The University of Chicago Folk Festival is happening this weekend. Seamus Connolly, backed by Marty Fahey, will be performing Friday and Saturday nights, alongside a host of fantastic bluegrass, cajun, blues, and other performers, including a group all the way from Portugal. Tickets for Friday night are $17 in advance, $19 at the door. Tickets for Saturday are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
There are FREE workshops during the day (including a workshop on fiddle with Seamus, and many different dance workshops) on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be impromptu sessions and jams all over the place, so come on down if you get a chance.
Strongly recommend that those who can do so attend! I am geographically challenged, being in the SF Bay Area, but had the pleasure of attending classes with him at Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in 2001. One of the highlights of that week was a session he was leading that I walked into late.
I remember being disappointed with his CD, "Notes from my Mind" because he didn't include hardly any of the very skillful and inventive ornamentation he's so good at. He's also very personable as well as extremely knowledgeable about the music he plays. I really hope to be able to attend classes with him again now that I know more Irish tunes and can really learn from him like I couldn't in 2001.
Cathrynb, I think it's interesting that you were disappointed in that cd. I absolutely love it, and I think it's a great example of both the swing he gets from his music and the ornamentation he uses. I also like the way he switches between tune types, which is not a terribly common thing in Irish music. He told me he was the first to really do that in Irish recordings.
It's definitely worth attending a class with him though, especially when it's free! And as said, he's an incredibly friendly person, and knows a tremendous amount about the music.
For those who weren't there, the concert was great. I can't imagine getting more for $18.00. I have never really heard Seamus Connelly besides on the "Banks of the Shannon" and I believe "Warming Up" but I was blown away by his technical ability and passion. By the way, heth if you are the one who played on stage with Seamus Connelly, you sounded great. I would be happy if I sounded half as good.
Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
The University of Chicago Folk Festival is happening this weekend. Seamus Connolly, backed by Marty Fahey, will be performing Friday and Saturday nights, alongside a host of fantastic bluegrass, cajun, blues, and other performers, including a group all the way from Portugal. Tickets for Friday night are $17 in advance, $19 at the door. Tickets for Saturday are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
There are FREE workshops during the day (including a workshop on fiddle with Seamus, and many different dance workshops) on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be impromptu sessions and jams all over the place, so come on down if you get a chance.
for more information, visit http://www.uofcfolk.org/
# Posted on February 7th 2006 by heth
Re: Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
...and make sure to give a full report to those of us in far-flung locales!
# Posted on February 8th 2006 by sts
Re: Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
Strongly recommend that those who can do so attend! I am geographically challenged, being in the SF Bay Area, but had the pleasure of attending classes with him at Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp in 2001. One of the highlights of that week was a session he was leading that I walked into late.
I remember being disappointed with his CD, "Notes from my Mind" because he didn't include hardly any of the very skillful and inventive ornamentation he's so good at. He's also very personable as well as extremely knowledgeable about the music he plays. I really hope to be able to attend classes with him again now that I know more Irish tunes and can really learn from him like I couldn't in 2001.
# Posted on February 9th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
Cathrynb, I think it's interesting that you were disappointed in that cd. I absolutely love it, and I think it's a great example of both the swing he gets from his music and the ornamentation he uses. I also like the way he switches between tune types, which is not a terribly common thing in Irish music. He told me he was the first to really do that in Irish recordings.
It's definitely worth attending a class with him though, especially when it's free! And as said, he's an incredibly friendly person, and knows a tremendous amount about the music.
# Posted on February 10th 2006 by heth
Re: Seamus Connolly in Chicago this weekend
For those who weren't there, the concert was great. I can't imagine getting more for $18.00. I have never really heard Seamus Connelly besides on the "Banks of the Shannon" and I believe "Warming Up" but I was blown away by his technical ability and passion. By the way, heth if you are the one who played on stage with Seamus Connelly, you sounded great. I would be happy if I sounded half as good.
# Posted on February 12th 2006 by 21