I began playing the violin at the tender age of 8, having played the piano since I was 6. I remember having fantastic teachers at the beginning who really inspired me. It was classical music all the way in the early years. When I moved to Scotland from London in 1990 I soon joined the Hillhead Strings orchestra. We played around Scotland in the youth orchestra competitions and once a year were lucky enough to travel for a week to Castle Toward, near Dunoon. Anyone who has played music at Toward will know how awe-inspiring a place it is, for youngsters and adults alike. We were conducted each year by the inimitable and much-loved composer John Maxwell Geddes.
I took to folk music when I was 15, and found the social life attached to it irresistible. I played around Scotland in the late 1990s with the Inishowen Ceili Band before me and some mates formed the Broken Peg Ceilidh Band. In 2001 I formed Beneche with Padraig O'Neill and Sean O'Donnell. Our first album came out at Celtic Connections in January 2003 winning us a Danny Kyle Open Stage Award. The next two years saw us tour a lot in Scotland and England with a memorable excursion to Lorient in summer 2004.
I hold two all-Britain fleadh titles in senior fiddle and in 2002 reached the finals of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year. I spent 2005 recording my first solo album which was released at Celtic Connections in January 2006. It's available from www.footstompin.com and www.tradmusic.com. I now play in The Long Notes with the fabulous Colette O'Leary and Brian Kelly. Our new CD was released at the start of 2008 and the summer looks sizzling hot with tours to all corners of Scotland. You can buy The Long Notes by visiting my sister myspace page: www.myspace.com/thelongnotes.
A bit of advance notice - MondayMonday proudly presents Rún and Steven Finn and more at The Wilmington Arms, Clerkenwell on Monday 7th December
Rún collect and arrange old folk songs written in the ancient language of Erin. So far, thanks to Nora from Donegal, they have a nice wee collection of well-known ditties and are now adding to their repertoire with some unusual old forgotten songs from the province of Ulster. Rún are five fantastic lassies who perform four-part vocal arrangements of old Gaelic songs like ’An Cailín Rua’ (the red-haired girl), ’Casadh an tSúgain’ (twisting the hayrope) and ’Bo Na Leath Adhairce’ (the one-horned cow). Rún is the Gaelic word for ’secret, wish or love’ (cf. rune). See http://www.myspace.com/runceol ..
Steven Finn’s ears were filled with the music of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Cash and old time country music. Aged 15 he began teaching himself the guitar, learning songs like Leadbelly’s ‘Bourgeois Blues’ and Charlie Daniels’ ‘The devil went down to Georgia’. On hearing Bob Dylan songs Finn started to write his own words and in doing so found a lifelong passion for Jazz and Folk Blues, a getaway car he could drive. See http://www.myspace.com/stevenfinn for more details
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..?
Just a reminder that Clerkenwell's best Monday Night Folk Night will next be taking place on Monday 2nd November, featuring: Chris Sarjeant and Emma Scarr,plus floor spots and more
Emma Scarr has been active on London’s live scene for approaching two decades. A proficient performer on guitar, fiddle and banjo, in recent years she has concentrated on song craft.
Chris Sarjeant has been recently described as,".a very major addition to the British Folk Scene.." by BBC Folk-musician of the year Tom McConville who added that his guitar work is "...impeccable.."
Hey Jamie, How's thing with you? All's good here in Hamsterjam. You gonna come over for a visit anytime soon? would be great to catch up sometime. Will give you a buzz. Take it easy. Dom
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Are you looking for a new violin or viola bow? My carbon fiber bow was designed for people that play lively music, especially fiddlers
Check it out: http://adamrsweet.com/mybow.html
Thank you
Antonio Hoyos will be joining us on the 16th of June, appearing as "The Great Antoine!"
We are delighted that this great comedic performer can join our line-up.
The Pop Haydn Post-Modern Medicine Show will be appearing at The Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood! One show at 8:00 PM.
Pop will be joined by Professor Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band, Rob Zabrecky, Sophie Evans, Antonio Hoyos, Phil Van Tee and Pop's Candy Girls for a wonderful show of Old Time Music, magic, comedy and variety.
It'll make you feel better!
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
19th Century Attire Welcome!
You can buy tickets at LaughFactory.com or call: 323-6561336 ext 1.
For more information and video go to my Myspace Profile or:
Do you like fiddle music? Are you a fiddler? Then join us in the Fiddle World - sometimes called the Facebook for Fiddlers!
http://fiddleworld.ning.com
It's free to join and we're always looking for new members...see you there
We hope you can come to our gig at Bush Hall, Shepherd's Bush on Friday. Spread the word to your friends. It'll be a great party.
Its the launch party for our new album "Baka Beyond the Forest" that was released on Monday
You can hear clips on our website (www.baka.co.uk) and our Myspace page.
One Love!
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