Just thought I’d let you know about a great concert I was at last night as part of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. Two fantastic flute players that I hadn’t heard before.
The first was Kevin O’Neill from Glasgow - he’s an over 18 All-Ireland champion from 2000 and a fantastic player, really strong fingers and great expression. He was playing a George Ormiston flute and, although they’re not my favourites, his tone was absolutley fantastic.
The second was Hamish Napier from Strathspey. He plays with the band Back Of The Moon (along with the great piper Simon McKerrall), and again, played brilliantly (on what looked like an Ormiston keyless but I may well be wrong). He also played alot of whistle and will no doubt be known by the savages on the whistle forum. He played quite a few of his own compositions and his style was very similar to Brian Finnegan, with whom he also played at the concert. (There are probably enough superlatives used on Brian already, so I’ll stick to the young unknowns. Suffice to say he was electric!)
So, if anyone knows any more about these players I’d love to know.
Meanwhile, I’m off to see Lunasa tomorrow and Michael McGoldrick next Monday - what a flute-tastic month January is. 
Cheers
Graham
