Irish music
Irish artists, instruments, concerts and songwriter nights.
Spring is a Lovely Time to Visit Dublin
Do you think Spring Break is just a thing American students use an excuse to party in tropical locations? Think again! Spring Break is a very good opportunity for European students to travel as well.
Ireland's Electric Picnic on "Best Musical Festivals in Europe" List
The Electric Picnic music festival in Stradbally, Ireland has made the TimesOnline 's list of "Europe's 20 best summer music festivals," so we thought we'd take a moment to tell you about the…
Mundy and Me
Yep, that's me playing mandolin onstage with Mundy. The Sarah Ryan benefit concert was a resounding success - the proceeds were enough that our favourite 6-year-old will be heading to the U.S.
Kerbside to play with Mundy!
Yes indeed, we just got the call a couple of days ago that they needed one more act for the charity gig for Sarah Ryan with Mundy on September 2nd here in Athlone !
Mundy plays charity concert in Athlone
A good friend of mine gave me a shout yesterday to ask if I would mention a charity concert she's arranging for Sarah Ryan, a handicapped girl from Birr she works with.
Fund-raiser for the Athlone School of Music
As anyone who was in the Palace Friday night can tell you - there is a whole lot of music to be had here in Athlone town.
Kerbside at the Passion Lounge
You may recall that last month we ( Kerbside , that is) played a show in Tullamore at a monthly event called The Passion Lounge Sessions .
5 Finger Discount at the Stables in Mullingar
So, last night the bean and I in our capacity as Five Finger Discount packed up the wagon and headed out to The Stables in Mullingar to play an evening of music.
The Fabulous Bonker Boys
One of my initial firsthand impressions of Ireland and her music scene was attending some Fabulous Bonker Boys shows.
Kerbside in the Castle
This past Saturday I think I had one of the most exhilarating musical experiences of my life. Just look at the schoolmaster and I and all the RAWK in the picture to your left there - awesome.
Filmore East rocks Athlone Castle
They might not have been the band listed on the tickets. They might not have been able to start playing as early as advertised, but last night Filmore East, a Moate-based blues/rock band took to the…
Californian dialect for the Irish masses
Yes, I've been quoted in a local paper using the word "stoked." I guess it just shows you can take the boy out of California but you can't take the California out of the boy.
Kerbside on the radio
Yes, the Athlone Castle gig and the triathlone are this weekend and the midlands are a-buzz with anticipation.
Irish Instrument of the week - the bones
This week's instrument is the bones. Exactly like they sound - the bones are two bones (usually the rib or lower leg bones of a goat) held in the hand and played to percussive effect.
Irish Artist - My Fallen Empire
Ireland isn’t a big place. Nevertheless, Irish artists have always had a huge presence on the international charts.
John Joe Kelly - Bodhran player from Flook
Now, while that video is mainly all about the Uilleann pipes, the Bodhran player there - John Joe Kelly from Flook - is the one I WANTED to post on, but the "embed video" feature was disabled.
Irish Instrument of the week - Irish Flute
This week's instrument is the Irish flute. The picture to the left there was taken at the Sean's Bar sunday session while a very patient damsel awaited my photographic portrait of her instruments…
Hardy's farewell party
Once in a while you come across a person who seems so intrinsically a part of someplace that you almost can't imagine it without them.
Hickory Wind debuts in Sean's Bar
Hold onto your hats kids, there's a new band in town and they smell of . . . what is that, musty old Alabama cherrywood trunks filled with moth-eaten gowns and half-painted, hand-carved wooden toys…
Irish instrument of the week
This week's Irish instrument is the whistle. Called the "Irish whistle," "tin whistle," "penny whistle," or, as gaeilge, feadog , these whistles are present at most Irish traditional sessions,…
Kerbside at The Passion Lounge
There's a great thing happening down in Tullamore once a month called The Passion Lounge Sessions .
Irish instrument of the week - Uilleann pipes
This week's Irish instrument is the Uilleann Pipes. Pronounced "ILL-ehn," the name of the pipes comes from the Irish word for elbow - uílleann .
