I'm curious as to what the Irish Week experience is like at Augusta in Elkins, WV. I've been to Swannanoa twice and enjoyed it immensely, but the materials I've seen for Augusta suggest that it might be a bit smaller and more focused (e.g., you only take one course, as opposed to being able to take multiple courses at Swannanoa).
John Doyle will the guitar instructor at both camps this year, so that's not a deciding factor for this more or less intermediate guitar player (John's a great teacher, btw).
As I said, I've enjoyed Swannanoa, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't try to push myself a bit more this year.
So what's the word on Augusta? I'd love to hear from folks who've been to both on the similarities and differences of the two camps.
Hi Jeff,I'd sure like to help you because I've been to Augusta many times since 1987. Over the years I got to be around and play with a lot of great musicians. The list seems endless, so I guess I should make my point. Mick Moloney is the driving force for Irish week and he has done an outstanding job of bringing the Irish music to thehills of WV. But like any thing else, change is always abundant each year so what I experienced wouldn't necessarily occur for you. I suppose I'm saying you get out of it what you put into it. Alternately, have you considered going to Irish Week in East Durham? I attended there two years and it was great. I couldn't go last year (health issues), but this week is about as close to real Ireland as I've found anywhere. WB in WV
Thanks for the input. A few folks have told me that Augusta is more "serious" than Swannanoa, but I was never very successful in getting them to clarify whether they meant it in the good or bad senses of the term.
I've heard lots of good things about E. Durham, but it's further than I want to travel; both Swannanoa and Elkins are < 4 hrs for me. I've also heard that the food and lodging are miserable. Is that part of the authenticity?
Re: accomodations at Augusta: I have gone there for 3 summer camps. Augusta is held at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins W Va. Therefore, the accomodations are student double dorm rooms and community shower/bathroom facilities , (but bring your own fan and radio, etc..) The food is remarkably good for a college cafeteria and the location in the West Virginia foot hills is spectacularly beautiful. There is a decent campground nearby if you want to really rough it. There is also a very nice but fairly expensive hotel on the campus. Don't let the accomodation issue keep you from a truly amrvelous experience.
My snide comments about food and lodging were in reference to the Irish Week at East Durham. Many of the staff at Swannanoa also taught at E. Durham until someone had the bright idea of scheduling them for the same week in July. I remember Liz Carroll and other universally damning the food and lodging in Durham and telling their horror stories of cockroaches coming out of shower heads, etc. A the same time, most of them said they wouldn't miss it for anything.
I think Swannanoa and Augusta have lot of similarities in terms of general setting, small college food and lodging, etc., which Is why I'm having a hard time deciding where to go this year. How big were your classes at Augusta, and what's the overall attendance like? One reason I was thinking about going elsewhere this year is that Celtic Week at Swannanoa may be becoming a victim of it's own success. It's the best attended of the theme weeks there, and there are a LOT of people running around there during that week.
Did you ever feel limited by the fact that you could only take one class during the week at Augusta?
RE: Swannanoa -- check out Guitar Week and note that Robin Bullock, Steve Baughman (celtic guitar duo) will be teaching. Also note the newly created Fiddle Week in which scottish, irish and old time fiddle players will co-habitat while guitar week players and folk songwriters abound. This will be my third year at Guitar week and I am greatly looking forward to some sessions with fiddlers et. al
John Doyle is the guitar instructor for Celtic week, but Robin Bullock will also be there. I'm mostly interested in the larger world of Irish/Scottish music and playing rhythm backup to melody instruments, which is why I usually go for Celtic Week.
Fiddle week should be fun. You'll like John Daly's playing a lot.
Just got back to check on your progress and see that you are still undecided. Are you 4 hours South of Augusta? And thus 10 hours South of East Durham? Accommodations at E. Durham tend to be much more varialbe but interesting. More.
Well, I've been to Irish week at both Augusta and Swannanoa. As a flute/whistle player, I definately thought Swannanoa was more productive: I studied with Grey Larsen in the morning and John Skelton in the afternoon. Doesn't get much better than that! But that was some years ago. Last year at Augusta Irish week there was some wonderfully fine talent, great noon and evening concerts and a fun mix of attendees. My whistle class was a little disappointing, however. I also went to Lark in the Morning, that time to study hurdy gurdy. My philosophy is, go where your teacher is! And by the way, food and facilities at all three were outstanding, and at a very good price!
What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Hi all,
I'm curious as to what the Irish Week experience is like at Augusta in Elkins, WV. I've been to Swannanoa twice and enjoyed it immensely, but the materials I've seen for Augusta suggest that it might be a bit smaller and more focused (e.g., you only take one course, as opposed to being able to take multiple courses at Swannanoa).
