Claare - Yn Chruinnaght 2011 - Programme

Jelune 18 Jerrey Souree - Monday 18 July

CUIRREY KIAULLEE CAPERCAILLIE IN CONCERT!

From the outset, David Kilgallon and Some Thoroughly Nice Folk treated the audience to some great playing, with David on fiddle, Ramsey-based Scot Malcolm Stitt on guitar and Gilno Carswell on low whistle. David gave a piano solo, before accompanying Katie Lawrence's haunting fiddle. David stayed at the piano for a trio with Tom Callister on fiddle and Gilno on low whistle. The set closed with Malcolm's guitar driving on the four fiddles of David, Tom, Katie and Scottish guest Hannah Fisher.

The second half brought Capercaillie, with the superb singing of Karen Matheson, in Gaidhlig and in English - a mix of slow airs, waulking songs and puirt a beul. As well as instrumental support for Karen, beautifully arranged by Duncan Shaw, who played accordion and keyboards, there were wonderful instrumental performances, with dazzling solos particularly by Charlie MacKerron on fiddle and Mike McGoldrick on low whistle, flute and uillean pipes, showing exactly why Capercaillie are renowned throughout the world for the quality of their musicianship.

A cracking opening to Yn Chruinnaght 2011, with thanks to Dawn Maddrell of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure for organising this concert on behalf of Yn Chruinnaght.

Jemayrt 19 Jerrey Souree - Tuesday 19 July

LEAGHT IAN O'LAOIGHIRE - IAN O'LEARY LECTURE

In Ramsey Town Hall, Welsh music expert, singer and musician Cass Meurig gave a fascinating talk on the history of the crwth and its place in Welsh music and tradition. Her talk was beautifully illustrated with her playing, and she also accompanied herself as she sang. Her talk led on to a sustained question-and-answer session, with her audience very keen to hear all that Cass had to say about this ancient instrument. Refreshments included an opportunity to sample Welsh mead, to which bards were entitled as part of their fee!

TAR SHIUISH OOILLEY! - COME ALL YE!

Clare Kilgallon did a great job, leading the room full of people in the Britannia Hotel in Ramsey in a mixture of songs in both English and Manx - there was even a song-sheet! As well as rousing singing led by Clare and members of Manx choir Cliogaree Twoaie, Clare coaxed contributions from singers all round the room - including Cass Meurig, who sang a song in Welsh, and was also interested to see the written Manx on the song-sheet. With songs in Manx, Welsh, Cornish, Scots and English (from Manx, English and American traditions), it was a very enjoyable evening.

Jecrean 20 Jerrey Souree - Wednesday 20 July

FEST NOZ : oie daunse y Vritaan - Breton dance night

The night at the Freemasons' Hall in Ramsey opened with a stage full of musicians playing for the lively Manx dances of Ny Fennee. The floor was soon filled when Juan Garrett called some Manx dances to join in with.

The audience sat back to enjoy Irish music from a young Belfast group, Mo Chara. Orlagh Dillon (box and whistle), brother Declan (uillean pipes), younger sister Caitriona (fiddle and guitar) and their friend Clodagh MacNiece (cajon) treated the audience to slow airs, jigs, hornpipes and reels.

Fifteen years ago, a group of musicians played at Yn Chruinnaght as The Whitehouse Experience, having played Manx tunes in sessions in The Whitehouse in Peel. Dave and Rosemary Speers, Ian Allen, Joyce Monroe, David Fisher and Bob Carswell gave a blast of Manx music in a vigorous set.

Breton duo Landat-Moisson immediately had the floor full of people dancing the gavotte, an dro, jabadao, pach pi and other Breton favourites. Lors Landat showed what a fine vocalist he is, and full of energy, jumping down to take part in the dancing, whilst Thomas Moisson's dazzling accordeon playing drove the music and the dancers on. A great finale to the evening.

Jerdein 21 Jerrey Souree - Thursday 21 July

Thanks to Mo Chara for a series of short sets of traditional Irish music in the House of Manannan, Peel, with Declan also performing some Manx tunes on his uillean pipes.

