I noticed that Danu is touring Ontario and the eastern US right now. Has anyone been to hear them yet? I’ll hopefully catch them when they get to Lowell, MA.
I saw them last year, and they were excellent even though Tom Doorley was absent. Peter Molloy filled in quite capably on flute. They also have a new singer, so it should be interesting to see how that change impacts the band.
Sadly, not much whistle playing last year!
The new singer also plays whistle so that increases your chances of hearing some.
I saw them a couple of weeks ago in CT. They were slow getting in the groove having just arrived from Ireland the night before - hadn’t slept yet. 
Who ever did their booking so close to arriving was sadistic. Their serious jetlag was showing but they did get into a nice groove after intermission.
I loved the new singer. She is very talented and a heck of a whistle player.
Danu is certainly a talented bunch and will likely only get better. It may have just been the jetlag but it didn’t seem like they were having much fun. The life of a musician is hard work and not worth it unless you love it (at least most of the time). I suspect it was just a bad night for them.
With all that said, I’d still see them again next time they come to town.
Fran
Hi Fran–I caught the Danu show last night in Lowell, MA. It was the last night of their tour, and they’re returning to their respective homes today. Sadly, the singer (Muireann) was not there due to a death in the family back in Ireland, so I didn’t get to hear her singing or whistling. I picked up their new CD last week, and she plays a rip roarin’ whistle solo in one of the last tracks.
It’s interesting to re-read your remarks of seeing the first show of the tour, since their performance last night was similar. They seemed kind of flat, almost uninterested, for most of the gig. They had occasional flashes of fire, and then finally kicked it up towards the end. Perhaps, they, like everyone else in New England, were feeling wiped out after watching all those Red Sox playoff games! (Game 3 tonight–Go Sox!)
They played about 80 minutes straight without a break. I imagine the departure of the singer forced them to make major changes to the songlist for last night.
Last year–no Tom Doorley due to new baby. This year, no Muireann. Maybe next year will be the charm when I finally see them at full strength. I’ll look forward to that.
Brewster - Congrats on the Red Sox World Championship!! S’bout time 
Interesting that Danu’s performance was a little flat for you, too. Maybe they’re touring under duress. It’s obvious that they’re fantastic musicians. They just need to work on enjoying their own music.
The contrast was so huge to Tannahill Weavers, whom we saw a month or so ago. They were on fire! It was obvious they were master performers and loved connecting with the crowd (in their own Scot’s way). And it amazes me that a group that has been around for so long can maintain such a spark and joy for the music. They inspired me and I fell in love with Les when he sang Lassie wi’ the Lint White Locks. It’s seldom I swoom for the over fifity set (though I’m fast approaching that number myself) but that Scots accent combined with Robert Burns - Oh my… 
Enjoy the Red Sox reign. Well deserved. Even though I’m an old Orioles fan, I do love the Red Sox and watched every game of the playoffs and the series.
Maybe the lunar eclipse helped to clinch the breaking of the curse. Yipee!
Fran