I did this last year, overcoming my embarrassment. Please write
a few comments about the (Australian) National Folk Festival that
just finished on Monday.
My own two cents:
I am so impressed with Paddy Keenan. This was just another
gig for him, but he did much more than just show up. He spent
hours and hours in the session bar talking to people, playing at
sessions (and also sitting in the corner for five hours working
on reeds). I will spare you any more details -- and please don't
anybody else overdo it with the details ( And needless to
say, he played like the angels in heaven -- if there are any
and if they play pipes ---. I got hear him a lot without any amps
and mikes. He's not as loud you might think - just an intense,
focused sound.
Genticorum - if you ever get the chance to see them in concert,
do it even if you have to take a boat to Quebec.
Eddie Reader - also logged some quality Session Bar time and
I spotted her at Troubador enjoying other people's work too.
She's great.
My first Nash experience. My head is still reeling ;) I've never seen/heard so many fiddles in my life. So many performers and so little time!
I've come away sooo inspired to practise more and learn more tunes - most of the session stuff I'd never even heard before, and way too fast for me. Great to listen and watch though, and just absorb the atmosphere with a glass of Aussie Cider in hand.
Ben Stephenson (of Trouble in the Kitchen fame) ran a great flute workshop on the last day, and the workshop on Modes really sorted it all out for me.
Like Hup said, Genticorum was great, and so many others. In adition to the ITM stuff, I loved Harlequin - a Medieval music band. Love that sound.
I brought home a cold after 9 days camping but still have a smile on my face as I recall the wonderful weekend
I'll tell Bob what you said Taminka; he'll be chuffed.
Another highlight for me - I found a great fiddle and it cost me
only a fraction of what I expected. It's never been in China either,
just Hobart via Romania.
Must make the Nash some year - maybe when I retire.
Had a good time with Genticorum last year in Orkney, we went on the boat to Rousay with them and shared a few drams, they told me they were going to tour Australia. That fiddler sure has big ..... feet. Great sound
Yes, herabouts ITM can cause periodic bouts of the Nash!
Lasts all of Easter .. then there's the Lurgy - usually lasts another week.
I've been told that a bad case of the Nash can lead to sporadic bouts of WIllie Clancy week .. I'm doomed.
Highlight for me was the extraordinary battle waged between the ITMs and the Medievals in the smoker's bar:
The medievals came in a small tight-knit guerilla team of just border-pipes, hurdy-gurdy and darbuka - arrayed against them a full batallion of ITMs - fiddles, elbow-pipes, box-artillery a bevy of flutes and whistles, dagdad and strings of all lengths.
After about half an hour of realising the superior volume of medieval ordinance, the ITMs layed down there guns, listened and, at length applauded. Paddy wandered in to see what the ruckus was. With victory in hand, the medievals paked their instruments and acolades and left the ITMs reeling (as usual).
Wonderful stuff.
Great to see Jaimie McClennan in the sessions as well.
Nash Rehash
Nash Rehash
I did this last year, overcoming my embarrassment. Please write
And needless to
a few comments about the (Australian) National Folk Festival that
just finished on Monday.
My own two cents:
I am so impressed with Paddy Keenan. This was just another
gig for him, but he did much more than just show up. He spent
hours and hours in the session bar talking to people, playing at
sessions (and also sitting in the corner for five hours working
on reeds). I will spare you any more details -- and please don't
anybody else overdo it with the details (
say, he played like the angels in heaven -- if there are any
and if they play pipes ---. I got hear him a lot without any amps
and mikes. He's not as loud you might think - just an intense,
focused sound.
Genticorum - if you ever get the chance to see them in concert,
do it even if you have to take a boat to Quebec.
Eddie Reader - also logged some quality Session Bar time and
I spotted her at Troubador enjoying other people's work too.
She's great.
# Posted on April 7th 2010 by Hup
Re: Nash Rehash
My first Nash experience. My head is still reeling ;) I've never seen/heard so many fiddles in my life. So many performers and so little time!
I've come away sooo inspired to practise more and learn more tunes - most of the session stuff I'd never even heard before, and way too fast for me. Great to listen and watch though, and just absorb the atmosphere with a glass of Aussie Cider in hand.
Ben Stephenson (of Trouble in the Kitchen fame) ran a great flute workshop on the last day, and the workshop on Modes really sorted it all out for me.
Like Hup said, Genticorum was great, and so many others. In adition to the ITM stuff, I loved Harlequin - a Medieval music band. Love that sound.
I brought home a cold after 9 days camping but still have a smile on my face as I recall the wonderful weekend
# Posted on April 7th 2010 by Taminka
Re: Nash Rehash
I'll tell Bob what you said Taminka; he'll be chuffed.
Another highlight for me - I found a great fiddle and it cost me
only a fraction of what I expected. It's never been in China either,
just Hobart via Romania.
# Posted on April 7th 2010 by Hup
Re: Nash Rehash
Must make the Nash some year - maybe when I retire.
Had a good time with Genticorum last year in Orkney, we went on the boat to Rousay with them and shared a few drams, they told me they were going to tour Australia. That fiddler sure has big ..... feet. Great sound
# Posted on April 7th 2010 by Bren
Re: Nash Rehash
Yes, herabouts ITM can cause periodic bouts of the Nash!
Lasts all of Easter .. then there's the Lurgy - usually lasts another week.
I've been told that a bad case of the Nash can lead to sporadic bouts of WIllie Clancy week .. I'm doomed.
Highlight for me was the extraordinary battle waged between the ITMs and the Medievals in the smoker's bar:
The medievals came in a small tight-knit guerilla team of just border-pipes, hurdy-gurdy and darbuka - arrayed against them a full batallion of ITMs - fiddles, elbow-pipes, box-artillery a bevy of flutes and whistles, dagdad and strings of all lengths.
After about half an hour of realising the superior volume of medieval ordinance, the ITMs layed down there guns, listened and, at length applauded. Paddy wandered in to see what the ruckus was. With victory in hand, the medievals paked their instruments and acolades and left the ITMs reeling (as usual).
Wonderful stuff.
Great to see Jaimie McClennan in the sessions as well.
# Posted on April 11th 2010 by Mozle