Shissf (Music Groups)
The Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle, aka SHISSF. Shissf is a fiddle school held every year in Wellington, New Zealand. The school runs for a week in April. The school's director: Catherine Fraser has a Bachelor of Teaching Music from Adelaide University. She is a fantastic fiddle player who is able to express such emotion through her playing. The school's Co-Director is Duncan Smith, he is a multi instrumentalist and is in demand around the world for workshops and concerts. If you live in New Zealand or Australia this school is well worth while checking out! Checkout the website! Also go to Catherine Fraser's official website: www.catherinefraser.com

January 2nd 2009

Jonathan Lynn (Humour)
The founder of the Toronto group TIPsplinter and recitationist extraordinaire.

December 31st 2008

Guidewires (Music Groups)
Guidewires, One of Irish music's greatest musical experiences Welcome to the home page of one of Irish music's hottest new sounds, "Guidewires". Here you will find all the latest news on the band as well as some pictures, videos, touring dates and much more. Guidewires: With their high-energy performances, breathtaking arrangements and their infectious melodies, its no wonder that this band are being described as “The freshest sound in Irish music”. With four members coming from Ireland and one from Brittany it is inevitable their mix of music is not just Irish but also Breton, Middle Eastern, Galician and newly composed. Guidewires have an all-star line up with a record five times all Ireland champion Pádraig Rynne on concertina, Breton music’s hottest name Sylvain Barou on Flute, one of Ireland’s most recognisable names Tóla Custy on fiddle, top producer and performer Paul McSherry on guitar and one of the fastest growing stars in Irish music, Karol Lynch on Bouzouki. All members have had renowned fame individually within music. Their love and passion of this music has brought them together to create this unique and groundbreaking band “Guidewires” With a new album due for release in early 2009 this band can only continue on the upward spiral. Live performances have been described as being electric and leave audiences on their feet longing for more.

December 30th 2008

Concertinas in Scotland (Regional Guides)
A new forum especially designed to promote an interest in Concertinas in Scotland. This new forum is designed to find out how many Concertina players there actually are in Scotland & perhaps encourage more contact between them & help them to stay in touch with one another & so hopefully strengthen the Scottish Concertina community. Cheers Dick

December 29th 2008

Uiscedwr (Music Groups)
Funky-folk quartet Uiscedwr is one of Britain's most exciting contemporary bands. Featuring Anna Esslemont on fiddle and vocals with James Hickman on guitar and Karen Tweed on piano accordion, the band's sound is underpinned by Cormac Byrne (of Seth Lakeman band fame) playing the most thrilling percussion you're ever likely to hear. With awards from the BBC and the PRS Foundation and two highly acclaimed albums under their belt, Uiscedwr's music is fatter, funkier and folkier than ever before. The eclectic repertoire draws on traditions from all over the British isles tempered by influences as diverse as jazz, Latin, blues, and klezmer. Spend an evening with Uiscedwr and travel with them round the world.

