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Let the music play
 Patrick
O’Dea
Born in Quilty, Co. Clare, Patrick and his family moved to Enfield in
north London when he was two years old.
He began dancing at the age of five when he attended a workshop given
by Joe and Siobhán O’Donovan in Camden Town.
He immediately loved the exhilaration of learning new steps and continued
to learn from them and also from Mick and Breda O’Donovan. When
just turned 14, Patrick took over the weekly set dancing class in Greenwich
where he astonished the adult class not only with his encyclopaedic knowledge
of the sets and the artistry of his footwork but also with his erudite
and lucid teaching style. Now established as one of the leading experts
in traditional Irish dancing, Patrick teaches throughout North America
and Europe. It is a great pleasure to welcome him back to Camden, where
it all started for him, and this is an opportunity not to be missed by
those who, while they may have been dancing for some years, have yet to
see a real dancing master at work.
Le Cheile
The 1960s and ’70s were golden years for traditional Irish music
in London when musicians played before packed audiences and sparked the
revival which went on to spread back home and around the globe. Among
them were the gifted players who formed the iconic band Le Cheile in The
White Hart on Fulham Broadway. A vibrant cult scene built up there and
at one time they were playing five-nights-a-week plus Sunday mornings,
with the band all employed in various formations to keep the joint rocking.
Le Cheile produced some of the most memorable recordings of the time under
the guidance of the great Brendan Mulkere and one of those, the stunning
1970s album Lord Mayo, was reissued on CD in 2006. To coincide with that
release the band was finally reunited. Master fiddler Danny Meehan, Liam
Farrell (banjo), John Roe (piano) and Kevin Boyle (guitar), were joined
by new recruits flautist Paul Gallagher and box wizard Andy Martyn who
are both well-known to London audiences. On a phenomenal launch night
the magical memories flowed as the boys rolled back the years, this time
bringing powerful new momentum to the revivalist movement within Irish
music today. This appearance at the Return to Camden Town Festival brings
their exciting new big band mix of back to basics traditional music from
Donegal and Galway and the vocals of the four original members is a show
not to be missed.
Finbarr Dwyer
Finbarr Dwyer, a member of an exceptional music dynasty from the Beara
peninsula in Co. Cork, and a recently returned exile, is a virtuoso accordion
player and multi-instrumentalist. He is generally regarded as one of the
most important composers of Irish traditional music of the modern era.
Finbarr moved to England in 1966 and became part of the vibrant Irish
music scene in Camden Town. He is particularly remembered for his regular
sessions at the Camden Stores and Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell, John Bowe,
Bobby Casey and Máirtín Byrnes are just some of the great
friends he made during that period. In 1988 he stopped playing music and
it is only recently that he has begun playing and performing again. Now
living back in Ireland, his flowing and inventive style is in great demand
and his playing is better than ever. Finbarr has over 30 compositions
to his name and although he has never published his tunes, many have become
part of the repertoire and can be heard in sessions and on numerous recordings.
Adrian Burns
Adrian Burns is a singer/guitarist and songwriter from Cricklewood in
London. He grew up playing traditional Irish music on flute, bouzouki
and guitar and was a regular contributor to sessions and gigs in Britain
and Ireland throughout his teens. In 1986 he met his future wife, violinist
Noreen Cullen and since then they have performed over 2000 gigs including
appearances on BBC1, Channel 4, RTE, and GLR. They have played Sydney
Opera House with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, completed a 3-month
stint at the Barbican with the Royal Shakespeare Company and have toured
with the Irish Folk-Ballet Company in places such as Scandinavia, Bahrain
and even Agia Napa!
Finbarr Dwyer and Adrian Burns
Joe Burke, Brian Conway and Felix Dolan
In 1965 Andy McGann, together with two good friends and musicians Joe
Burke and Felix Dolan, recorded the album A Tribute To Michael Coleman.
More than 40 years later in Chicago, Joe Burke, Felix Dolan and Brian
Conway performed together in a concert titled A Tribute to Andy McGann,
honouring a great musician and friend who had passed away in 2004. Four
tracks recorded live at that concert formed the starting point for the
CD A Tribute To Andy McGann which commemorates and celebrates his life.
Joe Burke is among the greatest exponents of traditional Irish music.
Originally from East Galway, Joe’s music has taken him from country
halls and pubs in rural Ireland to the world’s most prestigious
concert halls. His live performances as well as his charm and wit have
made him a favourite with all lovers of Irish music. Joe’s recording
career has spanned five decades and all formats from 78s to CDs. As well
as his classic solo albums he has recorded with many musical greats including
Sean Maguire, Charlie Lennon, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Burke. www.joeburkemusic.com
Now living in New York, Felix Dolan is a name synonymous with the very
best in keyboard accompaniment. His wide knowledge of traditional tunes
and understanding of how they should be played has made him one of the
most sought-after accompanists. Over the last 50 years he has accompanied
many musical greats in concert including Paddy Killoran, Sean McGuire,
Paddy O’Brien, Larry Redican, Paddy Sweeney and Martin Wynne. He
has made numerous recordings, played at most of the Irish festivals, toured
with the American Masters of Celtic Music and played twice for the President
at the White House.
New York born and bred, Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the highly
ornamented Sligo style made famous by Michael Coleman. Twice Junior All
Ireland winner and Senior Champion in 1986, Brian was initially taught
by his father Jim from Co. Tyrone and Limerick born Michael Mulvihill.
It was composer fiddler Martin Wynne however, who passed on the secrets
of Sligo playing and Brian’s friendship later with Andy McGann further
influenced his style. One of the mainstays of the New York traditional
music scene, Brian’s first solo album First Through The Gate was
met with critical acclaim.
Teada
Frequent headline performances by Teada at major music festivals throughout
the US, Canada, Europe, Israel and Australia have seen Irish Music Magazine’s
Best Traditional Newcomers 2003 evolve into one of the busiest Irish touring
acts worldwide with an established reputation for a knock-out live show.
Last year saw the band launch a hugely successful CD/DVD Inne Amarach
which went on to become The Irish Times CD of the Week. Recent performances
have ranged from a 30,000 audience headlining appearance alongside Carlos
Nunez in Brittany, to closer to home Irish festivals such as Kilkenny
Arts Festival.
Founded by Sligo fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada, Teada first came together
in 2001 to make an appearance on the innovative Irish television series
Flosc. The young musicians shared a passion for a deeply traditional approach
and following an initial gig opening for the Sharon Shannon band at Dublins
Celtic Flame festival, Teada was off and running. A self titled debut
CD in 2002 brought popular and critical raves, with The Irish Times applauding
the band for keeping the traditional flag flying at full mast.
Oisin is joined by Sean McElwain from Monaghan on banjo and bouzouki,
Co. Laois accordion player Paul Finn, Damien Stenson from Sligo on flute
and Dubliner Tristan Rosenstock on bodhran.
Most of the groups members grew up in rural Ireland, assimilating the
tradition through local classes and by listening to older musicians. With
Teada, the group strives to capture some of the rawness and individuality
of the solo artist within a modern group context. |
