So, who out there ventured the terrible weather and showed up at Milwaukee's irish fest this year?
Save for the rain, I had a great time, caught Liz Carroll and John Doyle, The David Munnelly band, Cherish the ladies reunion and many more. any other notable acts?
Yeah, what a weekend. Too many great acts to list. The Clare Ceili Band with Dennis Liddy, Michelle Mulcahy and Mick Moloney playing with John Doyle an upside down Bouzouki, George Keith, Ce, Beoga, and many others that I didn't get around to seeing. I had to drive back on sunday midday, but that was a spectacular weekend, regardless of the dismal weather.
I agree. Eddi Reader was quite a surprise hit for me. Not that I was surprised that she would be good, but I didn't realize she was touring with John McCusker (!), Boo Hewerdine (!!), and Alan Kelly(!), all of whom are superb musicians. I almost thought it bizarre that Alan and John only played one set of tunes throughout the whole set, at the end, but that really says something about the quality of the texture they added to the music. DMB was great as usual, and the Mick Moloney/Michelle Mulcahy/John Doyle/Denis LIddy set was great. I love that it was obvious (to me, very front and very center) that they were screwing around with the arrangements and set list and accompaniment all on the fly and having a ton of fun doing so. A friend of mine got Michelle's set list because he wanted to learn some of the tunes they played, and to be honest it looked nothing like what they played. I noticed John asking Michelle across the stage what set they were doing at one point, while they were doing it. Liadan was a surprise to me as well. I hadn't heard of them prior to IrishFest, but saw their show as a friend of mine took Steph's flute workshop. They were obviously young performers, but the arrangements were tight and unique, with alot of lift and some drive during the fast tunes. Lots of expert harmony going on in the singing and fiddling. Gan Bua...amazing as usual. I could go on and on I'm sure. Didn't get to stay for sunday. I'm from SW Wisconsin, and I had a hometown underwater that I had to get back to.
A grand time as usual. Wet, wet, wet. Lot's of Good craic. David Munnelly was my favorite (I'm currently learning the button box), followed up by the tribute(s) to Makem. I'm bummed I missed Cherish the Ladies, as I heard they were excelant. Attendance was down drastically due to the miserable weather. I drove 600 miles to be there, though, so I was there all four days! It was one of best scatterings yet.... even if Tommy Makem wasn't leading the show. Any body see Finnebar McCarthy? I thought his show was a bit off from usual. I was nice to know Paddle-Ball Billie was still in action.
Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
So, who out there ventured the terrible weather and showed up at Milwaukee's irish fest this year?
Save for the rain, I had a great time, caught Liz Carroll and John Doyle, The David Munnelly band, Cherish the ladies reunion and many more. any other notable acts?
# Posted on August 21st 2007 by fiddle85
Re: Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
Eddi Reader was wonderful, as was her band, which included John McCusker.
# Posted on August 21st 2007 by lcox
Re: Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
Yeah, what a weekend. Too many great acts to list. The Clare Ceili Band with Dennis Liddy, Michelle Mulcahy and Mick Moloney playing with John Doyle an upside down Bouzouki, George Keith, Ce, Beoga, and many others that I didn't get around to seeing. I had to drive back on sunday midday, but that was a spectacular weekend, regardless of the dismal weather.
# Posted on August 21st 2007 by Nathan G
Re: Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
I agree. Eddi Reader was quite a surprise hit for me. Not that I was surprised that she would be good, but I didn't realize she was touring with John McCusker (!), Boo Hewerdine (!!), and Alan Kelly(!), all of whom are superb musicians. I almost thought it bizarre that Alan and John only played one set of tunes throughout the whole set, at the end, but that really says something about the quality of the texture they added to the music. DMB was great as usual, and the Mick Moloney/Michelle Mulcahy/John Doyle/Denis LIddy set was great. I love that it was obvious (to me, very front and very center) that they were screwing around with the arrangements and set list and accompaniment all on the fly and having a ton of fun doing so. A friend of mine got Michelle's set list because he wanted to learn some of the tunes they played, and to be honest it looked nothing like what they played. I noticed John asking Michelle across the stage what set they were doing at one point, while they were doing it. Liadan was a surprise to me as well. I hadn't heard of them prior to IrishFest, but saw their show as a friend of mine took Steph's flute workshop. They were obviously young performers, but the arrangements were tight and unique, with alot of lift and some drive during the fast tunes. Lots of expert harmony going on in the singing and fiddling. Gan Bua...amazing as usual. I could go on and on I'm sure. Didn't get to stay for sunday. I'm from SW Wisconsin, and I had a hometown underwater that I had to get back to.
# Posted on August 21st 2007 by MDuckett
Re: Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
Liz Carroll/John Doyle were fabulous, and and same for Cathie Ryan, whom I hadn't seen before. What a voice! Luckily they were in dry tents.
# Posted on August 22nd 2007 by mmelec
Re: Milwaukee Irish Fest 2k7
A grand time as usual. Wet, wet, wet. Lot's of Good craic. David Munnelly was my favorite (I'm currently learning the button box), followed up by the tribute(s) to Makem. I'm bummed I missed Cherish the Ladies, as I heard they were excelant. Attendance was down drastically due to the miserable weather. I drove 600 miles to be there, though, so I was there all four days! It was one of best scatterings yet.... even if Tommy Makem wasn't leading the show. Any body see Finnebar McCarthy? I thought his show was a bit off from usual. I was nice to know Paddle-Ball Billie was still in action.
# Posted on August 23rd 2007 by beretta