Earlier tonight a concert at the Quilty Tavern which had Liam O' Connor, Kitty Hayes & Peter Laban, Tommy Peoples, Rick Epping, Mickey Dunne, Tara Breen, Michael Falsey, John Lyons and Bill McNamara on stage for the night, drew an audience of maybe two hands full of people. And for my money, it was the place to be. A lovely night away from the crowds.
Did I anywhere suggest 'it' was bad? Surprisingly few people turned up for it but it was actually lovely, no noise from drinkers and hangers-on, an audience that was for a larger part the musicians listening to each other. It was a great night. On the way back we drove past the Crosses of Annagh which was bursting at the seams with crowds of drinkers standing outside, listening for a scrap of music coming out of the windows. A nightmare I wouldn't go near.
Sounds really good to me, kilfarboy. You seem to have made the right choice, never mind the sarcasms. They're jealous. Wish I could have been there.
Cheers
The concert you went to sounds brilliant. I meant Willie week.
Question: >Did I anywhere suggest 'it' was bad?
Answers: >A lovely night away from the crowds. -- suggests not much fun,
and then: >...bursting at the seams with crowds of drinkers standing outside, listening for a scrap of music coming out of the windows. A nightmare I wouldn't go near.
And David, what on earth have you been smoking? I merely asked a question. Is that the best you can do? Just call peoples' questions crap?
Crosses of Annagh usually gets so busy (4 different sessions at the same time one year!) that we started calling it the Crosses of Anarchy.
I was playing in one of the sessions - very much a beginners session with lots of polkas and the place was absolutely bursting. One lady who was a concertina player leaned over to me and said in a strong local accent, "Jeez, we're packing them in tonight!" Made my night!
So, tell me, is it more punters than players? I've never been (to the actual festival, to play, I only passed through the village at the time and it was heaving, ages ago). But I was under the impression the Week was for players, and less for punters. Just curious.
The concert definitely had more musicians than punters so all was well there.
Willie week has changed in that respect, there isn't a lot of good music to be found in the town anymore, not during the day not during the evening anyway. You can catch the odd gem. There was a big puffing Belfast flute session in Friel's yesterday, if you;re into that sort of thing and the 'John Kelly big band' has taken refuge in the back room of Friel's now Mary Fahey has closed her doors. I don't get much out of it anymore except talking to some familiar face. But then, it's not like I have to travel for it.
Yeah, I kind of suspected that's why some people would go. At these sort of things you always bump into all sorts of characters whom you haven't seen for ages (and some you just saw last week!) That in itself is worth it, I suppose. And then there's the gems, as you say, but you often have to look hard for them.
Still worthwhile being there for the classes and meeting the familiar faces. Afternoon sessions can be good in Miltown but are noisier and messier at weekends and when its raining. Getting out of town to places like Mullagh is your best bet for evening sessions if you like peace and quiet. The session held by the Session.Org'ers Wednesday afternoon was very enjoyable but we were driven out by the noise and singing after 8pm.
Wow! That sounds good if you played together from the afternoon until 8pm. Isn't that good, yes? How many session.orgers were there? Tell us more. Who, what, etc.
At the height of it between 5 and 6pm, we had possibly 20 people including representatives from Ireland, England, Scotland, The U.S., Poland, Japan, Denmark, Sweden. There may have been others but I didn't get to talk to everybody. Not everyone in the session was a Dot.Orger but just happened in on the session. Dot Orgers there included Silver Spear, a lady with MUSE printed on her T-Shirt, Kenny, Ron P and one of the Daves, Conán and Peter Piper (presiding from an elevated table on the outer edge of the group). There were others such as Brian on flute and Catherine on banjo (whose screen names I don't know) and others whom I didn't get to speak with (me being a backer on the other outer edge of the group), such as the 2 girls on fiddle on the far side of the group. There was a lad on bodhran who was unlucky enough to be in the path of everybody attempting to get to the toilets. Martin from Donegal raised the tempo on piano accordion with some real virtuoso stuff and we even had some swedish tunes from a Swedish fiddler. Almost all instruments catered for but nobody brought the shakey eggy thing. I'm sure we'll get some additional postings with more names and more details as the gang return from Miltown after this weekend. Kevin.
The jax exchange above just reminded me that I forgot to mention that the condom machine in the gents (or jints) at Malones sold a brand called 'Celtic Willie'
And while I'm on the subject (and bringing down the tone of this sacred site) there was a tribute to Seán Potts one afternoon where his friends came and played and sang and told stories of the good old days. Paddy Glackin was the facilitator and said that similar to the Emmy, the Oscar, the Tony etc. Seán was there to get his Willie.
Just remembered that Niall Kenny was there too (composer of the trip to Pakistan) at the Dot.Org gathering in Miltown.
