Hi Iris. I was there. Sorry I didn't stop by to say, "Hi!"
The highlight for me was the Wednesday night session at McKenna's -- led by Mary Begin, Jackie Daly, Edel Fox, Patrick Ourceau, and Blackie (dunno his last name, uillean piper).
Oh Great Donough, we'll do dueling guitar tunes next year? It'll be great to meet you finally after all those guitar discussions!
I am so tired right now I barely remember where I was on what nights. Great fun every night. I was awed by both Eileen Gannon and Michael Rooney on harp...different styles but loved both. And Blackie is an amazing piper, I played with him and Matt Cranitch an hour or so on harp in the Furlong's tent one afternoon, which was heavenly. Playing with Matt, Jackie and Paul DeGrae at McGrath's was super fun too.
I think I played harp more than guitar this year. The harper's session was really nice as well. The only rough part of the week was lugging both guitar and harp around, I need a roadie! Many helpers would appear though when I was collapsing under the weight of both instruments. Later in the week it would be one or the other instrument, not both. Even though this was the smaller of my harps, it is still about 17 pounds in the case, and then the stand weighs some too. I stare with envy at whistle players.
The only downside to the sessions was not being able to be in all the places that were running simultaneously. Sometimes it was a very hard choice to figure out which session to attend since they were all so good.
Also nice to see your Catskills friends you ONLY see there. The time seems so short somehow, it flies by.
And I lied... about work... told customers I was not coming back until the end of THIS week.... need to catch up on sleep big time! So I'd better not answer the phone or anything!
I was there and took Matt Cranitch's class. I went to the concerts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and the festival on Saturday. They were all fantastic! I wish I remembered the dancer's name that was from Canada. He was amazing. I'd be in the hospital if I tried that.
The set by Matt Cranitch and Jack Daley on Saturday was brilliant, but so were so many other performances. I love the joy in the faces of the Kane sisters.
My wife couldn't come this year, so my playing was limited with having my 7 year old daughter, but she had a grand time at the Children's program, and was well behaved at the concerts.
Looking forward to next year already and have the reservations already made at Gavins.
I went! Took a class from Yvonne Kane. Highlights were Eileen O'brien, Matt and Jackie, The New Broom Release at Bernie O's, actually being half able to keep up in open sessions, and strangely enough the Mass Saturday night with Father Charlie. Eileen played fiddle, and I was in hysterics at the sermon. No miserable hot weather this year was nice too.
Donough.... maybe we can organize a little DADGAD/ Dropped D Fingerstyle Tunes session for an hour one afternoon, along the lines of the Harpers Session. If no particular place can be arranged, maybe in someone's room or a porch somewhere or in a field. We can go round robin, each doing tunes in turn, and others can join if they know them, or even back them up if not known as a tune.
It would be nice, since this type music is rarely represented in the regular sessions just due to the nature of it, it would get lost among louder instruments, and often requires awkward retuning back and forth etc. We could toss around ideas and theories too on playing, or tips for speed and agility etc.
Even if it doesn't happen, we should try for a few tunes when we meet up!
The Furlong's tent was like a bee hive of musical activity it seemed, 24/7. I was staying nearby and was always so tempted to run over if I'd wake in the middle of the night. I was "sensible" however and tried to resist and not get to the point of total exhaustion for the week.
Tracywag.... the weather was brilliant, except for about two intense storms, but they were short lived. it really helps! We've been really lucky with weather for years now.
Nathan P. is brilliant, as is Keiran Jordan, Regan Wick etc. The dancing really adds to things!
I had a wonderful time listening to Benedict Koehler and Debbie Quigley on pipes and Kate McNamara (young woman from Clare) on concertina. Also took a private lesson with Kate and it totally made my week.
I agree the weather was on our side, it's usually super hot during the festival, we didn't use air conditionned at all.
Willie Kelly and Mike Rafferty's CD release was my favorite listening session.
I went there for the first time this year, and took classes from Benedict Koehler and Eileen O'Brien. It was great, I can't wait to go again next year.
All the concerts, of course, and that nice tribute to Joe Madden, but when the dancers got up on stage, I was reminded all over again that ITM is first and foremost dance music. I popped into the ceili rooms a couple of times to admire them, and i had one tremendous intermediate session where I knew 90 percent of the tunes and was able to play them at session speed. I can die happy .....
Went for the full week, for the first time.... My highlight was the Friday concert in memory / honor of Joe Madden!
Every evenning concert was phenomenal!
Furlong's sessions 24/7! Grea5t fun with friends!
Won't miss this week again )
WOW!!!!
Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Well, just back from another FABULOUS week. Who went (I saw many of you!! But surely missed others) and what was the highlight of your week?
The concerts were out of this world, great sessions all over!
I am always sorry to see this week end and can't wait until the next one.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by irisnevins
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Hi Iris. Wasn't there but am possibly going to get there next year - fingers and toes crossed.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Donough
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
I'm still basking in the glow of Irish Arts Week. Was only able to go Sunday to Friday. Let's see, highlights were..
The main stage:
Seamus & Damien Connolly, Eileen O'Brien, and Felix Dolan; June McCormack & Michael Rooney;
Brian O hAirt; and
the Kane sisters.
