Tag Archives: Irish folk music

Irish Folk Musician, Chris Lucas, Johnny Foxes

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The Irish music coming out of Johnny Foxes one winter evening was some of the best traditional Irish folk music I had  heard on my whole trip to Ireland some fifteen years ago. The Irish musician Chris Lucas was playing at Johnny Foxes and he was terrific. We got to talking and I have Chris get me a cd so I could submit it to a couple of fellows who distributed Irish music in the states. Chris handed over the recording and with a, you are so full of it shrug, returned to playing his classic Irish folk music. I put the cd in my bag and when I got home made some calls on his account, a few months pass and one of the cd distributors ask if he would be willing to do some personal appearances, that it’s a tough business, no guarantees yadda yadda yadda. So nothing ventured nothing gained, I call the number on the cd case and it’s disconnected, I try to find him in Dublin phone directories, no luck, google him for Irish folk musician Dublin, nothing. I call back my friend at the distributorship and he tells me that it was probably a long shot anyway, let it go.

So time passes and “Troubled Times” by Chris Lucas is one of my favorite Irish music cds and gets full play at the St Patrick’s celebration I have each year. Other lovers of Irish music ask me were they can get a copy and I have to let them copy mine, which kills me because I like musicians to make money on their talent, not have it recorded and given away. My daughter while at Providence College, DJ’d an Irish music radio show on the college station, and wouldn’t you know my copy of Chris’s cd ended up on her playlist, It did sound nice hearing it on the Irish radio station.

Paddy Barry's

Irish Music-Paddy Barrys

Each year on occasion I would google a search for Chris Lucas Dubliner, Irish Music, Irish folk singer, but nothing would turn up. Now this will show how small the world is. This year just before Christmas I’m at Paddy Barrys Pub in Quincy Ma., the best little pub in Massachusetts, and there are several local musicians in attendance. I’m talking with Paul Kenney, An accomplished Irish Musician in his own right, about nothing in particular,when I ask Paul what part of Ireland he is originally from. Paul tells me he’s from Dublin and goes on to talk about some of the parts of Dublin and has some funny stories to tell, so I ask him if he ever heard of an Irish musician named Chris Lucas. “Oh Chris, he grew up two house down from me in Dublin” , I nearly fell off my stool, I ask Paul where has he been for the last 15 years, and he tells me he’s still playing and that he was over in the Boston area a few years ago. I finally did manage to find a youtube video, but I wasn’t sure if it was him, he seemed a lot older than he was 15 years ago.

Cheers

Finnegans Wake

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Finnegans Wake, the classic up tempo Irish folk music song is a must have for the Irish song troubadour. There are two ways to learn Finnegans Wake that will ensure it is sung with true Irish feeling and empathy.

  • The first is to lock yourself up in an ancient Irish castle or round tower and read the entire works of James Joyce, culminating with his 676 pages of Finnegan’s Wake.
  • The second would be to listen to different versions of the Irish folk music classic and keep an ear out for the proper feel of this Irish folk song.
It’s a tough choice I know but if you are willing to put in the time, I’ll suggest a few Irish folk musicians who do the song justice.
Finnegans wake by Christy Moore, slower tempo but has good feeling

Finnegans wake byThe Irish Rovers, they do a decent job, a little more life in this Irish folk music classic

But the Best version Of Finnegans Wake is and always has been the Clancy Brothers, You would think that after all this time there would be an Irish folk group to do the music justice, The story telling before the song gets a little old though. The Reunion cd.

Modern Irish music groups that have given Finnegans Wake a try include The Dropkick Murphy’s, a good old Boston rock/Irish influenced version if you like the Murphy’s you’ll enjoy this rock version.

The Fenian Sons give it a try, but still don’t have the true feeling for the song.

The best hope for new old Irish folk music might be The Orthodox Celts from Serbia

Yea I know this video isn’t Finnegans wake, but their youtube version just didn’t come through right and I wanted to give these guys some credit.

Cheers.

Best performance of Irish music

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Catching an irish music sing song in a classic Irish pub is a great way to cap off a night in Ireland. My wife and I were lucky enough to be part of this irish music tradition in a nice pub in the harbor town of Kinsale, County Cork. Kinsale is located on the west coast of Cork, and has a rich history which surrounds its strategic harbor. In present day Kinsale you can find some of the finest restaurants and bistros in Ireland. According to the irish tourism office Kinsale is the gourmet capital of Ireland.

