Milwaukee Irish Fest report

Whistle
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Had a wonderful day at Irish Fest yesterday filled with great music and good weather. One of the highlights of the day was meeting with fellow Chiff and Fipplers Jim (livethequestion), Sibyle (Otter), Jane (Jane) and others. Jim brought his extensive whistle collection and let us all play around on them - thanks Jim! We had a few other people who gathered around as we were tootling so we may have a few more converts to Chiff and Fipple. We all decided that we have to do this again and have more people come, whether it’s to Irish Fest next year or at another time.

Another highlight of the day was seeing the group Barachois, a French Acadian group from Prince Edward Island. No whistles, but they were extremely entertaining as well as talented. They defy description, however, but if you get the opportunity to see them, don’t miss!

Beth

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If you enjoyed Barachois, check out “les Chauffers a pieds” from Quebec City-the whistle player does some interesting stuff plus, a good band. Unfortunately, I don’t have a current web site(someone else might though). Also to try- “La Bottine Souriante”-quebecois trad/jazz /horn fusion, (not something that one would normally think would work), absolutely wonderful musicianship and arrangements…website is-

millepattes.com/Anglais/bo

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Janice can you double check that web address? It didn’t work for me just now…

Edit - think I found it: http://www.millepattes.com/Anglais/bottine/index.html

[ This Message was edited by: avanutria on 2002-08-18 19:21 ]

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Sorry about that, glad you found it though.

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What a marvelous time! I nearly turned right around and drove back up there today to join in on the March of the Bodhrans which is stepping off just now.
Jim’s and Otter’s collections drew quite a crowd and there were no less that 5 at any time whistling in pairs and singley.
We did come home with a low D. The choice was easy…There were 2 and we bought the one we could afford. We also came away with a G the size of a ballpoint pen that I was seranaded by the rest of the trip home. Jim’s Rose was the real star. I think it made the top of everybody’s wish list.

One day was not enough! Next year I’ll wear running shoes and stay for all three days. 15 stages of harpers, whistlers, singers, dancers and parades of pipers…Mayhem of the most wonderful kind.

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Yes it was a wonderful time. I can’t even keep track of how many years I’ve been coming to Irish Fest (I think the last time I missed it was in 1994, and that was only because I was in Ireland at the time). Every year it is great (well, except that one year in the rain…)
I didn’t go back there today but of course now I am kicking myself. Jane, if you come next year, you have to stay for The Scattering. At the end of the evening on Sunday when ALL the artists from Irish Fest share the same stage. It’s awesome!

I saw La Bottine Souriante a year or two ago at Irish Fest and enjoyed them a lot, but Barachois was even better. They were just hysterical! (if you think Joanie Madden’s Michael Flatley imitation is good, you should see Chuck’s Mick Jagger imitation, not to mention his Glen Campbell and Andy Gibb imitations). And I’ve never seen a window screen played as an instrument before. Wacky, wild fun!

Beth

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The Scattering sounds almost frightening in magnitude, but you’re right, I don’t want to miss it next year! (I’ll be easy to spot…I’ll be the wide eyed exhausted Scot somewhere towards the back. LOL)

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'Just got back from the last night. Joanie Madden and the ladies were amazing. She did alot of flute work which was beautiful, but I was just constantly waiting for when she would pick up that whistle again…

They played for an hour or so (WAY TOO SHORT of a set:) ) and then everyone turned around in their seats for the fireworks. While they were exploding, musicians took turns playing different instruments over the loud speakers. It was an awesome effect.

The Scattering was unreal. So many amazing musicians with Joanie in the lead. It ended with a poem about unity in America, and an UNtraditional ending song. Not Irish, but American, everyone joined together for “This Land is Your Land” which I’m pretty sure touched everyone in a big way, even though the American Flag backdrop didn’t quite unreavel the way it was supposed to…

This was my first time at Irish Fest and I really feel that I lucked out by going Sunday night. The atmosphere of the Festival drawing to a close was something else.

Amazing.

Joey

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I saw my first sessions on Saturday at Irish Fest at about 4pm. With 25 or so musicians, there were only 3 whistles, Copeland, and 2 of wood. Boy, were there a lot of violins! Do sessions ratios tend to be like that?

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Yeah, that was so much fun to meet everyone. And as we were spreading out and trying all the whistles, who shows up but Mike Burke, saying that so many whistles on display could only come from a Chiff and Fipple group.
We all got to talk about the different Burke whistles and agreed that the composite is a strong “favorite”, and Mike will definitely keep making those.
Most of the whistles there were Jim’s, I had only brought 4 high Ds…but I suspect Jim brought so many whistles just to show off his incredebly cool whistle bag… and of course I now must have one of those…
thanks to everyone for showing up on time! and yes, we have to do that again!
Otter




[ This Message was edited by: Otter on 2002-08-19 10:51 ]

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Did anyone hear the band Providence play there? My buddies Peter Molloy and David Corey are playing with them on their US tour.
Chris

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I heard them at Goderich, they were great, but missing their guitar player due to a border hitch(seems he had to stay in the US cause there’s a terrorist wanted in the States with the same name).Had a nice chat with C. Boyle at dinner one night…they got to Goderich a couple of days late, and were only able to teach part of the week there.

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Should be able to pick up some pics of the C&F group tomorrow. I’ll get them up right away.

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I just got home late last night after hanging around in Wisconsin for a week and then camping out at the annual Green Apple Folk Society campout this past weekend where I got to meet another board member, Amanda, and play her Silkstone D+ Alloy (I think that’s what it’s called).

It was great fun at the Irish Fest and especially meeting all you neat people. Otter gave me her Chiff and Fipple hat and I spent the rest of the week explaining (?) Chiff and Fipple. My description probably sounded like it was some sort of cult …well, maybe it is in it’s on harmless way (mostly harmless anyway).

The case mentioned is just a canvas like cordura nylon spotting scope case that I picked up from a cut out bin at Cabela’s for $15. It has a shoulder strap and I put four foam pipe insulators in. Can get nine whistles in up to low F in length. It works.

I really appreciated getting to meet Mike Burke and his lovely wife and talk whistles if only for a few minutes. And if you see this Mike, you’ve got my vote to keep making the composite’s. They just blend in better (in my opinion)with some of the quiet acoustic instruments like at the campout.

Otter and I traded whistles, I liked the new style Dixon high D; she liked my old style whistle. I got to play her Copeland High D and sure liked it.

It was also fun to just have people come up and visit and let them play whistles and tell them about Chiff and Fipple. I think we will have some new visitors and members. I got some positive comments about my Reyburn Low D and Low G.

Hi Beth, and Jane and Emily and everyone else whose names escape me at the moment.

next year, if not before

BTW, eventhough I didn’t get a chance to play one, I got to hear up close two different Abells. Almost wish I hadn’t since, of course, now I want one.

Peace

Namasté

jim

[ This Message was edited by: livethe question on 2002-08-27 19:54 ]

[ This Message was edited by: livethe question on 2002-08-27 19:55 ]