Christy Moore and Shane McGowan
Legends:
Irish instrument of the week - bouzouki
This week's Irish instrument is the Irish bouzouki. "Bouzouki?" , you may be asking, "is that an Irish word?" No, it's not. The bouzouki is actually a Greek instrument.
Irish instrument of the week - bodhrán
Seeing as the last couple of posts have involved the Irish drum, I thought I would start a series on Irish instruments here with a piece on noble Irish bodhrán.
Christy Moore plays Athlone
Yes folks, the legend himself came to the Athlone Radisson Hotel last week. He joked that the last gig was in the Dean Crowe theatre and the one before that in the old Ritz Cinema (demolished years…
2007 Midland Songwriter Night
So everyone wants to know how the songwriter night went. I believe the evening was a great success. Here's what my day was like: 6am: the munchkin is awake early and her cries sound . . . different.
Irish Artist - Jimi Cullen
It may be a diminutive aspect of Europe’s geography with a population barely topping four million, but Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and…
Robert Blake plays the Shack in Athlone
Excuse me - Robert Sarazin Blake (those cursed tabloids!). You'll remember my recent post on Robert Blake's Bog Lane show , but Mr Blake is 2/3 of the way through his Irish tour at this point and…
David Kitt in Ballymahon
I must be just about the only person in Ireland who didn't know who David Kitt was.
Robert Sarazin Blake in Ballymahon
Hailing from the most northwest corner of the most northwest city in the most northwest state in the lower 48 United States, he comes once, maaaybe twice a year to Ireland: a troubadour lugging a…
La barra mas vieja en todo el mundo
The Easter Sunday session in Sean's Bar was a lively one all right. We had a number of visitors in the place, but the most far-flung had to be the two gentlemen on the left there.
Irish Artist - Agitated Radio Pilot
In about three hours, you can take a train across the entire width of Ireland. And yet, for such a small place, Ireland looms large on the world stage in terms of its music.
songwriter.ie Midland Songwriter Concert announced
It's the time of year again, folks! The 2007 Midland Songwriter Night is set for the end of this month, 29th of April here in Athlone.
Irish Artist - The Chieftans
Among the English-speaking nations of the world, Ireland may be geographically small, but in terms of her impact on international music, she stands tall indeed.
Irish Artist - Bill Coleman
Called the land of saints and scholars, Ireland also has cradled a huge number of poets and songsmiths in her emerald arms.
Irish Artist - The Saw Doctors
Ireland isn't a big place. Nevertheless, Irish artists have always had a huge presence on the international charts.
Irish Artist - Christy Moore
It may be a diminutive aspect of Europe’s geography with a population barely topping four million, but Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and…
Gareth Pearson plays Athlone
So there it was, Valentine's Day and wifey a couple of thousand miles away. Not to fear, faithful readers, I was there, pint in hand, in good company among the other bachelors at the Gareth Pearson…
New culinary kid in town
Happy Valentines, everyone! So I was walking into town yesterday evening when I saw the windows above River S were lit up.
Irish Artist - Colm Lynch
For such a small country, Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and bands.
Moonshine in Ballymahon
"We call it 'old-timey' music . . . although I suppose it's pretty new compared to the Irish stuff." Thusly did Moonshine introduce its style of americana-meets-trad-and-bluegrass to a small audience…
Irish Artist - Snow Patrol
It may be a diminutive aspect of Europe’s geography with a population barely topping four million, but Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and…
Irish Artist - Mundy
In about three hours, you can take a train across the entire width of Ireland. And yet, for such a small place, Ireland looms large on the world stage in terms of its music.
Songwriter CD release night
Last night was the release night for the 2006 Songwriters CD and The Shack was the place to be. We had all but two of our songwriters with us on the night, plus the regular Tuesday crew.
Irish Artist - Makewait
Among the English-speaking nations of the world, Ireland may be geographically small, but in terms of her impact on international music, she stands tall indeed.
Songwriter.ie - Irish songwriters in the midlands
I have been incredibly fortunate in moving to Ireland and, particularly, Athlone, in that I've found myself in the smouldering heart of a breathtakingly talented musical community.
