I just saw Solas in concert in Berkeley, CA a couple days ago. I must say Seamus didn’t use his “Boom Stick” that much, and that was a shame, because the sparing moments he pushed air through his flute the whole place turned upside down. Now, i wasn’t able to get more info on the flute he was playing… it was defiantely a 4-key Rudall, maybe in cooktown ironwood or cocus… i suppose i will have to email the band.
BTW this is my first post here. I will soon be planning to get myself a flute, ahh, but the woes of the tight budget! 
Hi Fantomas, welcome on board!
Yeah, Seamus must really be sick of the stick. I just bought the new Solas album yesterday and skipped through the tracks quickly. Not a flute to be heard, just a bit of whistlely and recorder stuff on it, Carlos Nuñez, I believe. Or maybe I have to listen to it again more closely. I don’t know what Seamus plays right now, but I met him in 1992 and at that time he had a cocus Olwell. He let me try it out and I was just amazed, it was my first Olwell experience. Fantastic instrument!
As for tight budget flutes, you will get an awful lot of info on this board. Try a search on “Tipple”, “Burns Folk Flute” or “Seery Delrin” (just to name a few). Good luck!
Claus
Welcome to the board.
Seamus plays, as has been discussed before, a 5 keyed Olwell “Pratten” in cocus wood.
Chris
Exactly what is this broomstick that he plays, anyway.
“boom stick” is a reference to the Sam Raimi movie “Army of Darkness”, watch it, you’ll see. 
Thanks guys, i’ve been lurking the forum for some time now, reading the great threads. Some time ago i was about to fork out the cash for a keyless Noy, but I have to wait as i will be travelling to Europe in the Summer and that will suck up all my money.
I’ll be on the lookout for a good deal on a new or used flute.
P.S NOw that you mention it, a 5-key Olwell in Cocus fits the bill, since I forgot to count the Eb key.
I do wish Seamus would play more flute in the gigs. I’ve seen them play twice, and both times he played only two or three times. I guess that’s the disadvantage of playing so many instruments!
Max
In Solas’ earlier days, around the time of the first two albums in particular, Seamus would play flute and whistle 90% of the time during concerts, with the remaining 10% devoted to tenor banjo. I think Seamus’ move from flute an dwhistle in concert is reflective of his shift to guitar and banjo on the newer albums. He’s a brilliant banjo and guitar player, but dang it all I would sure love to hear him go back to playing the flute. A nice, solid trad album from him is what I’d love. I know he’s made two thus far, but I’d love another.
Peace,
Chris
John Doyle had a stint at Solas for some time, no?
I’ve seen him twice with Liz Carrol, and that was one of the best ITM shows i’ve seen, up there with Lunasa and Dervish.
If you haven’t got it already, do pick up a copy of John Doyle’s solo album “Evening Comes Early”, which is one of my very favorite albums. The quality of the songs, of his playing, of the arrangements, and of his singing is absolutely superb. It never gets old to me.
Chris
Couldn’t agree more, which just goes to prove that deranged…er, “Great” minds think alike.
Loren
John Doyle.
Yeah, John was one of the founding members of Solas. He left the band recently to mary and start a family, but still tours with Liz, John Williams, and the like.
He lives in Asheville, NC now, i guess it’s closer to his label’s HQ, Sugar Hill Records.
I’ve been impatiently waiting for that album he’s supposed to release with Liz, as a confirmed duo. They have a very good thing going on… otherwise the only place i could picture John would be replacing Donogh Henessy of Lunasa.
In the Sebastopol Celtic Festival (North Cali) 2004 there was an interesting trio configuration with John Doyle, Kevin Crawford and Martin Hayes (fiddle). Kevin obviously rocked the house, but in the short amount of time they had together (hour, maybe hour and fifteen minutes) they put together a monster show. John and Kevin worked really well together.
Gee, John would be the perfect replacement for Donogh. He would make Lunasa complete. It’s sad to see Donogh go, though.
Max
Donogh’s quitting to start a hot air balloon business? that’s so bizarre, I love it.
Huh?
it’s on their website. http://www.lunasa.ie
Oh, well, there you go. I didn’t see that latest update.
Cheers,
Aaron
yeah Lunasa with John would be the ultimate ITM band.
IMO, John would be wasted in Lunasa, unless you want to see Lunasa include his singing and flat picking as well as his strumming. His solo CD is so good, I’d like to see him form a band of his own. He was seriously underutilised in Solas. Since Egan’s nylon noodlings got most of the attention in Solas, I had no idea what a good flat picker John Doyle was until his own record came out. As a solo guitarist, I’d rate Egan as competent but not even close to Doyle in quality.
All of which makes it a pity Egan no longer emphasises the instruments he does play really well.