Like most trad people I watched the recent Fleadh television programmes because I like looking out for people I know and good music. Unfortunately though I saw very little of these.
Now I've been playing Irish music my whole life, most of my 21 years, and I've never really been fond of Comhaltas but I have to say that I think those programmes were pretty poor. I could have counted the number of good sets I saw on one hand and just so I don't have to mention names so people get an idea of what I like, I thought the first one was awful. All fleadh players and people who are more or less owned by Comhaltas. There was also the usual the fleadh is great vox-popping and overall it was really 'twee' and a stereotypical portrayal of irish music. Peopl who know nothing about the musi would be watching that and laughing, they would look to CCE and these programmes for an idea of the music but I CERTAINLY DON'T want to be represented by them!
And now this week we have the new series of The Full Set starting with Frankie Gavin and Martin O'Conner, half of De Danann. What more could you ask for! There is no way that great music like that would be seen on the Fleadh programme. Anyway, I wanted to know what other people thought of the quality of the programmes, not just the music but how they were put together aswell and if you feel it was a good representation of the 'actual' world of trad music, which as you've guessed i definately don't think so!
I saw the most recent programme and the only thing about it that I found interesting was the appearance of Paddy Fahey standing watching a few people playing tunes. Pity they didn't have any coverage of him playing.
It was very twee presentation, it reminded me of the show Nationwide with its whole 'isn't everything nice and cosy and lovely' attitude.
fiddleruairi, I agree, very poor standard of music on show. Was at the fleadh and although drunk for most of it, I heard lots of good music over the week, but saw v little on the tv show.
you're probably right dickens, RTE's fault not Comhaltas, but the strange fact is that its made by the same people who did Geantrai which is very surprising!
And i agree with worzel there, i heard lots of good music over the weekend aswell, but for some strange reason they filmed the usual acts, and did anyone else notice that a good few people and groups appeared more than once over the series? a more conscious effort could have been made to mix it up a bit ye know.
Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
Like most trad people I watched the recent Fleadh television programmes because I like looking out for people I know and good music. Unfortunately though I saw very little of these.
Now I've been playing Irish music my whole life, most of my 21 years, and I've never really been fond of Comhaltas but I have to say that I think those programmes were pretty poor. I could have counted the number of good sets I saw on one hand and just so I don't have to mention names so people get an idea of what I like, I thought the first one was awful. All fleadh players and people who are more or less owned by Comhaltas. There was also the usual the fleadh is great vox-popping and overall it was really 'twee' and a stereotypical portrayal of irish music. Peopl who know nothing about the musi would be watching that and laughing, they would look to CCE and these programmes for an idea of the music but I CERTAINLY DON'T want to be represented by them!
And now this week we have the new series of The Full Set starting with Frankie Gavin and Martin O'Conner, half of De Danann. What more could you ask for! There is no way that great music like that would be seen on the Fleadh programme. Anyway, I wanted to know what other people thought of the quality of the programmes, not just the music but how they were put together aswell and if you feel it was a good representation of the 'actual' world of trad music, which as you've guessed i definately don't think so!
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by fiddleruairi
Re: Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
I saw the most recent programme and the only thing about it that I found interesting was the appearance of Paddy Fahey standing watching a few people playing tunes. Pity they didn't have any coverage of him playing.
It was very twee presentation, it reminded me of the show Nationwide with its whole 'isn't everything nice and cosy and lovely' attitude.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by Bored with thesession.org
Re: Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
the fault of RTE not comhaltas.
I havent seen the programmes as I am always teaching at this time.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
fiddleruairi, I agree, very poor standard of music on show. Was at the fleadh and although drunk for most of it, I heard lots of good music over the week, but saw v little on the tv show.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by WorzelGummidge
Re: Fleadh 2007/08 TV Programmes: Yay or Nay?
you're probably right dickens, RTE's fault not Comhaltas, but the strange fact is that its made by the same people who did Geantrai which is very surprising!
And i agree with worzel there, i heard lots of good music over the weekend aswell, but for some strange reason they filmed the usual acts, and did anyone else notice that a good few people and groups appeared more than once over the series? a more conscious effort could have been made to mix it up a bit ye know.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by fiddleruairi