaghy, Glenties and Gortahork, Pettigo and Raphoe,…there is something in the water up there that befuddles my Bog Memory Bank…
“as down the Foyle the waters boil
we’ll know the reason why”
………..(Johnny Moynihan, The Poisened Glen, 1979)
Hi Christy,
It was only about 4 years ago in Bundoran.
2 brothers in law and 3 sons.
A night in the Cathedral View BnB in the Bogside, another Derry historical walking tour with the son of one of the victims of the Bloody Sunday horror, a road treck to Bundoran with a treasured walk on the beach with son Charlie , a couple of pints in a Bundoran pub adorned with an array of republican memorabilia where charlie met and shared fags with a traveller lad who had come for a prize fight, a quick couple of euros lost in a puggie or slot machine on the same main drag, and off to the Great Northern for songs and stories , singalong and smiles ,before piling back into the car to Derry.
I was wearing my shorts though it was hardly summer, but the surfers were harder than me.
Regards
Rory
its the legs that I remember
Hello Christy and All,
These days I’m learning learning learning how to be a folk singer so I’m very focused. I only listen to where I want to go and that includes gigs. Christy is it for me, there’s a couple of others but I don’t stray far. I only have so much time and I want to do this as well as I can.
A lot of my memories of gigs are of disasters when I was performing. Other are of singing. They linger the most.
Counting 300 bars to play one massive crash on an orchestral gong, then watching it jump off its harness, roll down the side of the stage, straight off the front and land on the very surprised front row.
Playing in front of the composer with the national youth wind orchestra when my tubular bells collapsed in a massive clanging mess and no one noticed. That was pretty humiliating.
Playing percussion in the mikado with a bass drum that sounded like a shoe box. Percussionists are expected to play whatever gear the company provides.
Early memories of singing are better.
Andrew Lloyd webber’s pie jesu when I was 14. The lead in the gondoliers at Bradford University. The curry houses round there are brilliant, I almost turned nocturnal.
Then a huge gap of wilderness ended by a harp that helped me get back into it.
So now it’s work work work, listening, exploring songs, and getting to know them. A few precious outings when I get to share them with other people.
I’ll stop rambling now. If you’re still reading I am very grateful.
Rebecca
Singing Willow ,Tit Willow, Tit Willow
Mornin’ Christy/all
As Rory referenced, it’s great to see your gig page is getting busy.
I haven’t played or attended a gig in 2 years +, but regularly trawl the memory banks…there’s a great collection there…folk/ rock and folk rock.
Played a few great kitchen gigs, loved the sweaty, packed Planxty gig, ditto you at ‘Slane’ House pub, late ’70s…taking my youngest son (at 16) to see an ace Oasis gig at Hull Arena (a boarded over ice rink)…hosting a gig at a local record shop for a Canadian friend http://www.lynnehanson.com she was a few hours off the plane from Canada, starting her first solo tour. No one in the audience knew her music, but she soon won them over…a lovely night – such a buzz.
Keep on truckin’, Christy – have a good day
Dave
had some great nights in Suffragette City
MSG,St Clares, Crown & Anchor.. and out in the ‘burbs and satellites
Dear Christy,
Gigs , i note, are back on the horizon, good man.
The first i ever went to was Elvis Costello at Carlisle market hall.
The furthest afield was Francis Cabrel in Grenoble.
The biggest non-festival would have been Murrayfield for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers ( though the North of Ireland support band Ash were better).
The smallest was downstairs in Camden’s Green Note ( which holds 17 gig-goers) for a ragtime trio.
Youngest would be taking my then 10 year old son ( and his brother) to Gorillaz in Edinburgh.
Most recent David Keenan in a church in Glasgow.
Most intimate was having ex Love and Money front man James Grant do a house concert in my kitchen area.
Grandest setting was probably The Alexander Brothers at Thirlestane Castle,
and my favourite was probably seeing you in Bundoran after a stop over in Free Derry.
I think that all of us 4711ers love a gig, some may have memories also to share, perhaps you might too.
You are an absolute top man and i hope to see you performing soon…in the sweaty flesh.
Time to get up for a strong cup of black tea .
Rory
Rory mo cara,
A truly remarkable Sunday Morning Reflection…
Happy to share with you:
After early years packed with family/school/social music, my first “real”gig was The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem,Olympia Theatre,Dublin, circa 1962
The most distant gig would be Mark Knobfler and Dire Straits in Exhibition Centre Sydney in mid ’80s
Biggest non-festival was Rinty Monaghan singing “Danny Boy” after winning a Stock-Car final in Shelbourne Park in 1957
Smallest may have been Ramblin’ Jack Elliot in Thomas St Dublin in 1976 or, perhaps,Derrol Adams in the Police Club Edingurgh in 1968,
Took our then 10 year old to The Prodigy circa ’92 (they were awesome)
I cant recall most recent…perhaps Peggy Seeger in The Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire with her Son Calum in 2019
Most intimate was Liam Óg O’Flynn and Paddy Glackin in Downings House Prosperous in 2004 ( same house we recorded the”Prosperous”album in 1971)
“Grandest” ? Depends on definition of the word
Favourite is very hard to decide:perhaps among the following;
Brian Wilson doing “Pet Sounds” in Dublin circa 2005
The Watersons in Pennine Folk Club,Hyde Chesire in 1967
The Humblebums in The Glasgow Folk Centre Montrose St in 1968
The Clancys and Tommy as above
Janis Ian at Vicar St Dublin 2011 (when did the encore accapella without the PA)
Otmar Arthur Remy in “Showboat”, The Curragh Camp, County Kildare, 1958
our Mother Nancy singing “Ave Maria” in Dominican Church Newbridge in 1954
Martin Hayes & Denis Cahill playing at Bantry Masters of Tradition
I’m curious as to which Bundoran gig you reference….I’ve played 4 or 5 different venues in the beautiful, ramshackle, sea side town….
Shine On Rory