I just got home today from the Strathspey-in-May festival in Grantown-on-Spey Scotland so I thought that I’d do a festival review to let folks know about it and to share the fun that I had with you.
First, I picked up a copy of Flook’s new CD this past weekend (sorry Loren - if I had know… 
. It was their Scottish premier of the album and they gave a wonderful concert. Both Brian and Sarah did a great job and I was blown away by John Joe Kelly’s work on the Bodhran.
There were a number of other great performers (Sean Potts among them) but the two that I’d like to mention as standouts were “Gillian Frame and Back of the Moon” and Claire Mann. Gillian and company have a wonderful mix of vocal and instrumental works. All four of them can sing (Gillian was winner of last year’s Scottish Trad award) and there were a couple of songs with four part harmony that really struck a chord – oh man, I’m sorry, yeah that was intentional.
As for Claire, she just plays a mean fiddle and flute. I couldn’t tell in which instrument she was more accomplished; she was a master of both. On the album, John Joe Kelly plays bodhran and Aaron Jones (also at the festival) plays a citern/bouzouki type thing. Good stuff.
As for the festival itself, the primary aim of the festival was education and it was organized by a bunch of folks that were really interested in improving on their own instruments. This really helped solidify the intent.
Sarah Allen and Brian Finnegan both taught flute/whistle so of course the instruction was top notch. Amoung some of the other instructors were Big Paddy on Bodhran, Sean Potts and Dave Shaw on Pipes. I think that Claire Mann taught fiddle and Aaron Jones was the Mandolin/Bouzouki man. Lots of other folks too, but all this to say that the teaching was top caliber. They really went to an effort to bring in the best.
Plently of sessions available, too. Had I not wanted to sleep, I could have stayed out till all hours of the morning.
Best part of the festival though was the friendly atmosphere. I met a couple of C&Fer’s; JimmyW and Boyd both were there. My family was along (we turned it into a Scotland vacation - Loch Ness, etc.) so it was important that they were welcome and they were. There were a couple of dances that my daughter particularly enjoyed.
Also, there was a instrument maker exhibition. As far as whistles Alba, Shaw and McMillan (I think… he’s new and makes aluminum low whistles - more like Burke than Overton). For flutes, George Ormiston was there and let me confirm that his flutes are wonderful. Now I’m drooling for mine (due in October). Other makers included a harp maker, electric fiddle, bodhran.
Just to give some balance to this report, the concert hall wasn’t quite what it could be, but it’s small size really allowed for an informal feel and didn’t get in the way of folks enjoying the music.
So, if you have a chance to get there next year I can heartily recommend it. When I get a few seconds I’ll try to post a recording of one of the jigs that we learned - “The Donegal Lass” which Brian wrote.
Now I need to sleep. Vacations are tiring
ErikT