December 18th 2008

The Kane Sisters (Solo Musicians)
Together Liz and Yvonne Kane create a highly exciting and vibrant sound. These sisters come from Dawros on the outskirts of Letterfrack, a village in Connemara along the West coast of Ireland. With a musical tradition on both sides of the family, it was only natural for the girls to play music. Their grandfather, fiddle player Jimmy Mullen, has been a leading figure on the traditional music scene in Connemara for over 50 years and it was his enthusiasm that encouraged the sisters to learn to play the fiddle. They began learning music from both their grandfather Jimmy Mullen and South Sligo musician and teacher, Mary Finn McCrudden. Along with the recordings of the Rainey brothers, their grandfather and Mary were an early influence on their music. The Raineys were travelling fiddle players who visited Letterfrack and the surrounding areas in the 1950s. Music very soon became an integral part of their everyday lives and holidays were spent attending summer schools in Tubbercurry and Drumshanbo. Liz was interested in competition unlike Yvonne who disliked the tense atmosphere. In 1992, Liz won the Fiddler of Dooney in Sligo and went on to win the All-Ireland senior fiddle and duet title as well as the Fiddler of Oriel in 1995. She returned to Monaghan the following year and regained the Fiddler of Oriel title. Yvonne and Liz consider their style to be heavily influenced by South Sligo fiddle playing, the music of East Galway and in particular the fiddle playing and compositions of Paddy Fahey. In recent years, the sisters have been privileged to meet and play with Paddy whose music plays a central role in their repertoire. The recordings of Michael Coleman, Hughie Gillespie, Andy McGann and Kathleen Collins have also made an impact on their music. Liz studied music at University College Cork and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and a Higher Diploma in Education. Yvonne moved to Galway and began playing music fulltime. After finishing in Cork, Liz returned to Galway and they both shared a house with musician, Sharon Shannon. The following year, they joined her band as part of 'Sharon Shannon and The Woodchoppers'. For the next three years, the band took them all over the world to promote the release of the album 'The Diamond Mountain Sessions'. They released their first album together 'The Well-Tempered Bow' in May 2002, and subsequently released their second album 'Under the Diamond' in 2004. The girls have also guested on a number of albums: • The Diamond Mountain Sessions - Sharon Shannon (2000) Recorded in the Monastery Hostel in Letterfrack, Galway along with Donal Lunny, Carlos Nunez, Steve Earle, John Prine, Mary Staunton, Jackson Browne, The Hothouse Flowers and Dessie O'Halloran (Liz and Yvonne) • The Fiddler Fair - compilation from Fiddle Festival Mc Carthy's Pub Baltimore, Cork (2000) (Liz and Yvonnne) • Behind the Mist - compilation of musicians who have been part of the Bog and Sea Week festivals in Letterfrack over the last fifteen years. (2000) (Liz and Yvonne) • Idir Dhá Solas - Maighread and Tríona ní Dhomnaill (2000) (Liz and Yvonne) • Providence - Providence (1999) (Liz) • Transcendental Blues - Steve Earle (2000) (Liz and Yvonne) • The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone - Cherish the Ladies (2000) (Yvonne) • Memories from the Holla - Peter and Angelina Carberry (2001) (Liz) • The Pound Road - Dessie O'Halloran (2001) (Liz and Yvonne) • Mná na hÉireann (Liz and Yvonne)

December 18th 2008

Neill Lyons (Solo Musicians)
Neill Lyons is from Bayside on Dublin's northside. He began playing music at a young age under the guidance of Fidelma and Mick O'Brien. Neill initially started off on the tin whistle but soon took a greater interest in the bodhrán. In 1994, at the age of 16, Neill won first place in the under 18s bodhrán competition at the All-Ireland Fleadh, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. Within a year of this win, Neill had formed a young an exciting Irish traditional band named Délos. Among the founding members with Neill in this band were; Éamonn De Barra, Fionán De Barra, Éamonn Galldubh, Tomás Ó Briain and Dónal O’ Connor. Délos were in big demand in the Dublin Traditional Music scene and toured Europe quite extensively throughout the mid 1990’s. In 1999 Neill recorded a live album with the group 'Sessions from the Hearth', once again playing with Éamonn De Barra and other well-respected musicians such as: Peter Browne, Alan Maguire, Enda Scahill, Deirdre Scanlon and Malachy Bourke. At this stage Neill's bodhrán playing was becoming much sought after and Neill was invited to record with the Dubliners' Ronnie Drew on his record named 'The Humour Is On Me Now' which was released in 1999. Throughout the early years of the new millennium, Neill toured with the Gavin Whelan band around Europe and one memorable tour in the Middle East. Neill was also a frequent guest with Slide, one of the most exciting Irish traditional music bands of today. In 2006 Neill was the inaugural winner of The World Bodhrán Championships (senior), held in Milltown, County Kerry. This important win gained Neill respect as a bodhrán player not only in Ireland but internationally. Neill's youngest brother Conor followed in his footsteps by winning the World Bodhrán Championships in both 2007 and 2008. To date Neill can be seen playing around the Dublin traditional music circuit and most recently has had the privilege to play with the Damien Dempsey band on the Irish and UK legs of his 2008 tour.

