Frankie Kennedy, Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, Ciaran Curran, Mark Kelly, Daithi Sproule, Paul O'Shaughnessey, Ciaran Tourish, Dermot Byrne.
Discography:
* Ceil Aduaidh (1983)
* Altan (1987)
* Horse With A Heart (1989)
* The Red Crow (1990)
* Harvest Storm (1991)
* Island Angel (1993)
* Once Again (1993)
* The First Ten Years (1995)
* Blackwater (1996)
* Best Of Altan (1997)
* Runaway Sunday (1997)
* Another Sky (2000)
* The Blue Idol (2002)
* Local Ground (2005)
Frankie Kennedy used to travel from Belfast to Donegal in his summer holidays, learning Irish and playing music. There he met Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. They married in 1981. Two years later they recorded their first album together, Ceol Aduaidh (Music of the North). Mairéad grew up in Irish-speaking Gweedore, learning to play fiddle from her father, himself a noted musician. At this time Donegal music was little known outside of the county. Frankie played obscure northern flute tunes. The combination attracted lots of attention, particularly since Mairéad had an outstanding voice as well a rare talent on the fiddle.
Donegal fiddle music has a drive in it, somewhat like Cape Breton Music, due to the push given on both the upstroke and the downstoke. Playing late-night sessions and festivals, they gradually gathered around themselves talents that complemented their own skills. The first to join them was Ciaran Curran from Fermanagh, playing bouzouki. A novelty in 1969, by 1987 it was an accepted instrument for Irish music. Mark Kelly on guitar, was experienced in rock, blues, jazz, country and classical music. The four of them appeared on the first album "Altan". The name comes from Loch Altan in north-western Donegal.
There then followed 6 albums recorded for Green Linnet, all of them selling well in the US Billboard charts as well as in Ireland. Another Donegal fiddler, Paul O'Shaughnessey was a member for several years. The sound of two fiddles, harmonising and counterpointing each other was too good to lose. When Paul departed, he was replaced by young Donegal fiddler Ciaran Tourish. Guitarist Daithi Sproule also joined in 1992. There was a secret tragedy behind this wave of acclaim. Frankie Kennedy, who had been the band leader and manager, was diagnosed with cancer in 1992. At his insistence the band continued, with Frankie taking part whenever possible. He died in 1994 in Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital.
In 1996 they signed to a major label, Virgin, a sign of success, but in their case it was without any commercial compromise. In the same year they added an accordian-player to the sound, Dermot Byrne, also from Donegal. There have been distinguished guests on Altan albums - song-writer and guitarist Steve Cooney, Donal Lunny from Planxty, and blues guitarist Bonnie Raitt.
A winter school of music is now held in Donegal each year in honour of Frankie Kennedy. Altan remain the most successful proponents of traditional Gaelic song and Donnegal fiddle-playing.
In 2003 they won the award for Best Group at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Also I wanted to keep you in the loop with what is happening with me and my music, and to tell you that you can get tons of exclusive, limited edition Colin Rink merchandise, but only for a limited time, and the clock is ticking! We're talking about videoss, photos, bonus mp3's, set lists, and so much more.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Its been a while and we thought it was about time we updated you on what we've been up to. Our debut EP Little World is now available at our gigs and will soon be available from our myspace and facebook pages, you will also be able to download it from itunes, but we don't have a release date for this as yet.
To celebrate the fact that we have now reached 25,000 plays on myspace, we are giving you a free MP3 of Rockabye Baby. All you have to do is send your email address to queen.elvis@yahoo.ie and we will send it to you.
We have spent the last year rehearsing with a full band and are now ready to bring it on the road. You can get a look at us when we appear on Balcony TV this week with the full line up. We are currently taking bookings for gigs/concerts/festivals and can be contacted on the email above, or through our myspace and facebook pages.
Thankyou for your continued support in what has been a great year for us!
What a beautiful voice of Mairead! Thank you for the friendship. Heartful greetings all the way from Austria with our new video Herderberg - Fly with me best wishes from LiLA
MyTuneRox Offers 100% royalty on all tracks sold and 20% share of all advertsing revenue! Join the music revolution today! Click below to register for free:
Thanks for being a friend Altan - thanks for the support join our mailing list - listen to the cd - email ronhenderson705@yahoo.com and tell SOS which song is your fav - we will email it to you for FREE - now available on Thanks Again Sore on Sunday