Listening rooms:
Brian Conway, Eileen O'Brien, Catherine McAvoy, Brendan Dolan, and Julie Glaub:
Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly, et al.
Workshops:
Brian Conway, of course....
It was a very inspiring week all around...
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by iampeterfonda
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Hi Iris. I was there. Sorry I didn't stop by to say, "Hi!"
The highlight for me was the Wednesday night session at McKenna's -- led by Mary Begin, Jackie Daly, Edel Fox, Patrick Ourceau, and Blackie (dunno his last name, uillean piper).
See you next year!
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by browndog
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Oh Great Donough, we'll do dueling guitar tunes next year? It'll be great to meet you finally after all those guitar discussions!
I am so tired right now I barely remember where I was on what nights. Great fun every night. I was awed by both Eileen Gannon and Michael Rooney on harp...different styles but loved both. And Blackie is an amazing piper, I played with him and Matt Cranitch an hour or so on harp in the Furlong's tent one afternoon, which was heavenly. Playing with Matt, Jackie and Paul DeGrae at McGrath's was super fun too.
I think I played harp more than guitar this year. The harper's session was really nice as well. The only rough part of the week was lugging both guitar and harp around, I need a roadie! Many helpers would appear though when I was collapsing under the weight of both instruments. Later in the week it would be one or the other instrument, not both. Even though this was the smaller of my harps, it is still about 17 pounds in the case, and then the stand weighs some too. I stare with envy at whistle players.
The only downside to the sessions was not being able to be in all the places that were running simultaneously. Sometimes it was a very hard choice to figure out which session to attend since they were all so good.
Also nice to see your Catskills friends you ONLY see there. The time seems so short somehow, it flies by.
And I lied... about work... told customers I was not coming back until the end of THIS week.... need to catch up on sleep big time! So I'd better not answer the phone or anything!
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by irisnevins
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
I was there and took Matt Cranitch's class. I went to the concerts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and the festival on Saturday. They were all fantastic! I wish I remembered the dancer's name that was from Canada. He was amazing. I'd be in the hospital if I tried that.
The set by Matt Cranitch and Jack Daley on Saturday was brilliant, but so were so many other performances. I love the joy in the faces of the Kane sisters.
My wife couldn't come this year, so my playing was limited with having my 7 year old daughter, but she had a grand time at the Children's program, and was well behaved at the concerts.
Looking forward to next year already and have the reservations already made at Gavins.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by nofrets
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
I went! Took a class from Yvonne Kane. Highlights were Eileen O'brien, Matt and Jackie, The New Broom Release at Bernie O's, actually being half able to keep up in open sessions, and strangely enough the Mass Saturday night with Father Charlie. Eileen played fiddle, and I was in hysterics at the sermon. No miserable hot weather this year was nice too.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by tracywag
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
The dancer's name is Nathan Pilatzke.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by GaryAMartin
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Iris
Sorry. It was on the calendar, but herself had some continuing ed things to do that week. Trumped!
Next year for sure.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by zippydw
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Donough.... maybe we can organize a little DADGAD/ Dropped D Fingerstyle Tunes session for an hour one afternoon, along the lines of the Harpers Session. If no particular place can be arranged, maybe in someone's room or a porch somewhere or in a field. We can go round robin, each doing tunes in turn, and others can join if they know them, or even back them up if not known as a tune.
It would be nice, since this type music is rarely represented in the regular sessions just due to the nature of it, it would get lost among louder instruments, and often requires awkward retuning back and forth etc. We could toss around ideas and theories too on playing, or tips for speed and agility etc.
Even if it doesn't happen, we should try for a few tunes when we meet up!
The Furlong's tent was like a bee hive of musical activity it seemed, 24/7. I was staying nearby and was always so tempted to run over if I'd wake in the middle of the night. I was "sensible" however and tried to resist and not get to the point of total exhaustion for the week.
Tracywag.... the weather was brilliant, except for about two intense storms, but they were short lived. it really helps! We've been really lucky with weather for years now.
Nathan P. is brilliant, as is Keiran Jordan, Regan Wick etc. The dancing really adds to things!
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by irisnevins
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
I had a wonderful time listening to Benedict Koehler and Debbie Quigley on pipes and Kate McNamara (young woman from Clare) on concertina. Also took a private lesson with Kate and it totally made my week.
I agree the weather was on our side, it's usually super hot during the festival, we didn't use air conditionned at all.
Willie Kelly and Mike Rafferty's CD release was my favorite listening session.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Azalin
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
I went there for the first time this year, and took classes from Benedict Koehler and Eileen O'Brien. It was great, I can't wait to go again next year.
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by a gecko
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
All the concerts, of course, and that nice tribute to Joe Madden, but when the dancers got up on stage, I was reminded all over again that ITM is first and foremost dance music. I popped into the ceili rooms a couple of times to admire them, and i had one tremendous intermediate session where I knew 90 percent of the tunes and was able to play them at session speed. I can die happy .....
# Posted on July 22nd 2009 by Mandogal
Re: Who went to Catskills Irish Arts Week?
Went for the full week, for the first time.... My highlight was the Friday concert in memory / honor of Joe Madden!
)
Every evenning concert was phenomenal!
Furlong's sessions 24/7! Grea5t fun with friends!
Won't miss this week again
WOW!!!!
# Posted on August 2nd 2009 by Ceolagusrince