Planxty's first major gig in the early 70's was when they played support to Donovan.The popular legend has it that everybody emerged from the concert spellbound after witnessing the birth of modern Irish music.Totally forgetting about Donovan.
I always understood this concert to have taken place in Cork City hall.Now,dont ask me where i heard it cos i haven't a clue.Recently I was going through Andy Irvine's website and he says the concert in question took place in Galway.I guess he should know, but does anyone know why i might have thought of Cork.Was there another famous Planxty concert there? or were they supporting Donovan on a tour or something?Cant think that he would have subjected himself to sideshow status night after night though.
Also,it'd be great to hear from anyone who witnessed any of those early Planxty gigs.
Yep, Planxty played both Cork and Galway on that tour, supporting Donovan.
I spoke to Liam, Andy and Do/nal earlier this year in relation to an article I wrote which appeared in fRoots this summer and there was some confusion as to whether the audience's epiphany happened in Cork or Galway. According to Christy Moore, it was definitely the latter, but Andy distinctly remembers the Galway gig as the occasion.
In 1977 I saw Donovan "open" for the band "Yes" (in Seattle). If he had not already been blown away by then, certainly on that evening "Yes" did so.
Maybe it was his rendition of "I Love my Shirt" that did him in that evening. In case you have forgotten the lyrics...
"Do you have a shirt that you really love,
One that you feel so groovy in ?
You don't even mind if it starts to fade,
That only makes it nicer still.
I love my shirt, I love my shirt,
My shirt is so comfortably lovely.
I love my shirt, I love my shirt,
My shirt is so comfortably lovely."
My father, a Cork man ,was at the gigs in Galway and Cork and to this day he reckons he has yet to see or hear better. And Sharon Shannon is his neice!
Thanks for that information.It sounds like quite an exciting time to have been around.Fair play to Donovan! Maybe he was as mesmerized as everyone else.I was born around that time and i'll be seeing them for the first time next month so i'm pretty excited myself.Cheers.
He survived, though. When was it at the "Boys of Balisodare" festival Planxty (reunited) and Donovan were on the list of performers (79, 80?) I remember enjoying both sets.
Where was Donovan blown away???
Where was Donovan blown away???
Planxty's first major gig in the early 70's was when they played support to Donovan.The popular legend has it that everybody emerged from the concert spellbound after witnessing the birth of modern Irish music.Totally forgetting about Donovan.
I always understood this concert to have taken place in Cork City hall.Now,dont ask me where i heard it cos i haven't a clue.Recently I was going through Andy Irvine's website and he says the concert in question took place in Galway.I guess he should know, but does anyone know why i might have thought of Cork.Was there another famous Planxty concert there? or were they supporting Donovan on a tour or something?Cant think that he would have subjected himself to sideshow status night after night though.
Also,it'd be great to hear from anyone who witnessed any of those early Planxty gigs.
# Posted on December 18th 2004 by cunnla
Re: Where was Donovan blown away???
Yep, Planxty played both Cork and Galway on that tour, supporting Donovan.
I spoke to Liam, Andy and Do/nal earlier this year in relation to an article I wrote which appeared in fRoots this summer and there was some confusion as to whether the audience's epiphany happened in Cork or Galway. According to Christy Moore, it was definitely the latter, but Andy distinctly remembers the Galway gig as the occasion.
Ultimately, does it matter?
All the best,
G
# Posted on December 18th 2004 by Floss the Tethers
Re: Where was Donovan blown away???
In 1977 I saw Donovan "open" for the band "Yes" (in Seattle). If he had not already been blown away by then, certainly on that evening "Yes" did so.
Maybe it was his rendition of "I Love my Shirt" that did him in that evening. In case you have forgotten the lyrics...
"Do you have a shirt that you really love,
One that you feel so groovy in ?
You don't even mind if it starts to fade,
That only makes it nicer still.
I love my shirt, I love my shirt,
My shirt is so comfortably lovely.
I love my shirt, I love my shirt,
My shirt is so comfortably lovely."
--Donovan
# Posted on December 18th 2004 by Eliot
Re: Where was Donovan blown away???
My father, a Cork man ,was at the gigs in Galway and Cork and to this day he reckons he has yet to see or hear better. And Sharon Shannon is his neice!
# Posted on December 19th 2004 by compaqjohn
Re: Where was Donovan blown away???
Thanks for that information.It sounds like quite an exciting time to have been around.Fair play to Donovan! Maybe he was as mesmerized as everyone else.I was born around that time and i'll be seeing them for the first time next month so i'm pretty excited myself.Cheers.
# Posted on December 19th 2004 by cunnla
Re: Where was Donovan blown away???
He survived, though. When was it at the "Boys of Balisodare" festival Planxty (reunited) and Donovan were on the list of performers (79, 80?) I remember enjoying both sets.
# Posted on December 20th 2004 by grego
or was it one of the Lisdoonvarna festivals? It's all a bit of a blur now.
# Posted on December 20th 2004 by grego