Thanks to Earle Hitchner for sending on the exciting news that Boston-born Joe Derrane has been chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellowship recipient for 2004 – America’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. The 74-year-old button accordionist is the 10th Irish performer ever to receive this accolade, which carries a $20,000 award; previous recipients include Kevin Burke, Mick Moloney, Donny Golden, Liz Carroll, Jack Coen, Michael Flatley, Martin Mulvihill, Joe Shannon and Joe Heaney. Ceremonies will be held in Washington, DC, during September 30-October 1 and will include a formal presentation on Capitol Hill, a banquet at the Library of Congress and a concert at George Washington University.
During the 1940s and 1950s, Derrane enjoyed legendary status, making his first 78-rpm recording at age 17. Later, as the Irish dance-hall scene began to wane, he switched from button box to piano accordion and then to keyboards, eventually retiring from the music scene. Hence the high drama of his comeback in 1994, when an invitation came to perform at the Irish Folk Festival in Wolf Trap. He’s since made six albums.
Ex-Pogue Shane MacGowan reportedly launched into an impromptu rendition of the Yeatsian ditty ‘Down By The Sally Gardens’ at a cultural night to mark the anniversary of the poet’s birth. Organised by the Institute of Technology Sligo Alumni Association, London Chapter, the event was billed as ‘The Cat And The Moon’ – but ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’ was more the style as the Bap Kennedy Show Band gave its all to a Deep South blues set at The Boogaloo Bar, a literary pub in Highgate owned by Sligo man Gerry O’Boyle. MacGowan, a bit of a bard in his own right, was obviously inspired by the line-up, which included Ciarán McCauley of Sligo’s Blue Raincoat Theatre reading ‘A Drunken Man’s Praise Of Sobriety’, Ardal O’Hanlon reading ‘The Fisherman’ and Pat McCabe of Butcher Boy fame with tributes to Kavanagh and Bosco.
Dublin-born, New York-based singer Susan McKeown is on tour over here at the moment, promoting her eighth album Sweet Liberty (see review in this issue) with gigs at Campbell’s Tavern near Headford, Co. Galway (July 2), Glór in Ennis (July 3), the Lobby in Cork (July 4), St. James’ Church in Dingle, Co. Kerry (July 5) and finally Mother Redcap’s (July 9).
It’s not easy to get hold of Irish traditional musicians in Ireland during the summer months, as they’re generally off playing festivals in Germany or the States. Thus, credit is due to Glór for securing an impressive lineup of trad acts for Beo Trad, a new series of “late ’n live” gigs on Thursdays and Saturdays this month, with doors opening at 11pm. Acts include the above-mentioned McKeown as well as fiddler James Kelly with guitarist/singer Francis Gaffney (July 8); Kevin Crawford, Siobhán Peoples, Micheál Ó Raghallaigh and Fergal Scahill (July 15); Danú (July 22); The Céilí Bandits (July 24); and Alan Kelly, Tola Custy and Friends (July 29). Also coming up at Glór is an 8pm concert by supergroup Mozaik (Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Nikola Parov and Rens Van Der Zalm) on July 24. For bookings, ring (065) 684 3103 or visit .
And it’s summer school time again. The granddaddy of them all, now in its 32nd year, is the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (affectionately known as ‘Willie Week’) in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, drawing nearly a thousand students from every part of the world as well as numerous hangers-on who skip the classes but show up for the nonstop sessions in pubs all around the town. This year’s dates are July 3-11, so it’s probably in full swing as you’re reading this. Among the scheduled events is the launch on July 3 of a new album by US-based fiddler James Kelly. Entitled Melodic Journeys, it’s his first solo recording in seven years – and in fact his first-ever recording completely unaccompanied. “Not too many people go it solo these days, but it seemed like the right thing to do,” he says. Look for a review in a forthcoming issue. James has just launched a new website, www.jameskellymusic.com, on which he hopes to have Internet lessons for fiddlers of all levels ready and available by mid-July, and will also be appearing at Glór in Ennis – see above. For more info on the Willie Clancy Summer School, see www.setdancingnews.net/wcss.
The 16th annual Earagail Arts Festival takes place on July 8-18 in thirty venues between the Inishowen Peninsula and the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht. As part of the An Leabhar Mór/Great Book of Gaelic project, a number of events explore links between Scotland and Ireland. On the 12th in Letterkenny, ‘An Ceangal’ (“Connection”) features Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maighréad and Tríona Ní Dhómhnaill, Aoife Ní Fearraigh and Isle of Lewis singer Mairéad Stuartwith guitar accompaniment by Mark Kelly. On the 13th and 14th, music and song from Lillis Ó Laoire, Mary Smith and James Byrne will accompany readings of some of the poetic works forming the literary project; other Irish artists appearing at various concerts and sessions include Mozaik, Conor Byrne and Meabh O’Hare, Barry Kerr, Paddy Glackin and Tory Island singers Éamonn Mac Ruairí and Treasa Bn Uí Laifeartaigh. Ring the Festival Ticket Hotline on (074) 912 0777 or visit www.earagailartsfestival.ie.
For the first time ever, Belfast will play host to an International Summer School (July 19-24) and World Irish Music Championships (July 22-25), described by organiser Francis McPeake IV as an “Irish version of Pop Idol”, with prizes including a recording and distribution deal with Newry-based Wren Records. Guitar wizard Steve Cooney has agreed to accompany and produce albums for both the winning “traditional folk idol” and the winning “traditional folk group”. The Francis McPeake International Summer School offers musical instruction at all levels in fiddle, uilleann pipes, accordion, flute, tin whistle, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, bodhrán, singing and set dancing; pupils will also have the opportunity to attend afternoon invited performances, evening recitals, lectures and debates. Musicians and dancers interested in registering for the Championships have until July 16 to enter. For details, log onto www.francismcpeake.com.
Scotland-based Brian Ó hEadhra, whom you might remember from the band Anam, is the director of the forthcoming Fèis Nan ?‘ran / Féile na nAmhrán Festival of Traditional Gaelic Song, taking place in the Isle of Skye on July 22-23. Among those scheduled to appear are Scottish singer Christine Primrose, Derry native Brian Mullen, Seonaidh Mac a’Mhaoilein of legendary 1960s-70s Gaelic band Na Lochies, Padraigín Ní hUallacháin, Ailean Dòmhnallach, Áine Uí Cheallaigh, Maighread Stiùbhart, Johnny Mháirtín Learaí, Màiri Sìne Chaimbeul and Peadar Ó Ceannabháin. It sounds like a very appealing sort of festival, kicking off at 10am on the Thursday morning with a walk in Kinloch woods and finishing with a Cèilidh Dance on the Friday night. Access to all events is £45. To book, ring +44 1471 207844, e-mail or see www.feisaneilein.com.

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