Two for One Tuesday

Looking through the list of tunes I haven't posted about here before, I came across two that I had never even heard of. The first is Batchelder's Reel, which from I gather is an Irish tune... makes me like it even more. Unfortunately it's kind of hard to find recordings of this tune. But, the one version I could find is pretty nice, it's by a group called the Russet Trio. I believe they are a contra band from New York based on my brief Googling.

Here the are playing Batchelder's Reel at the 2009 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival:


YouTube/mhg251

The second tune, Bayne Water, is also Irish (I'm pretty sure, correct me if I'm wrong). Again, pretty difficult to find recordings. What I discovered in the process of looking was one video:


YouTube/MauroPavanelli

And I also stumbled across a band who has recorded this tune called Claddagh. Check them out by clicking on the link. The album with this tune on it is the one with dragon.

Enjoy, and find some Guinness as you listen.

Abe's Retreat

Well since 2008, I've pretty much exhausted all of the tunes I know off the top of my head and talked about the people I know. So, my new plan is to find versions of each tune in the "The Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes." To keep it easy, I'm just going in alphabetical order.

First up: Abe's Retreat.

I found a great live version by the Gilded Bats, played in Iowa:



YouTube/YewPineyMountain

Or is it the Irish influence you crave?



YouTube/jsboaty

Miss McCleod's Reel

I've put this tune up many times before, but really I just can't get enough of it. This tune is played a few different ways, and it's also known as Uncle Joe. It's played in either G or D.



YouTube/fiddle4u

More Irish Traditional Music

I can't get enough good Irish music. Here is a really fine session.



YouTube/coguish

St. Patrick's Blue Plate Special

If you're local, or even if you're not, this should be a good celebration on Wednesday. You can tune on on the web if you want to hear it at www.wdvx.com.

The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens. - Irish proverb WDVX Spring Fund Drive March 17 to 28 Matt McNeely Four Leaf Peat Cutthroat Shamrock Shamrock Road JOIN US March 17th for an all-Irish, all-local Blue Plate Special 12 noon to 1:30 PM A special kick-off party for the Spring Fund Drive With delicious refreshments from: Mapgies Cakes It is time again to show your support for YOUR independent, commercial-free station... WDVX-FM Don't you feel fortunate to have WDVX as a part of your life? Everyday you know you can tune in and hear quality music, without all the commercials and other distractions. You can always count on WDVX to be your connection to the newest, hottest in bluegrass and Americana, as well as some of the classics you love. And where else can you hear so much quality live music? WDVX counts on listeners like you to keep the music going. So call us, write us, email us, go online, or just come on by... and make your donation today! After all "The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens" when you support WDVX! Sincerely, Your friends at WDVX

More Lunasa to Get Ready for St. Paddy's

Yesterday I posted on Damien Rice, a fine Irish musician. To continue honoring all of the great music out of Ireland as we get closer to St. Patrick's Day, here are some of the finest musicians playing Irish music these days, Lunasa:



YouTube/k4hx1

Not Exactly Old Time, But....

Well, this is not really old-time at all, but one of the best acoustic performers in Ireland not doing traditional music is Damien Rice, and this is one my favorite songs of his. It's not on one of his two albums, but it is relatively easy to find. It's called Lonely Soldier. Though this isn't the best version of it that I've heard, it's good nonetheless.



YouTube/tripleheartheart

Lonely Soldier MP3

Dervish

I'm certainly more into American old-time music than Celtic music, but lately Celtic music has been kind of my thing. I still don't know too much about it, or how to play it. No matter, Dervish seems like they know a thing or two.

Lunasa

My current favorite new discovery is an Irish group called Lunasa. They play traditional Irish tunes and have a pretty robust web presence.

My favorite tune of theirs at the moment is called "Morning Nightcap," played here in this really great video:



YouTube/sgoworld

The Young Uns

This is a fantastic video of young kinds playing
Harvest Home - Fisher's Hornpipe - Boys of Blue Hill. Extremely well done. I only hope to be able to play like that some day.

Haste to the Wedding: Irish Pub Style

Here's a more fiddle-friendly version from an Irish pub. It comes complete with people in the background humming the melody. I'll post a scratchy old-time version of this tune tomorrow.

In the meantime... I found a slightly more professional version of the tune by the Corrs, who actually do play well. Remind too much of Wilson Phillips for comfort... don't know why, but it keeps me from being a fan. Nonetheless, here you go.

Four Leaf Peat: Post Game

I saw Four Leaf Peat tonight (and made it home to watch my somewhat embarrassing UK Wildcats play) and it was worth it. They are seriously talented.

The best moment of the show for me was when they played James Scott Skinner's "Hector the Hero" and dedicated to recently passed loved ones. Any time you get to hear a Skinner tune out it's a treat, and under those circumstances it was even nicer.

Here's a collection of reels, but I encourage you to also buy the cd here.

The Green Fields of Miltown/The Long Drop/Callaghan's MP3

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm watching some Irish music tonight. In the meantime, here's Ashley MacIsaac playing celtic tunes with Quinn Banchand.

Four Leaf Peat in Concert

Going to see Four Leaf Peat (see my previous post about them) this Tuesday at the Square Room in Knoxville. If you're in the area you should go. I got my tickets from here. After that it's off to freezing Snowshoe, WV, for a little family visiting.

Four Leaf Peat

This band is from Knoxville. They play a lot of Irish and Celtic traditional tunes. I heard on an interview that they met first at Patrick Sullivan's, a local bar that offers free Celtic music on Thursday nights.

Check out their MySpace page here for some of their tunes.

James Scott Skinner Tunes

If you want to feel bad about your playing, watch this guy play some James Scott Skinner. There isn't enough Skinner out there on YouTube... must find other sources.

More Irish Music

I love a good duet, but the best part about this video is these two guys, playing in what appears to be a funeral home in two throw-like chairs.

"The Flying Crowbar" and "The Clare Shout"

These people have a good many videos showcasing Irish music. Some of them are made for you to follow along to. This is a good way to learn and practice new tunes that you may not get to hear out that much.

The Garry Owen

It would be awesome to remix these two tunes... they have some sweet beats. The first of course is Yankee Doodle and the second is an old cavalry tune called Garry Owen, which was originally an Irish drinking tune from what I understand.

Wind that Shakes the Barley

This tune starts out really slow so you can get hang of it and then gets close to normal speed by the end. Good tune to learn.