Fiddlefreak Folk Music Blog

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

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.

Try it, I think you will like it.

http://www.gochords.com/

Now they offer a tablet version, too, but it's 5€ per month. In my opinion that's definitely too much. But everyone may decide for themselves. I think the free online version is ok.

Litha (2Duos)

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!




More information:

http://www.myspace.com/2duos

http://www.2duos.de/


Herr Olof, Live in Ettlingen near Karlsruhe, 2011

Waltzes, Live Ettlingen 2011

Dónal Lunny

I found some new videos by Dónal Lunny on youtube which are really worth looking at:

Cúnla - Trio Dónal Lunny, Pádraig Rynne, Sylvain Barou


Siobhán Ní Dhuibhir - Trio Dónal Lunny, Pádraig Rynne, Sylvain Barou

Behind the haystack

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?

Foxhunters and Bucks of Oranmore

Kyle Borley (Irish concert flute) and D'Arcy Stearns (Irish bouzouki), from Winnipeg, Canada. website: http://www.borleyandstearns.ca

Yellow Wattle and another Jig in G (Paidin O Raifeartaigh?)

Frances and Sean Conningham from Whistletutor.com playing two traditional Jigs on bouzouki and flute. Awesome!


Hammy Hamiltons / Unknown Slip Jig


Launching the Boat and Lad O'Beirne's


Maids of Mitchellstown/With Her Long Dark Hair Flowing Down Her Back


The Old Favorite and the Maid at the Well

An Dorian

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


Billy Taylor


Swallow's tail / Old Dudeen / Long drop (reels)

Michael McGoldrick and Paddy Kerr

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.



Here's another video from this set:




And another one

Beth Patterson - Some new videos

One of my favourite bouzouki players from the US. These are videos from a house concert from 7/2/2010

1. Buzzer, a cover of a Dar Williams song



2. Range Rover



3. Tom Sawyer Cover of a Rush song

Online Academy Of Irish Music

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

Here is the chance to watch some free lessons:
http://oaim.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56

The cost of membership is:

€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.

Dervish - Traditional Irish Music from LiveTrad.com

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.



More videos of this session here:
http://www.livetrad.com/Videos/dervishlive/

O'Connor's Pub OAIM Launch Clip 4 - Traditional Irish Music from LiveTrad.com

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.

A lovely song, does anyone know the name of it?

Donal Lunny solo

No description available on youtube. But a stunning solo performance of Donal on his 10 string blarge.

Paddy Glackin and Donal Lunny

Paddy and Donal at the Steeple sessionsat the Unitarian Church on St. Stephens Green in Dublin on Tuesday 24th of May 2011. What a performance!



Here's another video from "solidarity with Japan gig"