A varied programme of Celtic music and song was enjoyed by a large and appreciative audience in the Royal Chapel, St Johns. Thanks to Lee Macleod (Scottish great pipe), Merv Davey (Cornish tunes on the pipes), Clare Walsh (singing in Irish), Cass Meurig (playing the crwth and singing in Welsh), Laura & Dave Rowles (Manx music on fiddle and guitar), Aalin Clague (singing in Manx) and Landat-Moisson (vocal and accordeon from Brittany).

The audience also heard delegates to Yn Chruinnaght from other Celtic countries and festivals: Merv Davey (Cornwall); Peadar de Bluit (Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Ireland); Mererid Hopwood (Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, Wales); Steve Jackson (Scotland); and Lors Landat (Brittany).

Meanwhile, The Creek Inn in Peel rang to the sound of The Reeling Stones, The Ballaghs and The Fecktones

Jeheiney 22 Jerrey Souree - Friday 22 July

Mo Chara again played a series of short sets in the House of Manannan in Peel, much enjoyed by youngsters of Peel Clothworkers School, who also learned one of Bobby Bob's children's songs in Manx from Breesha Maddrell and Laura Rowles.

In a lively talk, Dr Mererid Hopwood unravelled the mystery of how to create cynghanedd (Welsh metrical poetry). Mererid's talk was entertaining and informative, full of humour, but her passion for her subject was very evident.

The concert in the Centenary Centre in Peel opened with an excellent performance by Scammylt, with Katie Lawrence on fiddle, Mike Reaney on guitar and Russell Cowin on bodhran and bass.

The second-half was given over to exciting Clare-based band Guidewires, hot from their gig the previous night in Quimper, Brittany. As well as Irish and Breton tunes, they mixed in influences from other world music and their own compositions. Guidewires are Karol Lynch (bouzouki), Tola Custy (fiddle) and Padraig Rynne (concertina) from County Clare, Sylvain Barou (flutes and uillean pipes) from Brittany and Paul McSherry (guitar) from Belfast. With their unique repertoire, textured sound and superb musicianship, the audience soon found out why Guidewires have been described as 'the freshest sound in Irish music'.

Jesarn 23 Jerrey Souree - Saturday 23 July

Thanks to Adrian Cain, Manx Language Officer for the Manx Heritage Foundation, who led a fun Manx Gaelic class for beginners in Arbory Commissioners' Hall, Ballabeg

The fine weather blessed the open air dance displays by Cornish dance group Kemysk, the Appalachian-style clogging of Shoostring and the Manx dancing of The Manx Folk Dance Society and Perree Bane on Douglas Promenade and the North Quay, followed by dance workshops in St Matthew's Hall.

Young Irish band Mo Chara led a Bree session, before Declan gave a workshop on playing the uillean pipes. As well as those taking the opportunity to try playing, there was an interested audience of pipers used to playing the Scottish piob vooar. After the workshop, Breesha Maddrell presented Declan with a momento of Yn Chruinnaght to thank Mo Chara for all they had undertaken for the festival during the week.

Kemysk and Shoostring later performed in the Douglas Masonic Hall, together with Manx ceili band Tarroo Marroo, for a varied evening of display and ceili dancing.

Jedoonee 24 Jerrey Souree - Sunday 24 July

Thanks once again to Adrian Cain, Manx Language Officer for the Manx Heritage Foundation, for running the Manx Gaelic class for beginners in the Arbory Commissioners' Hall, Ballabeg

The sun shone on the afternoon's entertainment in the beautiful setting of the Mooragh Park, with Shoostring, Ny Fennee, Kemysk and The Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums.

Gregory Joughin soon put the audience in the Centenary Centre, Peel, at their ease with his humorous introductions to Manx group Staa's beautifully harmonised songs and instrumental pieces.

The second half brought another fine blend, with the accordion and piano playing of Angus Lyon and Ross Martin's guitar, both ranging from the delicate to the driving as they played a set of tunes and accompanied the superb Scottish Gaelic singer Maeve MacKinnon. As well as the artistry in their music, there was a lot of humour, as three consummate musicians obviously enjoyed themselves as well as pleasing the enthusiastic audience. Ross Martin also proved himself an arm-wrestling champion, as he took on Malcolm Stitt just before the final number.