On this particular night,  after spending a fantastic relaxed day of strolling around the city, We found ourselves at the Shanakee pub. We entered the pub, ordered at the bar and chatted about the day. The pub was about half filled (as it was in October) and soon we were engaged in some local conversation. It turned out some of the lads had attended University in Boston (our hometown) so we joked about some Boston landmarks and mutual interests. The intent that night was to turn in early, but the conversations were so enjoyable that we were glad to change our plans and stayed out late. Well one of the fellas says that we’re in for a treat, that  the pub owner is getting ready to play some music. They told me that there was a fellow with a great voice and we were sure to hear some mighty Irish singing. The fellow had a nice voice, and the Irish music was mighty, but it was not the best performance of Irish music of the night. the best Irish music performance of that night or any other, was sung by an elderly Kinsale woman who had the worst voice I had ever heard. When she first started singing I thought someone had stepped on a cat, or 20 people were writing their names on a blackboard with their fingernails, her voice was awful.

BUT, THE JOY AND PASSION SHE HAD IN SINGING HER SONG MADE YOU LISTEN.

She sang an Irish song with no talent but with extreme love of the Irish music, she had no shame in her lack of talent only love for her connection to the Irish music and her country. On that day I learned what Irish music is all about. It is not being perfect, its about being passionate. When she finished her performance the crowd erupted, a standing ovation, the young lads were proud of how she unashamedly loved and represented their town and  country. So if you find yourself in a sing song, try these tips and you too may get a standing ovation. Cheers.

Irish music tips for a singing session;

  1. Pick a song you love
  2. Know the words
  3. Choose a song you can handle
  4. Don’t let fear of failure prevent you from participating
  5. Don’t be pushy, wait your turn, be invited
  6. Know an American song, if you throw in a Johnny Cash tune or country classic you’ll get a good response. The Irish guys love when you sing a tune from your own home
  7. Pick an appropriate tune, (Danny boy may be ok for some American sessions, but not in most Irish music sessions) stand clear of songs that refer to the troubles in the north.
  8. keep the chatter to a minimum
  9. sing the choruses of the other songs when appropriate, it will calm your nerves
  10. Enjoy your favorite Irish music
Of course being talented and passionate is good too.

Traditional Irish music

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I love traditional Irish music. I also love Irish folk music,yes there is a difference. The Irish folk music scene was renewed with bands like the Wolfetones, the Dubliners, the Clancy brothers with and without Tommy Makem. Pub tunes that had survived the ages or reported on the ills of the day were reborn and reworked into the classics we belt out on St. Patrick’s Day. These ballads and pub songs are more folk music, songs such as Molly Malone, or Fiddler’s Green are songs meant for a sing song at the pub or social gathering. The Irish traditional music, sometimes referred to as trad, is more instrumental rather than vocal. The jigs and reels, hornpipes and slow airs playing tunes that have been played in Ireland since the creation of Irish musical instruments. The session as it is called is usually trad music, the session can be planned or sometimes just start up on a whim. The session is for the Irish musicians and the Irish music, not for the audience. This was a hard concept to grasp at first, but the playing of the music, the coordination of the different players, the tightness of the music is what is trying to be achieved.

Irish music featuring Caroline O’Shea of the group “The Ivy Leaf”.

There are several irish traditional music festivals and contest or “fleadhs” held in Ireland. These are excellent events to plan an Irish tip around if you love Irish traditional music. The all Ireland Fleadh is the culmination of the different Irish music competitions in Ireland and internationally. I’ve had the pleasure to have attended the Fleadh held in Letterkenny County Donegal Ireland, and two Fleadhs in Tullamore County Offaly Ireland. The All Ireland fleadhs attract Irish musicians and Irish music lovers the world over. Turning a town’s population from 10,000 to 100,000 overnight. Every pub has music and the sessions are mighty. Your job as a visitor is to sit back enjoy the music and applaud the musicians, if you are a musician there are rules to the session. The most important is not to intrude on the music, play with tho other players, wait your turn to start a tune and compliment the session don’t command it. But at the All Ireland Fleadh entertainers are everywhere and you never know what will catch your fancy. Keep an ear out for a story telling session, storytellers compete at the fleadh and if you happen to be there when they let loose their craft, well they are funny as hell, I mean belly laughing funny. The last one I remember had something to do with a donkey, and meatballs, gassy digestion and a confessional.

At the culmination of the fleadh the different regional champions take turns playing traditional tunes in front of a judge. The public can listen quietly, and there is a lot to choose from. Each instrument has its own category, along with singers, storytellers, whistlers, lilters, and more, after they all play the judges post the results and a champion is crowned. The most sought after title in the Irish traditional music scene is the ceili band champion. The ceili band competition is the biggest draw and the highest honor.

When planning a trip to Ireland go to the All Ireland Fleadh:

Plan ahead to find a B&B within walking distance to the town.

Expect crowds at night which grow as the competition day gets nearer.

Arrive a day or two early and get your bearings, stay a day or two later. No need to rush.

Leave the car at the hotel or B&B, take a taxi after your nights out.

Enjoy the Finest Irish Traditional music in the world. Cheers.