Irish Artist - Guggenheim Grotto
Called the land of saints and scholars, Ireland also has cradled a huge number of poets and songsmiths in her emerald arms.
Irish Artist - Pete Courtney
Ireland isn't a big place. Nevertheless, Irish artists have always had a huge presence on the international charts.
Michael Vignoles, Irish instrument maker
Below is a video I shot a few years ago when I went to get a bodhran in Galway. Wifey and Aubie were with me at the time.
Irish Artist - The Frames
For such a small country, Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and bands.
Irish Artist - Lunasa
It may be a diminutive aspect of Europe's geography with a population barely topping four million, but Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and…
Last Brideswell Session of the Year
The year draws to a close and the last Brideswell session of 2006 gathers up its skirts for one last hurrah.
Irish Artist - Mic Christopher
For such a small country, Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and bands.
Amber Moon's Sunday in Sean's
Amber Moon took up their Sunday residency in Sean's Bar with some zeal this weekend. It's always good for a traditional session when new players join in and add their two cents.
Irish Artist - Damien Rice
For such a small country, Ireland has a ridiculously disproportionate number of internationally famous musicians and bands.
Rockin' out in River S
So this Wednesday I heard there was a good jam session down in River S . Anticipating a bunch of lads sitting around the table, I grabbed the bodhran and acoustic and headed down to the pub.
Johnny Cash's legend lives on in Ireland
One of the things that caught me by surprise when we moved to Ireland was the Irish predilection for country music. I mean, there are American country music format radio stations in this country.
Banjolin
I have seen my share of strange instruments. I've even seen something similar to the instrument there on the left (if you must know, the closest thing to it was a custom-made, 8-stringed instrument…
Amber Moon
Sean's Bar this saturday saw a new band taking the afternoon traditional Irish slot, Amber Moon.
Sofa King Cool
This band has the best name of any rock band ever. I just simply can't believe no one has used it before. Sofa King Cool is the name - and if you don't get the joke yet . . . well, what can I say.
Jackson sighting confirmed
Oh, it's true. Back in October I mentioned that Michael Jackson was in town and the US show Access Hollywood has just released an interview they shot with the king of pop in Grouse Lodge studios ,…
Murphy's Live festival
Above you see The Blizzards , a local band from Mullingar making good. They are performing the headlining slot at the Murphy's Live 2007 contest showcase in Cork next year.
Music in the dark
Sometimes I just love this country. Last night I was down at Sean's Bar loading some musical gear into the pub when the lights flickered . . . and went out.
Podge and Rodge's Halloween song
I mentioned Podge and Rodge a few days ago , but I was listening to the radio today and heard Fester and Ailin's hilarious Halloween song called, "Never Shove a Banger Up Your Arse on Halloween" .
Michael Jackson in Westmeath?
So I picked up one of the local papers and the front page states that "sources" have revealed that Michael Jackson is recording his next album here in Ireland at Grouse Lodge Studios .
Roisin Dubh
It was a wet one last night. At the end of the slick roads we drove last night was Galway and The Roisin Dubh .
Bill Coleman and Kerbside at the Roisin Dubh tonight!!
I woke this morning with a buzz in my brain. Tonight we're playing The Roisin Dubh (pronounced "ROE-sheen duhv") in Galway with Bill Coleman .
Bill Coleman plays The Shack
I seem to be turning into a sound engineer. For the second time in recent months I found myself on the opposite end of performance, working the desk at Bill Coleman's show in the Shack this past…
Deadly Dempsey
Damien Dempsey is the kind of guy you see headlining at major festivals. He has a big, husky Dublin-drenched voice that functions with such power it makes you wonder if he actually needs a…
Damien Dempsey Tonight!
So I play a bit of music myself . Like most musicians, I've amassed the necessary equipment with which to carry out a successful show.
Flannery's
So this evening I headed out to Flannery's for the Saturday session. The roads were wet with rain and the streets were full of celebratory Junior Certs in search of The Pub That Does Not Check For…
Ginger Craíc
Well, last night was the Shack session. Oh, the pints and tunes and mayhem. We've been running the "modern" session out in the Shack on tuesdays for the last year when it moved from Sundays, where it…