As regards the original topic of this discussion above,
the afternoon and early evening sessions in O'Loughlins Pub and Restaurant can be very nice and there are often celebrities playing together just inside the front window. This year I listened to Gerry harrington and Peter Horan there. Last year I saw Charlie, Ben and Maurice Lennon there. See photo I managed to upload : http://www.mypicshare.com/51zgu9qvpic.html
Just logging in for the first time after the week.
Had some lovely tunes most of the days, and the concert with Tommy Peoples, etc., was brilliant. It was a really nice atmosphere for listening to tunes in my opinion because the only noise was the occasional dropped glass in the bar.
It was also a real treat for me to get to see Alec Finn playing in session a couple of times over the week.
I peeked into the Dot.Org session, but I didn't make it in. It looked like a good time though.
I Only made it out to the bellbridge once this year, and I never made it out to the crosses, was there any particularly good music there?
Pity we didn't get to talk to you Scoopster ; would have like to have seen your bouzouki. I saw Alec Finn with Jackie Daly too. I also made it to the Bellbridge only once (a kids session in high gear around 6.30pm) and also once to the Crosses where it was crowded but the music was good. Heard that the small bar at the back was where some of the top class musicians were hanging out.
Nice one Kenny (at the airport) ... you're right of course ; it was more like a high-pitched cacophony induced by copious amounts of alcopops. And then of course there was the lack of appreciation for the music ... if they don't want music here, we're off !!!
Safe home ; great to meet you and the others ; enjoyed the session up to that point !
Kevin (at home too many days already)
A quiet spot at the Willie week
A quiet spot at the Willie week
Earlier tonight a concert at the Quilty Tavern which had Liam O' Connor, Kitty Hayes & Peter Laban, Tommy Peoples, Rick Epping, Mickey Dunne, Tara Breen, Michael Falsey, John Lyons and Bill McNamara on stage for the night, drew an audience of maybe two hands full of people. And for my money, it was the place to be. A lovely night away from the crowds.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
If it's as bad as you suggest, why go?
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Was there a session after the concert?
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Saint
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
'If it's as bad as you suggest, why go?'
Did I anywhere suggest 'it' was bad? Surprisingly few people turned up for it but it was actually lovely, no noise from drinkers and hangers-on, an audience that was for a larger part the musicians listening to each other. It was a great night. On the way back we drove past the Crosses of Annagh which was bursting at the seams with crowds of drinkers standing outside, listening for a scrap of music coming out of the windows. A nightmare I wouldn't go near.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Sounds really good to me, kilfarboy. You seem to have made the right choice, never mind the sarcasms. They're jealous. Wish I could have been there.
Cheers
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
The concert you went to sounds brilliant. I meant Willie week.
Question: >Did I anywhere suggest 'it' was bad?
Answers: >A lovely night away from the crowds. -- suggests not much fun,
and then: >...bursting at the seams with crowds of drinkers standing outside, listening for a scrap of music coming out of the windows. A nightmare I wouldn't go near.
And David, what on earth have you been smoking? I merely asked a question. Is that the best you can do? Just call peoples' questions crap?
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Sorry, the sarcasm, singular. He's jealous. Durgh! Danny probably misread what you said.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Not jealous. Had a brilliant session last night. And it was 200m away from my house. I didn't have to go all the way out to Clare to get it.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Cross post with Danny. Better go find a quiet spot and not be jumping the gun.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Well prob I am a tad seeing as I have to go 1,500 km at the least. I'd like to be in Clare this week.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
I wouldn't, if it's as bad as Kilfarboy suggests. Willie week that is. Not the concert.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
"...drew an audience of maybe two hands full of people..."
Were they the little people?
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by nicholas
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
They were big hands
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Crosses of Annagh usually gets so busy (4 different sessions at the same time one year!) that we started calling it the Crosses of Anarchy.
I was playing in one of the sessions - very much a beginners session with lots of polkas and the place was absolutely bursting. One lady who was a concertina player leaned over to me and said in a strong local accent, "Jeez, we're packing them in tonight!" Made my night!
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Rhod
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
So, tell me, is it more punters than players? I've never been (to the actual festival, to play, I only passed through the village at the time and it was heaving, ages ago). But I was under the impression the Week was for players, and less for punters. Just curious.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
The concert definitely had more musicians than punters so all was well there.
