L.E. McCullough will (may, it is not confirmed) be teaching a whistle workshop on Friday, September 13 at the Commadore Barry Center in Philadelphia. He will also be performing at 12:45 on Saturday with Nancy Conescu (a great singer/guitarist I met at East Durham, New York a couple of years ago) at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park.
[ This Message was edited by: Mark_J on 2002-08-19 09:03 ]
Thanks for posting this, Mark. If you see that it’s confirmed, will you let us know? I’ll do the same.
Tery
The whistle workshop has been confirmed.
http://www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org/festival/workshops.html
Has anyone ever been to one of these? My partner would like to come but is very new to whistling and is afraid she’ll be out of place.
Thanks,
Tery
I’ve been to workshops with Jerry O’Sullivan (on 2 occasions) and Conal O’Grada at the Irish Center before. I do not think L.E. will have plans much different than those worshops. They went through 3-4 tunes during a workshop. Too fast to learn them cold that day. Bring a cassette recorder or minidisc recorder so you don’t forget the most important stuff. Jerry O had handouts, Conal did not. I prefer the audio recording over the hand-outs.
If you have $25 to spare, it is definitely worth going, even if your skills don’t let you learn a tune that day, or to play along the whole way. You can still get something out of it. If the money is real tight, then you may regret not spending it elsewhere.
I expect there to be a session afterwards (at the same time as the Four Men and A Dog concert). Always out by the fireplace, which grows to most of the room. Some of the real ringers come out of the woodwork. The quality at that session should be well above normal and certainly above the quality of some of our local sessions. It can be real depressing (being an adult learner) and uplifting to see the virtuosity displayed by of some of the 11-15 age group playing. What’s nice is that some of the 60 to 90 something crowd comes out and plays with them at this session. If you want a show band with increadible speed played with virtuosity and professional perfection go see Four Men and a Dog in the gymnasium. If you wish to partake of some of the pure drop, try the fireplace. Sometimes, the workshop student fee covers concert admission. I have seen no mention of this, but there never is. And since I don’t run the thing, there could be a separate fee for both this time. Plan on staying there until after 11 if you really want to take it all in.
I have a wedding to go to the next day, and I will do so with bloodshot eyes and an yawn every time I open my mouth.
Cheers.
See you there?
Hi Mark,
Yes, I’ll be there. I think the concert is $5 extra – but the stuff by the fireplace sounds like more fun to me! (Though I would probably be listening, not playing.)
Tery
Mark, did Four Men and a Dog reform? They broke up a few years ago and the last I heard of Gino Lupari was that he was touring Australia recently. I’d probably drive down to Philly if the had their original lineup.
On 2002-09-04 22:50, Paul Anderson wrote:
Mark, did Four Men and a Dog reform? They broke up a few years ago and the last I heard of Gino Lupari was that he was touring Australia recently. I’d probably drive down to Philly if the had their original lineup.
From the PCG festival web site:
"As is our tradition, there is a concert and pot luck party on the Friday before the festival. This year Four Men & A Dog are reuniting for a short US tour and Philadelphia is the first stop. There is also a new CD so the party will also be a CD launch.There is a separate admission of $10 for this concert which includes food. John Donnelly will once again cook burgers and dogs.
Current Lineup
Cathal Hayden> , from Pomeroy, Co Tyrone has won reknown throughout Ireland for his fiery fiddle playing. He also plays a mean banjo and managed to take All- Ireland senior titles in both instruments. He was a founder member of Arcady, and together with Mick Daly, left to start up Four Men.
Gino Lupari > (Magherafelt, Derry) has been described as the ‘god of the bodhran’, which he wields with keen dexterity, but he is best know as the comic front-man of the band. He also does a share of singing.
Kevin Doherty > (Dublin) came into the band in 1992, replacing Mick Daly as guitarist and singer. Formerly fronting the Donegal country band The Gooseberries, his gravelly voice has been hailed as a real gem for 4Men. His American and country leanings come out clearly on the second album, Shifting Gravel, in which he sings four of his own compositions.
Gerry O’Conor > is a respected banjo player on the Irish scene, and also doubles on fiddle. His solo album, Time to Time traces the history of the banjo, and he has two tracks on the compilation album Trad at Heart.
I think that ought to answer your question because you know more than me on that.
Cheers
[ This Message was edited by: Mark_J on 2002-09-05 08:39 ]