This Week 03-12-23 is Week C.
Join us every Sunday at 1:00-4:00
Tan Violin Shop
Week A First Hour Tune Booklet
Had a great time with Ralph Lange & Tim Rutter this weekend doing 2 bluegrass gigs.
Click to watch video
Everyone gets a chance to play. Hour 1 is led at a gentle pace. Sheet music booklets for the tunes are downloadable.
https://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/
May 21st, 11 am – 2 pm – 1846 Fort
May 22nd, 11 am – 2 pm – 1846 Fort
May 23rd, 11 am – 2 pm – 1885 Street
Daily Admission Tickets
Adult (18-64) $26.20
Child/Youth (3-17) $20.90
Senior (65+) $20.90
Family (2 adults & up to 4 kids) $95.00
Plus GST. Includes train, streetcar, midway rides & games.
Come to the Carrot Cafe 2:00 pm Saturday January 22nd
at 118th avenue and 94th street .
My trio featuring Ihor Nedoshytko on accordion and Tim Rutter on guitar
will be playing lively traditional Ukrainian Music from recordings of Alberta Bands in the 1950’s & 60’s.
https://www.deepfreezefest.ca/
Jay took me to the Carrowkeel passage tombs Co. Sligo. What can I say? Where can I start? The were built 4000 years before Christ. We hiked up the mountain and even that view was spectacular. One tomb is accessible and neither is there an interpretive centre nor an admission fee.
Jay says the faeries will dance to your music. I pull out the fiddle and play “The Kid on the Mountain”. Very magical indeed.
I’m up earlyish and cook my own Irish fry of fried eggs, potatoes, black pudding, toast & coffee. Now it’s time to get all that Irish tea into my luggage. I try my best not to forget anything and bid farewell to Ton and Barney & Lucy (the dogs).
I call in on Jackie and immediately Annie offers me a bowl of her famous soup. Jackie is visibly drawn from his treatments. I tell him stories about my travels and the tunes in town and who I played with him. He asks many questions and I am often able to remember a name for him. That man from Clare who played the fiddle and composed many tunes. “Junior Crehan?” “That’s him!”
I play tunes and chat with him for a good hour and a half. Then It’s time for his nap. Get well Jackie Please!!!!!!
I am finishing my trip in Ennis at the Fafa session with Blackie O’Connell & Siobhan Peoples. The plan is to play till 3:00 am like last week, hit the Chipper then car back to the airport. No Guinness for me. Good-bye Ireland, Hello Canada. (+13 in Kerry today -15 in Edmnonton).
Ennis is home to many wonderful statues – you can even do a statue tour.
Saturday POK full on!
Session 1 is in The Crown led by Derek Hickey (box). A lovely quiet session with many young players and loads of hornpipes. Derek tells me he was in Edmonton in March with De Dannan. That would be the Alec Finn De Dannan as opposed to the Frankie Gavin De Dannan. Also at the table are Eileen De Paor (flute), Aidan Coffey (box) and John Kelly (flute).
Session 2 is at Peter Browne’s: my annual seen with Jackie Daly, Matt Cranitch and Paul de Grae. Super fun as usual with powerful rhythm, loads of Sliabh Luchra sets and Jackie’s irrepressible humour – both musically and linguistically.
Session 3 is the heated beer gardens in back of McCarthy’s with Georgia and her young crowd. Musicians include Greta Curtin (concertina), Darragh Horan (guitar), Jessie Healy (fiddle). I walk the 3 km to Tony’s. I’m almost there when Georgia and Greta pull beside me. “Put on the tea!” I yell.
So beautiful here! And the sun is shining. Georgia does a spectacular yoga pose, a headstand, with the ocean and hills behind her.
We go to the pub and visit with the locals. Publican Adrian and his wife Oona have a new baby girl – Lauren. Note the red hair.
At the house we play tunes into the wee hours.
Some great new tunes:
The Love O’ Da Isles (by Willie Hunter)
Spike Island Lasses (still workin’ on it!)