December 18th 2008

Martin Meehan (Solo Musicians)
Martin Meehan was born in 1977 and hails from Manchester. He began playing the tin whistle at a very early age before graduating onto the flute. Angela Durkan and Michael Mc Goldrick began teaching Martin the whistle from the age of 6. Mike introduced Martin to the flute, before his departure to Ireland in 1988. Thanks to the tuition and guidance of Tony Carberry Martin had attained two All-Ireland titles on the bodhrán in 1988 and 1990. The Manchester Irish traditional music scene has been in existence for over sixty years and undergone many changes. During Martin's time in Manchester, this was a thriving scene to be involved in. He had very close affiliations with the Manchester CCÉ and grew up playing with great players such as: Eamonn Dinan, Paul and Colin Farrell, Jon-Joe Kelly, Angelina Carberry, Geraldine Lyons, Grace Kelly, Andrew Dinan, Sean Regan, but to name a few. Deep gratitude is owed to Peter Carberry for his time and commitment during this period. When Martin moved from Manchester to County Armagh in the north of Ireland, he joined the Armagh Pipers club headed by Brian and Eithne Vallely. The Armagh Pipers Club has been in existence for over 20 years. The establishment of traditional music within the Armagh area is a product of the hard work and commitment of Brian and Ethne. Musicians such as Mark Donnelly, Brian Finnegan, Tiarnan Ó Duinnchinn and Jarleth Henderson have been actively involved within the Pipers club hence raising the standard of Irish traditional music in Armagh and the north of Ireland on a whole. The late Peg McGrath had a massive impetus into Martin's flute playing, as he regularly attended her home in Dundalk for lessons. Martin's Father Eugene, hails from Tullamore in County Offaly and plays the box. His Mother Margaret originates from Keady in County Armagh and is a proficient singer. His parent's enthusiasm and love for Irish traditional music has been a catalyst for Martin's musical success. His older brother Paul is a professional musician who plays with the Karen Casey band and has also appeared with Liz Carroll, Tommy Peoples and Lunasa. Katriona, Martin's younger sister, plays the fiddle and she is following firmly in her older siblings footsteps.

December 18th 2008

At First Light (Music Groups)
At First Light comprises the talents of world renowned Uilleann Piper John McSherry and outstanding young fiddle player Dónal O'Connor, creators of Tripswitch, which has been described as 'Acoustic perfection'. Combined with the sublime talent of Francis McIlduff from the famous McPeake clann, the power, clarity and sheer joy of Alan Burke formerly of the band Afterhours and 'Asturien Traditional Musician of the Year 2006' Rubén Bada and you can see why the band is being portrayed as 'a dream team line up'.

December 18th 2008

Geraldine Bradley (Solo Musicians)
Geraldine grew up with music and singing. Her eldest brother, Pat played accordion and began a family interest in traditional music, although he was completely self taught. Geraldine's mother, Shiela, influenced her greatly towards singing. As a great reciter of poetry at home, she was one to quote tracts from Shakespeare to make a point. It was the narrative and lyrical aspect of songs therefore that initially attracted Geraldine to songs and singing. Geraldine's father, Willie Bradley played the cornet in the Camlough Band. He read music well and had a sharp sense of timing. He also had the ability to sing notes in perfect pitch, which amazed Geraldine. Geraldine's sisters were all good singers, and her brothers taught themselves and each other to play traditional music on; accordion, flute, fiddle bodhrán and mandolin and became well known for their talents. Geraldine states: "The din when they were all practicing was memorable, as I’m sure it still is to the neighbours!" Geraldine began learning traditional and folk songs whilst at primary school and continued learning from records as a teenager. The process was encouraged by visits to the Gaeltacht in Donegal for a month or two each summer, where she actively sought out new songs and sang on various occasions on Raidió na Gaeltachta. Geraldine was privileged to meet the renowned singer, Neilli Ní Dhomhnaill when Geraldine was fifteen and a student in Rann na Feirste. Geraldine spent an afternoon in her kitchen with AJ Hughes listening to her songs and recording them on audio tape with the clock ticking in the background. Whilst studying at Rann na Feirste, Geraldine was also taught by Huidi Phaidi Huidi (Aodh Ó Duibheannaigh) and heard himself and John Grainne, a relative of Huidi, singing and storytelling in the college. Later at Fleadheanna Cheoil Geraldine enjoyed plenty of musical exchange with other singers such as John Kennedy of Cullybackey and Paddy Tunney of Fermanagh. Geraldine first met Sean Ó Gallcobhair, Doire at a Fleadh in Cootehill in 1982. Sean, then in his sixties, had a great love for and knowledge of Songs and their relationship to the human soul. It was an instant case of "Aithnionn Ciarog Ciarog Eile" (One Earwig recognises another) when Geraldine met Sean. They spent many hours singing and talking about singing; Geraldine recalls: "If I feel nervous prior to performing I recall his pleasure at hearing the songs I sang in his company and his words of encouragement: “Sing, girl, sing!"

December 18th 2008

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