Right.. Back again after a weekend starting with torrential downpours on friday, sitting in with the band 'Cuts and crans' as bodhrán stuntman : )

The saturday cleared up (thank God) and we had a good craic with lots of music and, among a host of others, the…

Two of my favourite artists (Conal O'Grada and Colm Murphy) on two of my favourite instruments (Flute and Bodhrán)

All rolled into one, and a nice set, Lord Gordon's / Kiss the maid behind the barrel lift my spirits every time i hear it.

Great music!

 …

RE: the dreadful tragedy in Norway.

Death Toll rises to 91 in Norway Attacks!

My sympathy goes out to all our Norwegian members here, I hope you & all your families are safe & well.

Perhaps it is time to examine Gun Control in Norway, as we did in Scotland after the…

Found a video today on how to improve a "Ebay/Pakistani/tourist" € 40 bodhrán. Great stuff, and great results for little effort.

Now i was thinking if members here could/would share tips like for example what/how to make a flea market mandolin, if not great, at least playable.  I don't mean major stuff, but more like putting new strings on, maybe oiling…

Sad news - we've just lost another of the old school players.

Here's a link to a thread on Concertina.net, with comments from fellow Concertina players, on the loss of Mary Ellen Curtin:  …

Sam says on his maintenance page:

"The tuning slide and the traditional waxed thread joints should be coated with joint grease. 

The grease is made by melting one part of beeswax to two parts of…

This song is very special to me.. Planxty was one of the greatest bands ever IMO.

 

If you're at all interested in trad. Irish music you owe it to yourself to listen to this breathtaking tune by Frankie Gavin, Alec Finn and last but not least my personal Jesus on the bodhrán, Colm Murphy.

While i am at it, here's one more feat. Frankie Gavin on tin whistle and the one and only Colm Murphy on the bodhrán.

 …

Listening to this new album a.t.m. Absolutely brilliant stuff (as you would expect) The combination of flat set of pipes and fiddle (also flute on a couple tracks) is pure magic, If you haven't already - run along and get this album!

All the best

Without further ado, here's my preciousSSSss :)

Just back from postoffice, of course i tried it almost before taking shoes off. Except for my crappy embouchure it's a belting flute! On those rare occasions when i get the embouchure right it buzzes between my fingers and has that almighty earthy powerful tone Mr Murray is famous for. All in all i am a happy camper today :)

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First off - Murray flute is now on Swedish soil! Expecting it tomorrow or friday latest! Eat my shorts Santa, this is the highlight of the year so far : )

Second - I will take the bodhrán workshop at  the

Öland Celtic Irish Music Festival…

  My friend Jimmy has been posting a lot of music from Brittany. I love Breton music because it is Celtic but has a distinctive flavour. I know my other friend Christi will agree with me on this.  I see music as colour. When I listen to Irish music, I see green(well it is obvious isn't it?) for Scottish it is blue and for Brittany it has an olive green feel with an almost…

First day of my vacation. Murray flute has now left Portlaoise, waiting is killing me, can't for the life of me understand why it has to be sent from Galway -> Athlone -> Portlaoise.. What's next? Naas? Sigh..

Oh well, maybe i should sit down and play "March of the king of Laoise" in the meantime : )

Got a Macassar bodhrán tipper from Christian Hedwitschak today so a little comfort there, feels pretty awesome too!

Yay for Christian, you're the man!…

hi

my name is odhran fox i went to willie clancy festival for the first time and i enjoyed it, the sessions and the classes. i play the fiddle and am at grade 2. when i went to the classes i was at the school at spanish point.

Well, only one week to go now, before Damien O'Kane plays the Springhill Bar in Portrush, Co Antrim.

Damien O'Kane Trio

I wonder, is anyone else…

There are artists out there like Fiach Moriarty and Michele Ann Kelly who make nice pop rock tunes but still incorporate that Irish flavor in terms of guest musicians. Traditional instruments have found their way into modern radio format more and more and I think this is further encouraged by movies. The recent movie by Colin Farell called Undine featured Sharon Shannon as a funeral musician.

I think this is great because it encourages more and more musicians playing…

Now i have tracking number for the Sam Murray flute, yay! Checked 'AnPost' website:

"

 I have been bringing out old CDs and MP3s again. It is a weekend and as usual it is a blast from the past.If I look at my Clannad catalog I realize it will take me hours upon hours just to listen to everything they recorded, from full length albums to compilations and EPs. Most people probably think that we you say Irish traditional music, it means a kind of music that is mournful and something that you play on funerals. Will they can't be really wrong. But that is just one fourth of the…