John Doyle will the guitar instructor at both camps this year, so that's not a deciding factor for this more or less intermediate guitar player (John's a great teacher, btw).
As I said, I've enjoyed Swannanoa, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't try to push myself a bit more this year.
So what's the word on Augusta? I'd love to hear from folks who've been to both on the similarities and differences of the two camps.
Thanks,
Jeff Willner
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by jeff_willner
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Hi Jeff,I'd sure like to help you because I've been to Augusta many times since 1987. Over the years I got to be around and play with a lot of great musicians. The list seems endless, so I guess I should make my point. Mick Moloney is the driving force for Irish week and he has done an outstanding job of bringing the Irish music to thehills of WV. But like any thing else, change is always abundant each year so what I experienced wouldn't necessarily occur for you. I suppose I'm saying you get out of it what you put into it. Alternately, have you considered going to Irish Week in East Durham? I attended there two years and it was great. I couldn't go last year (health issues), but this week is about as close to real Ireland as I've found anywhere. WB in WV
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by wvwhistler
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
WB,
Thanks for the input. A few folks have told me that Augusta is more "serious" than Swannanoa, but I was never very successful in getting them to clarify whether they meant it in the good or bad senses of the term.
I've heard lots of good things about E. Durham, but it's further than I want to travel; both Swannanoa and Elkins are < 4 hrs for me. I've also heard that the food and lodging are miserable. Is that part of the authenticity?
Jeff
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by jeff_willner
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
I've heard that the music and teachers and parties are just great (so, I registered
Hope to see you there!
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by CC
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Re: accomodations at Augusta: I have gone there for 3 summer camps. Augusta is held at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins W Va. Therefore, the accomodations are student double dorm rooms and community shower/bathroom facilities , (but bring your own fan and radio, etc..) The food is remarkably good for a college cafeteria and the location in the West Virginia foot hills is spectacularly beautiful. There is a decent campground nearby if you want to really rough it. There is also a very nice but fairly expensive hotel on the campus. Don't let the accomodation issue keep you from a truly amrvelous experience.
# Posted on March 24th 2005 by sailaway
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Sailaway,
My snide comments about food and lodging were in reference to the Irish Week at East Durham. Many of the staff at Swannanoa also taught at E. Durham until someone had the bright idea of scheduling them for the same week in July. I remember Liz Carroll and other universally damning the food and lodging in Durham and telling their horror stories of cockroaches coming out of shower heads, etc. A the same time, most of them said they wouldn't miss it for anything.
I think Swannanoa and Augusta have lot of similarities in terms of general setting, small college food and lodging, etc., which Is why I'm having a hard time deciding where to go this year. How big were your classes at Augusta, and what's the overall attendance like? One reason I was thinking about going elsewhere this year is that Celtic Week at Swannanoa may be becoming a victim of it's own success. It's the best attended of the theme weeks there, and there are a LOT of people running around there during that week.
Did you ever feel limited by the fact that you could only take one class during the week at Augusta?
Cheers,
Jeff
# Posted on March 25th 2005 by jeff_willner
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
RE: Swannanoa -- check out Guitar Week and note that Robin Bullock, Steve Baughman (celtic guitar duo) will be teaching. Also note the newly created Fiddle Week in which scottish, irish and old time fiddle players will co-habitat while guitar week players and folk songwriters abound. This will be my third year at Guitar week and I am greatly looking forward to some sessions with fiddlers et. al
/tim alexander/
# Posted on March 25th 2005 by TCA_ASS
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
TCA_ASS,
John Doyle is the guitar instructor for Celtic week, but Robin Bullock will also be there. I'm mostly interested in the larger world of Irish/Scottish music and playing rhythm backup to melody instruments, which is why I usually go for Celtic Week.
Fiddle week should be fun. You'll like John Daly's playing a lot.
Jeff
# Posted on March 25th 2005 by jeff_willner
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Just got back to check on your progress and see that you are still undecided. Are you 4 hours South of Augusta? And thus 10 hours South of East Durham? Accommodations at E. Durham tend to be much more varialbe but interesting. More.
# Posted on March 25th 2005 by wvwhistler
Re: What's Irish Week at Augusta (WV) like?
Well, I've been to Irish week at both Augusta and Swannanoa. As a flute/whistle player, I definately thought Swannanoa was more productive: I studied with Grey Larsen in the morning and John Skelton in the afternoon. Doesn't get much better than that! But that was some years ago. Last year at Augusta Irish week there was some wonderfully fine talent, great noon and evening concerts and a fun mix of attendees. My whistle class was a little disappointing, however. I also went to Lark in the Morning, that time to study hurdy gurdy. My philosophy is, go where your teacher is! And by the way, food and facilities at all three were outstanding, and at a very good price!
# Posted on March 27th 2005 by GertieCranker