I see in the Irish times today that actor Jeremy Irons is mixing it with the 10-year olds and the rest of us and learning the fiddle at the Willy Clancy week. Great to see don't you think? Anybody know of any other famous people (not famed for music obviously) that have interest in playing Irish music?? I know Brendan Gleeson plays the fiddle as well.
The late well-known writer Laurie Lee learned the fiddle as a boy in the Cotswolds and as a youth went to Spain to travel and busk. I don't know what his repertoire was but definitely was, or included, trad; I dare say it included Irish tunes.
Billy Connolly. His case is a bit different but he's that genre of "person who's mostly famous for something else but could well turn up at your session with an instrument".
Russell Crowe learned fiddle for Master and Commander and supposedly still plays---never heard of him showing up at a session, though. I wonder if Jeremy Irons is studying for a movie himself.
I saw Jeremy Irons play a bowed psaltry on stage at Stratford-on-Avon as Richard II in 1986, and it was clear that he knew his way around a bow even then.
Brid Brennan (Dancing at Lunasa" et al) is the daughter of Pat, as In Pat's Bar in Belfast, famed for its contribution to Irish Music. I don't know if that counts.
I remember that Madeleine Stowe played fiddle in her 1994 movie "Blink," with some sort of Celticky bar band. I don't remember what tunes they played (I didn't know squat about diddly, back then) but she seemed reasonably competent--impressive, since apparently she learned to play fiddle just for the role.
Actor at the Willy Week
Actor at the Willy Week
I see in the Irish times today that actor Jeremy Irons is mixing it with the 10-year olds and the rest of us and learning the fiddle at the Willy Clancy week. Great to see don't you think? Anybody know of any other famous people (not famed for music obviously) that have interest in playing Irish music?? I know Brendan Gleeson plays the fiddle as well.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Penfold
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
I'm scratching my head over this one, but so far, all that's come up has been dandruff.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
The late well-known writer Laurie Lee learned the fiddle as a boy in the Cotswolds and as a youth went to Spain to travel and busk. I don't know what his repertoire was but definitely was, or included, trad; I dare say it included Irish tunes.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Billy Connolly. His case is a bit different but he's that genre of "person who's mostly famous for something else but could well turn up at your session with an instrument".
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Dow
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Actor Dudley Sutton is a dab hand on the moothie
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Bren
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Russell Crowe learned fiddle for Master and Commander and supposedly still plays---never heard of him showing up at a session, though. I wonder if Jeremy Irons is studying for a movie himself.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by kennedy
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
I saw Jeremy Irons play a bowed psaltry on stage at Stratford-on-Avon as Richard II in 1986, and it was clear that he knew his way around a bow even then.
http://www.rsc.org.uk/searcharchives/component/image?id=4161&zoom=2
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Jumper
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Dave Duffly (Leo in Fair City) is a competent trad fiddler and often shows up at the Monkstown sessions.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
And what about ex Trade Union supremo, Des Geraghty who's a top class flute player.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
And trade union supremo, my good self, who plays all sorts. Used to be a party friooend of Des. Not that type of party.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Fr. Jack (Frank Kelly) from "Ted" plays a storm on fiddle.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by Backer
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Bill Clinton and Jackie Healy Rae on the saxomophone
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by copo24
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Brid Brennan (Dancing at Lunasa" et al) is the daughter of Pat, as In Pat's Bar in Belfast, famed for its contribution to Irish Music. I don't know if that counts.
# Posted on July 10th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
I remember that Madeleine Stowe played fiddle in her 1994 movie "Blink," with some sort of Celticky bar band. I don't remember what tunes they played (I didn't know squat about diddly, back then) but she seemed reasonably competent--impressive, since apparently she learned to play fiddle just for the role.
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by mickray
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
George Bush and John Howard both play the upright organ.
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Electric or accoustic?
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
As is well known, Tony Blair plays guitar.
And Gordon Brown is *also* an irritating plucker.
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
"And Gordon Brown is *also* an irritating plucker" - I always thought of him as a pheasant plucker!
# Posted on July 12th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Not so pleasant, IMO
# Posted on July 12th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Actor at the Willy Week
Irons will play as part of a trio at the Fiddle Fair in May. www.fiddlefair.com
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by mtmorris