Just wondering if anyone can recommend the upcoming festival in Feakle, Co. Clare this August? If anyone has any inside info about who is going to be offering workshops, performing, etc... that would be nice to know.
The festival website http://www.feaklefestival.ie/ is not yet updated, and I'm curious.... Thanks!
Absolutely, I would highly recommend this Festival...it's pretty laid back, Martin Hayes gives a great class, I love seeing Paddy Canny when I'm there and sessions are lovely.
Some great outdoor entertainment as well - was only there for the Sunday last year but managed to catch Martin Hayes playing for more than an hour on the village green as well as Sligo's Border Collies. Sessions were also great.
I was also there last year. The sat arvo session at pepper's was lovely but sat night was just ridiculously crowded and not worth it. I was stuck between bongos and 2 bodhrans in the session and hundreds of people listening. However, there was still great craic to be had socialising and drinking....
Indeed, some of the Saturday night sessions grow to humungous proportions, and can be a bit uninspiring. All you need is that one bad bodhran player to spoil it all - God bless you between the bongos and bodhrans, sneetch!
On the other hand, there's the chance to watch Martin Hayes up close and personal (at a smaller session). He's just magic!
And the singers' sessions are just fantastic.
Indeed, spoon - just a particular Feakle memory sticks. It was a huge session of about 18-20 players, sounding great. Can't remember the pub.
I was listening for a bit and having a chat before abandoning my companion to join in, when a bodhran player appeared and proceeded to thump the bejasus out of the drum so badly I had to leave before the set of tunes ended.
As luck would have it, across the road in the front room, we happened on Martin Hayes playing a beautiful session - with a local bodhran player, an old guy with a wonderful basic hand style on a well-battered home-made drum.
Now THAT was bliss.
It's not all about Martin Hayes. There are many tremendous musicians in that part of Clare and many more who travel to the festival.
My pick of fiddle players - for REAL traditional style - would be Mark Donnellan, who plays with the Tulla Ceili Band. He still has the "old" style.
I ended up poisoned by the water and or lack of hygiene last year. Peppers toilets weren't in use and there were only 2 portaloos for all passing through, including people eating at the marquee. I'd been drinking tap water so don't know if it was that or to do with the bogs. I hope they've got something better in reserve this year and I will be drinking bottled water (and Guinness!). I had been camping but booked into a b & b and slept for 14 hours, I'm sure they were glad when I left!
Feakle Fest in Clare
Feakle Fest in Clare
Just wondering if anyone can recommend the upcoming festival in Feakle, Co. Clare this August? If anyone has any inside info about who is going to be offering workshops, performing, etc... that would be nice to know.
The festival website http://www.feaklefestival.ie/ is not yet updated, and I'm curious.... Thanks!
# Posted on June 19th 2006 by kate01581
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Absolutely, I would highly recommend this Festival...it's pretty laid back, Martin Hayes gives a great class, I love seeing Paddy Canny when I'm there and sessions are lovely.
# Posted on June 19th 2006 by eirfiddle
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Some great outdoor entertainment as well - was only there for the Sunday last year but managed to catch Martin Hayes playing for more than an hour on the village green as well as Sligo's Border Collies. Sessions were also great.
# Posted on June 19th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
I was also there last year. The sat arvo session at pepper's was lovely but sat night was just ridiculously crowded and not worth it. I was stuck between bongos and 2 bodhrans in the session and hundreds of people listening. However, there was still great craic to be had socialising and drinking....
# Posted on June 20th 2006 by sneetch
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Indeed, some of the Saturday night sessions grow to humungous proportions, and can be a bit uninspiring. All you need is that one bad bodhran player to spoil it all - God bless you between the bongos and bodhrans, sneetch!
On the other hand, there's the chance to watch Martin Hayes up close and personal (at a smaller session). He's just magic!
And the singers' sessions are just fantastic.
GO!
# Posted on June 20th 2006 by RockyRoader
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
"All you need is that one bad bodhran player to spoil it all"
...or, for the sake of political correctness - and God's honest truth - the bad guitarist, piper, box player, fiddler, hand-clapper...
# Posted on June 21st 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Indeed, spoon - just a particular Feakle memory sticks. It was a huge session of about 18-20 players, sounding great. Can't remember the pub.
I was listening for a bit and having a chat before abandoning my companion to join in, when a bodhran player appeared and proceeded to thump the bejasus out of the drum so badly I had to leave before the set of tunes ended.
As luck would have it, across the road in the front room, we happened on Martin Hayes playing a beautiful session - with a local bodhran player, an old guy with a wonderful basic hand style on a well-battered home-made drum.
Now THAT was bliss.
# Posted on June 22nd 2006 by RockyRoader
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Yikes, you guys are making it sound like it's really hit or miss...
# Posted on June 22nd 2006 by kate01581
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
Hey Sneech, was the big sign up above the fireplace that says, "Only one bodhran at a time" there when that happened?
# Posted on June 22nd 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
It's not all about Martin Hayes. There are many tremendous musicians in that part of Clare and many more who travel to the festival.
My pick of fiddle players - for REAL traditional style - would be Mark Donnellan, who plays with the Tulla Ceili Band. He still has the "old" style.
# Posted on June 24th 2006 by Ceolagusrince
Re: Feakle Fest in Clare
I ended up poisoned by the water and or lack of hygiene last year. Peppers toilets weren't in use and there were only 2 portaloos for all passing through, including people eating at the marquee. I'd been drinking tap water so don't know if it was that or to do with the bogs. I hope they've got something better in reserve this year and I will be drinking bottled water (and Guinness!). I had been camping but booked into a b & b and slept for 14 hours, I'm sure they were glad when I left!
Oh yeah and the festival's good!
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by Torgwen