Hey,
I was just wondering if anyone went and what it was like, the weather here over the weekend was quite cold. Was there alot of whistling?
Also, did anyone else watch the show on Bravo last night called “Celtic Tides”? It was a very interesting program. Old Blind Dogs, Clannad, The Cheiftins (I don’t think I spelled their name correctly), and Paddy Moloney were on there. It was quite wizard to see the groups and singers I’ve heard you guys talk so much about. This one guy, I don’t know his name, was playing the whistle - a Generation, blue fipple and all; it was so cool to see somebody else play the whistle I have!
I caught it as well, Sara. You’re right-- it was a great show. I’d bought the book back in September, (used so it didn’t have the accompanying CD, what a bummer!), and it was cool (or should I say ‘wizard’ : to see it on the screen and hear all the great tunes. I loved the scene by the sea where the Old Blind Dogs played a little ditty. I also enjoyed the end piece with Mary Jane Lamond… and Mary Black was, of course, great as ever. I missed a bit of the beginning, but overall it was worth watching, definitely!
I went Sara…in spite of snow and ice and frigid temps. People that have been before were probably thinking,man, I’m glad I didn’t go…but I really had a blast. So many neat groups and some good whistlers among them. Hope to make it an annual thing. Hope you’ll be able to go too. GM
Yes, I went to the Festival on Sunday. I don’t think Saturday would have been a good choice weather-wise. I heard lots of good music. The Old Blind Dogs were there. They had a member who played the whistle and Uillean (sp.?) pipes. He played a high D, a low D, and a key somewhere in between. A local group called “Threadneedle Street” had an awesome whistler who played a Susato high D. Another local group, “Celtic Blessing” had a whistler who played She Beag She Mor on a Copeland high D. A group from Tyler, Texas called “Beyond the Pale” had a whistler who played a Copeland high D and a Generation C.
Unless something drastic has changed without my hearing, Old Blind Dogs piper is Rory Campbell. (They have a backup piper for some tours, Finlay MacDonald, but I’m pretty sure it’s Rory this time out, and Finlay plays the same instruments with the band anyway.)
Rory plays Scottish border pipes, which are only somewhat similiar to uilleann pipes. And the mystery whistle in the middle is most likely a low F.
And I don’t get to see them this tour, which makes me very sad.
I went to the NTIF and had fun. I went to the whistle workshop. I still don’t know what to think of that. It was more like listening to a guy go on and on about his pipes. He put in a little bit about the whistle and flute the last maybe 10 min.
Grannymouse, Where you at the workshop? I was the idiot who asked about the tripple tounging.
Hallo everyone,
Both the names Sean Potts and Seamus Egan sound familiar, like they could have been the dude playing the whistle, I don’t know. I do know he was an awesome whistle player and as you say, very wizard!
Grannymouse,
I’m glad you had a blast! Hope I get to go next year too!
That’s cool that Old Blind Dogs were there. I think I heard they were to be there, but I didn’t know for a fact. Actually, I’m quite surprised NTIF took place at all; I thought it might have been cancelled do to the weather. That’s wizard that there was a whistle workshop, though, from what Lady Whistler said, he only talked about his pipes. I truly hope I’ll go next year and hopefully meet some of you guys!
Angie ~ I didn’t know there was a whistle workshop. Was that the woodwinds? From what I have heard in the past, any whistle workshops they’ve had…you won’t learn a whole lot. I went to the bodhran workshop with Albert Alfonso the Song wokshop with Beth Patterson…both awesome to listen too…or maybe I should say wizard. (Hard to teach an old dog new tricks)Sorry to miss out on meeting you guys. I was only there for Sat. I loved every minute once we got inside and since the crowd was light …it was easy to get around. I’m not spending much time on the board these days as I’m up to my ears with rehearsals for our Celtic Night next week. Hope to see you guys at NTIF next year! Gm
to see it on the screen and hear all the great tunes. I loved the scene by the sea where the Old Blind Dogs played a little ditty.