Fiddlefreak is a blog on which you can find information about new recordings in the folk genre. Oftentimes with links to youtube videos or soundclips. A good way to inform about new music.
You can find it here:
http://fiddlefreak.com/
GoChords is an easy way to create chordsheets for songs. But first you have to register. It's free, so don't mind. After that you can start with a new song. Just copy the lyrics from wherever you want and paste it into the screen. After that you can select the chords and put them into the correct place. Select font and size, and size of chord boxes and there you go. It's as easy as that.
Supported instruments are so far: guitar, different Ukuleles and Mandolin. No bouzouki so far. But don't mind. You can create your own chords. What I did is, I selected mandolin and defined my own chords for this instrument. So I select mandolin and custom chords and I can use my own chords. That's ok for me. I hope they will support bouzouki in the future as well.
Litha is the new name of the quartett formerly known as 2Duos. Aaron Jones, Claire Mann, Gudrun Walters and Jürgen Treyz just released their second CD, which they sold on their last tour in Germany.
My friend Peter known as barnacles posted a video from this tour on youtube. Have a look, it's fantastic!
pdebee posted another one of his gems. He had the chance to make a video of Andy explaining how to play Reynardine. Patrick writes:
"On Wednesday 15 September 2004, Andy was scheduled to perform at the Tower Arts Centre in Winchester, UK.
The week before, on Wednesday 8 September, I had seen him perform at the West End Centre in Aldershot and, at the end of that gig, I had asked him if he would allow me to film him playing 'Reynardine/Johnny Cúig' in Winchester a week later, so that I could learn it from the resulting video.
To my amazement, he kindly suggested that we meet up at the Winchester venue a few hours before he was due on stage, so that I could film him close-up and unencumbered by obstacles like microphone stands etc..
So, a week later, I turned up at the Winchester Tower Arts Centre as agreed and, sure enough, after his sound check we went backstage and this video clip is the end-result: a one-to-one, close-up demonstration on how to play 'Reynardine/Johnny Cúig'.
By the way, Andy tells us that the 'Johnny Cúig' tune was inspired by the song and 6-part hornpipe called Johnny Cope he used to sing and play in Planxty days (see 'Cold Blow and the Rainy Night'). After adapting parts of the hornpipe to the Bulgarian paidushko rhythm of 5/8, he decided to call the resulting tune 'Johnny Cúig', since 'cúig' means '5' in Irish.
Thanks once again, Andy; you are always such a generous person and a real gent!
Patrick. :-))"
This is one of my favourit jigs. I already posted several videos by Kyle25rs. This is his interpretation of this tune he learned from a video of Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny here on youtube. Infortunately I wasn't able to find it here. Maybe someone can post the link to it?
An Dorian are based in the southern part of Germany. They play a lively mix of trad tunes and songs.
These videos were recorded at the Bobenheim Folkmeeting, September 2011.
An Dorian are:
Janna Kirchhof - voice, fiddle
Christian Roch - whistle, voice
Ulf Bangert - Irish bouzouki
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/andorianirishfolk
The Lily of the west
What a combination. Michael on flute and Paddy on bouzouki perform Michael's compositions "Farewell to Whalley Range" and "The Honesty Bar" jig during a concert filmed at the Sligo Summer School in July 2011. Michael spent time as a youngster at the Summer School, where he studied under great local tutors. This year he returned 25 years on to impart some of his extensive knowledge to students at this year's Summer School.
This concert was webcast on www.LiveTrad.com.
Did you ever thought of learning your instrument with an online teacher? Here's the possibility. The Online Academy Of Irish Music offers several courses for instruments used in Irish Folk Music. Look here: http://oaim.ie
These are the offered courses and tutors:
* Bodhrán Tutor: Brian Flemming * Bouzouki Tutor: Billy Mag Fhloinn * Concertina Tutor: Ernestine Healy * Fiddle Tutor: Majella Bartley * Flute Tutors: Kirsten Allstaff, Majella Bartley,Niall Keegan * Song Tutor: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh * Tin Whistle Tutor: Thomas Johnston * Uilleann Pipes Tutor: Mikie Smyth * Piano Tutor: Stephen Markham
€19.95 per month £17.95 per month $25.95 per month
I did not subscribe but watched the free lessons and think they are great. If you subscribe please leave a comment if you think it's a good offer or not.
Here is supergroup Dervish playing an intimate session at Hargadon's Bar in the centre of Sligo, Ireland. The entire session was broadcast live worldwide over the internet.
A live performance from O'Connor's bar in Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland, during the launch of the Online Academy of Irish Music in April 2011. This session was webcast on www.LiveTrad.com.
Here are two more videos of Ale och Elna, who were former winners at Swedens largest music competition for youngsters. The first tune, "Lieman (... och Lärkan)" is originally a tune called "Ängstunden" composed by Bill McChesney. The second tune "Jigen" is composed by Ale Carr.
Another Tune called "Ales Engelska"
And here's something really special: Dreamers Circus - Mozart
An old song Andy used to sing in the late 70s. On his new tour he's playing it again. Andy is playing a Drifter Promotions show at the Prince Albert, Brighton, 27/06/11.
Duncan Cameron, multi instrumentalist has just published a 3 part intro to the irish bouzouki. Might be of interest for absolute beginners. His website: www.duncancameron.com
Cirrustraditionmusic posted this video, an extract of TG4's "Lorg Lunny". On this video you have a good look at what Donal is playing. Really interesting. "Dónal and Mike play Farewell to Whalley Range a slipjig that Mike composed. In this scene Mike is recommending the slip jig for inclusion in a set of tunes that Ciorras will play. Ciorras are the band that were formed as a result of the tv series that this clip comes from; TG4's 'Lorg Lunny'"
Another posting of bilko. This is Donal playing the tune Fairfield Mirage from the long deleted album "The Gathering", which featured Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, Peter Brown, Matt Molloy and Tommy Potts.
