Cafe Buzz
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Welcome to the Cafe Buzz! We started the "Buzz" section here at the Celtic Café as a means of sharing some of the news and information posted to our associated mail lists, which are devoted mostly (but not exclusively) to Irish dance and Celtic music. For more detailed information, and to join in the discussion about "anything Celtic," please sign up for our main list, large and very international: Celtic Cafe Yahoo Group Got any "newsy tidbits"? E-mail us via the Contact Form. |
The Irish American Heritage Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and strengthening Irish culture in Chicago, has announced its 22nd annual Irish American Heritage Festival to be held July 13-15, 2007.
Advance sale tickets are available beginning May 1.
The festival features three days of music on four stages, including Gaelic Storm, the Makem and Spain Brothers, the Mickey Finns, the Tossers, the Muck Brothers and the Waco Brothers.
For those inclined toward hands-on activity, the Folk Tent returns with various demonstrations of Irish instruments, dances and sing-alongs. Irish and American food will be available throughout the weekend, and dozens of vendors and artisans will be selling Irish clothing, music and jewelry.
The fest activities and contests include a Hooley Happy Hour with music, matchmaking and dancing, a Mashed Potato Eating Contest and the Irish-American Idol Contest for children ages 12-18.
The Irish American Heritage Center fosters the practice, study and celebration of Irish, Celtic and Irish-American cultural traditions. Membership in the Center is open to anyone with an interest in these traditions. The IAHC houses a 650-seat theatre, a library, an authentic Irish pub, a Social Center, a museum, dance/music studios and meeting rooms.
For more information, click on the logo or visit the IAHC website at www.irishamhc.com.
Vacationing in France? You can choose between two top-notch summer Irish Dance camp sessions, each led by some of the world's premier Irish dancers -- or don't choose, you can attend both!
In July, 2007, Joanne Doyle of Riverdance will be joined by Breandan de Gallai, Dearhbla Lennon and Ronan McCormack for Irish Dance South, in Rognac near Aix-en-Provence. And in August, Sarah Clark and Stephen Scariff of Feet of Flames return with Camp Rince Provence. Other teachers will be announced later, but check the websites now for details and booking!
Planning a trip to Ireland this summer? Interested in two weeks of intensive study with some of the finest talents in folk music and dance? Take a look at the course offerings for the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance, to be held June 25th to July 6th, 2007. If you can't attend the full course of study, there will be concerts, sessions, a ceili, and other events open to the public -- take a look at the full details and book your place in class at the Blas website.
Hosted by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance on the campus of the University of Limerick, Blas is in its 11th year and has assembled a truly world-class line-up of instructors: just imagine the chance to study fiddle with Kevin Burke and Martin Hayes, voice with Karan Casey, flute with Niall Keegan, bodhran with Tommy Hayes or Mel Mercier, banjo with John Carty, piano with Geraldine Cotter or the legendary Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.
Click on the image to read more about Blas 2007, or click here to see the line-up of instructors!
Larry Kirwan, leader of the prominent New York-based Irish band Black 47, and Mike Farragher, music editor and columnist for the Irish Voice, have teamed up to create a new, vibrant online community at www.celticlounge.com. In a user-oriented, user-friendly online space, Celts of all nations can meet, share their work, ideas, and interests, listen to music, and keep up with the pulse of the Celtic world.
Click on the image to read more, or click here to join the new community as it gets started!
Florida PBS viewers can avoid the Saint Patrick's Day pub crowds and spend the evening with Red Hurley instead -- the popular Irish singer will be featured in a two-hour broadcast to celebrate the day, featuring works from Red's latest album, "I Will Sing".
It's been a banner year for Irish singer Red Hurley, with yet another album hitting the best-selling charts in Ireland, victory over all competitors in a televised contest on the Brian Kennedy TV show "One To Remember", and a terrific new website, www.redhurley.com. Click on the image to visit Red's website, click here to read the Celtic Cafe interview with Red by our own Ann Keller, and tune in on the 17th if you can to enjoy a special performance by one of Ireland's great voices!
Liffey Rivers, Irish Dancer and Girl Detective, returns in a new adventure by Brenna Briggs! In Liffey Rivers and the Mystery of the Winking Judge, Liffey's in London, facing international intrigue and feis judges with equal determination. Visit www.liffeyrivers.com for more information!
WLIW New York, the same station that produced the magnificent Visions series, is presenting an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary of the exciting new musical The Pirate Queen, based on the life of Grace O'Malley.
Click on the image to learn more about the show, and tune in on Monday, March 12 at 9 pm!
If you haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting Maggie's Music, now is the time to check out the wonderful website for this independent label -- Time-Life Records has released a two-disc compilation of the best of Maggie's Music, from artists including Hesperus, Bonnie Rideout, Ceoltoiri, and many others, including Maggie Sansone herself! The CD is available now from Amazon, but be sure to visit the Maggie's Music website and browse the other albums!
Cafe Buzz