A ceili band's greatness is determined by the sum of its parts and how well those parts work together, not the caliber of the individual musicians. You can put as many big names into a ceili band as you want, but they'll never be as good as 10 solid players who practice together regularly and meticulously.
Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Ginger Baker
Piano Accordion: Phil Cunningham
Highland Bagpipers: Several
Spoons: Fred from "The Dun Cow"
Vocals: Philomena Begley
Caller: Margaret Barry
Fiddle: Maeve Donnelly, Kevin Rohan or John McEvoy
Accordion: Victor Alexander or PJ Hernon
Banjo: Kevin Griffin
Flute: Eamon Cotter, Paul McGrattan or Catherine McEvoy
Piano: Brian McGrath
Drums: Benny O'Connor
Vocals: Pat Costello
Have to agree with Tradlad that the Kilfenora are it!
Put any combination of musicians together - say for example Tommy Peoples, Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, Paddy Keenan, Gerry (banjo) O'Connor, Mairtín O'Connor, Mat Molloy, Marcas Ó Murchú, Padraic O'Reilly (piano) and Benny O'Connor (drums) - and I'd be amazed if together they could create an overall sound to match the legendary Clare band.
I personelly think the modern day ceili bands are more focused on playing the same note and same ornamentation at the same time as opposed to older generations of ceili bands who were more focused on generating an atmosphere and lift to there music which enticed the people to dance. I may be wrong but i thought ceili bands were ment to play music for people to dance to and not primeraly for listining to. Its only an opinion no need to attack
Brain McGrath (piano), Alan Kelly (Piano Accordian), John McSherry (Pipes), Donal O Connor, Tola Custy and Dezzi Donnely (Fiddles), Padraig Rynne (Concertina, Michael McGoldrick and Kevin Crawford (flutes), Cathal hayden (Banjo) and James McIntosh (Drums)
As caller I would have Brendan Begley.
A caller is the *instrumental* member of a hunting party who has the ability to make sounds which will attract wild critters to their ignoble end.
Not to be confused with "beaters".
The Michael Sexton Ceili Band for me. They were the best ceili's at the Fleadh Nua. I've not found anyone who plays better sets of tunes for the Clare Lancers!
Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Who do you think would make the ultimate ceili band?
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by dancer1337
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Kilfenora, no doubt
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by TradLad
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Sorry, you probably ment kind of "dream team" ceili band, well have to think for a while before answering
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by TradLad
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Sorry. Let me rephrase. If you could have anyone in your dream ceili band, who would those musicians be?
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by dancer1337
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
A ceili band's greatness is determined by the sum of its parts and how well those parts work together, not the caliber of the individual musicians. You can put as many big names into a ceili band as you want, but they'll never be as good as 10 solid players who practice together regularly and meticulously.
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by mcdevincabe
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Drums: Ginger Baker
Piano Accordion: Phil Cunningham
Highland Bagpipers: Several
Spoons: Fred from "The Dun Cow"
Vocals: Philomena Begley
Caller: Margaret Barry
- Should be quite a night.
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by nicholas
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Change of mind - Vocals: Laurie Anderson
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by nicholas
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Fiddle: Maeve Donnelly, Kevin Rohan or John McEvoy
Accordion: Victor Alexander or PJ Hernon
Banjo: Kevin Griffin
Flute: Eamon Cotter, Paul McGrattan or Catherine McEvoy
Piano: Brian McGrath
Drums: Benny O'Connor
Vocals: Pat Costello
# Posted on April 21st 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Change of mind - Caller: Viv Stanshall
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by nicholas
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
"Change of mind - Caller: Viv Stanshall"
No, Prof. Stanley Unwin, wihtou a doubt.
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by ragaman
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Do all the personnel have to be alive?
Sometimes, when watching / listening to a ceilidh band, one gets the impression that this is not an essential qualification.
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by nicholas
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Ukelele: George Formby
Spoons: Uri Geller
Saxophone: Boots Randolph
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by murfbox
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
George Formby is a legend!!
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Have to agree with Tradlad that the Kilfenora are it!
Put any combination of musicians together - say for example Tommy Peoples, Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, Paddy Keenan, Gerry (banjo) O'Connor, Mairtín O'Connor, Mat Molloy, Marcas Ó Murchú, Padraic O'Reilly (piano) and Benny O'Connor (drums) - and I'd be amazed if together they could create an overall sound to match the legendary Clare band.
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
I personelly think the modern day ceili bands are more focused on playing the same note and same ornamentation at the same time as opposed to older generations of ceili bands who were more focused on generating an atmosphere and lift to there music which enticed the people to dance. I may be wrong but i thought ceili bands were ment to play music for people to dance to and not primeraly for listining to. Its only an opinion no need to attack
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by balledfan
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
Brain McGrath (piano), Alan Kelly (Piano Accordian), John McSherry (Pipes), Donal O Connor, Tola Custy and Dezzi Donnely (Fiddles), Padraig Rynne (Concertina, Michael McGoldrick and Kevin Crawford (flutes), Cathal hayden (Banjo) and James McIntosh (Drums)
As caller I would have Brendan Begley.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by eurbanjo
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
The Bothy Band
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
This might sound a little naive but what is a "caller"?
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
A caller is the *instrumental* member of a hunting party who has the ability to make sounds which will attract wild critters to their ignoble end.
Not to be confused with "beaters".
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
The Michael Sexton Ceili Band for me. They were the best ceili's at the Fleadh Nua. I've not found anyone who plays better sets of tunes for the Clare Lancers!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
The Gold Ring from the 90's!!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by downey
Re: Ultimate Ceili Band!!!
I know I've already said the Kilfenora are "it" but the Turloughmore are also a mighty céilí band that in time might also become legends.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Bannerman