Willie week has changed in that respect, there isn't a lot of good music to be found in the town anymore, not during the day not during the evening anyway. You can catch the odd gem. There was a big puffing Belfast flute session in Friel's yesterday, if you;re into that sort of thing and the 'John Kelly big band' has taken refuge in the back room of Friel's now Mary Fahey has closed her doors. I don't get much out of it anymore except talking to some familiar face. But then, it's not like I have to travel for it.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by <>-_-_-<>
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Yeah, I kind of suspected that's why some people would go. At these sort of things you always bump into all sorts of characters whom you haven't seen for ages (and some you just saw last week!) That in itself is worth it, I suppose. And then there's the gems, as you say, but you often have to look hard for them.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Still worthwhile being there for the classes and meeting the familiar faces. Afternoon sessions can be good in Miltown but are noisier and messier at weekends and when its raining. Getting out of town to places like Mullagh is your best bet for evening sessions if you like peace and quiet. The session held by the Session.Org'ers Wednesday afternoon was very enjoyable but we were driven out by the noise and singing after 8pm.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Wow! That sounds good if you played together from the afternoon until 8pm. Isn't that good, yes? How many session.orgers were there? Tell us more. Who, what, etc.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
At the height of it between 5 and 6pm, we had possibly 20 people including representatives from Ireland, England, Scotland, The U.S., Poland, Japan, Denmark, Sweden. There may have been others but I didn't get to talk to everybody. Not everyone in the session was a Dot.Orger but just happened in on the session. Dot Orgers there included Silver Spear, a lady with MUSE printed on her T-Shirt, Kenny, Ron P and one of the Daves, Conán and Peter Piper (presiding from an elevated table on the outer edge of the group). There were others such as Brian on flute and Catherine on banjo (whose screen names I don't know) and others whom I didn't get to speak with (me being a backer on the other outer edge of the group), such as the 2 girls on fiddle on the far side of the group. There was a lad on bodhran who was unlucky enough to be in the path of everybody attempting to get to the toilets. Martin from Donegal raised the tempo on piano accordion with some real virtuoso stuff and we even had some swedish tunes from a Swedish fiddler. Almost all instruments catered for but nobody brought the shakey eggy thing. I'm sure we'll get some additional postings with more names and more details as the gang return from Miltown after this weekend. Kevin.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Ah well, maybe some day. Crowds stress me though, I have to admit.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
"There was a lad on bodhran who was unlucky enough to be in the path of everybody attempting to get to the toilets."
He could have just moved into the jax and made it easier for everyone.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
'Jax'?
Did you mean to say 'jacks'. It's funny when you people try to talk like us
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Pól
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
I've seen it spelled that way, but I've heard it more than I've read it. Is there really a correct spelling? Maybe it needs a couple of faddas.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Um.. That's actually spelled 'fada'
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Pól
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Whatever
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
The jax exchange above just reminded me that I forgot to mention that the condom machine in the gents (or jints) at Malones sold a brand called 'Celtic Willie'
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
And while I'm on the subject (and bringing down the tone of this sacred site) there was a tribute to Seán Potts one afternoon where his friends came and played and sang and told stories of the good old days. Paddy Glackin was the facilitator and said that similar to the Emmy, the Oscar, the Tony etc. Seán was there to get his Willie.
# Posted on July 13th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Just remembered that Niall Kenny was there too (composer of the trip to Pakistan) at the Dot.Org gathering in Miltown.
As regards the original topic of this discussion above,
the afternoon and early evening sessions in O'Loughlins Pub and Restaurant can be very nice and there are often celebrities playing together just inside the front window. This year I listened to Gerry harrington and Peter Horan there. Last year I saw Charlie, Ben and Maurice Lennon there. See photo I managed to upload : http://www.mypicshare.com/51zgu9qvpic.html
# Posted on July 14th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
If you look at the photo, note the poster on the wall !!
# Posted on July 14th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Just logging in for the first time after the week.
Had some lovely tunes most of the days, and the concert with Tommy Peoples, etc., was brilliant. It was a really nice atmosphere for listening to tunes in my opinion because the only noise was the occasional dropped glass in the bar.
It was also a real treat for me to get to see Alec Finn playing in session a couple of times over the week.
I peeked into the Dot.Org session, but I didn't make it in. It looked like a good time though.
I Only made it out to the bellbridge once this year, and I never made it out to the crosses, was there any particularly good music there?
# Posted on July 14th 2007 by Scoopster
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Pity we didn't get to talk to you Scoopster ; would have like to have seen your bouzouki. I saw Alec Finn with Jackie Daly too. I also made it to the Bellbridge only once (a kids session in high gear around 6.30pm) and also once to the Crosses where it was crowded but the music was good. Heard that the small bar at the back was where some of the top class musicians were hanging out.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Reall nice photo Kevin - thanks for posting it.
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Kevin - whatever it was that drove us out at 8pm - it wasn't singing !!!
[ kenny - at Dublin airport ]
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Kenny
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
Nice one Kenny (at the airport) ... you're right of course ; it was more like a high-pitched cacophony induced by copious amounts of alcopops. And then of course there was the lack of appreciation for the music ... if they don't want music here, we're off !!!
Safe home ; great to meet you and the others ; enjoyed the session up to that point !
Kevin (at home too many days already)
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by KevinOK
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
'Celtic Willie'? Dzat mean yer knob is Liam in Gaelic?
# Posted on July 15th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: A quiet spot at the Willie week
shame quilty smells so bad
# Posted on July 16th 2007 by musical soul