I have bits and bobs this week about Cherish the Ladies, the Irish Tenor Banjo Summit in Baltimore, Solas and the Prodigals. Lots out there touch on, really, as summer starts to come to end and we begin to settle into the Fall!
First off, a huge, hearty congratulations to Cherish the Ladies, who will receive the “Grúpa Ceoil / Music Group” award at this year’s upcoming Gradam Ceoil TG4 ceremony. It’s massive news that tastes particularly sweet as they’re the very first U.S.-based group to be recognized in this category. A brilliant acknowledgment of the group’s longtime work and commitment to traditional music!
Earlier this week I had a chance to catch up with Madden, who said that she was “ecstatic” about the news. “We are of course very proud to be recognized in such an important way. It’s tremendous validation of our 41 years of work to be honored with this award.” It sure is and the joy she took in telling me how much the Gradam means to the group was clear. Congratulations to everyone in Cherish! It’s a richly deserved accolade!
Known as “the Oscars of Irish music,” the Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards were established in 1998 “to recognize, honor, and thank all those who have played a prominent part in supporting, nurturing and strengthening Irish traditional music.”
Cherish’s inclusion is special, too, as there are few other honorees with deep connections to the music in the United States. Others include Seán McKiernan (Galway & Boston), who was named” Traditional Musician of the Year / Gradam Ceoil” in 2010, Liz Carroll (Chicago), who received the “Cumadóir / Composer” award in 2011, Mick Moloney (New York), who was recognized with the “Gradam Comaoine / Outstanding Contribution” in 2014, and Séamus Connolly “Lifetime Achievement / Gradam Saoil” in 2020. A special group, indeed!
And as if this news weren’t enough for Cherish fans, the group has a new album on the horizon called “The Bridge of Dreams.” It’ll be released in time for them to promote it on their fall tour, which will take them to Spain, Ireland, and throughout the United States, Oct. 2 thru Dec. 21. Check https://cherishtheladies.com/ for tour specifics – make sure to get out there and congratulate them on the Gradam!
And be sure to check into the Gradam Ceoil TG4 concert and awards ceremony at https://www.tg4.ie/en/! The ceremony will be broadcast worldwide on the TG4 Player live on this Sunday, Sept. 13. In New York, it’ll be a 4:30 p.m. start time – don’t miss it!
Next up: the fifth annual Irish Tenor Banjo Summit will take place at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore on Sept. 25 and 26! Although a great community-driven event, it’s been so good over the years that it draws people from all over, thanks to organizer Richard Hearn, who does an excellent job. And yes, while it’s heaven for banjo players, Hearn has always made sure there’s something there to satisfy everyone, and this year is no exception.
I’ll start with the banjo faculty, which includes Clíodhna Costello from North Tipperary, Simon Lace, who is based in Boston, and me, Dan Neely, representing New York. Banjo attendees will get three intensive workshops, one with each of us to keep everyone honest!
But there will also be a range of masterclasses for the non-banjo players. Five of ‘em to be exact, including workshops on the B/C button accordion with Diarmuid Ó Meachair; the guitar with Pádraig Ó Dubhgaill; the fiddle with Noah Kelly; the flute with Seamus Noonan; and sean nós dance with Kate Spanos. That’s a superb lineup of tutors that should delight anyone with a serious interest in the music.
In addition, on the 25th there’ll be an instructor concert featuring Clíodhna Costello and Pádraig Ó Dubhgaill; Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Matt Mulqueen, and me; the Simon Lace Trio featuring Eamon Sefton and Noah Kelly; and dance choreography by Kate Spanos and Catherine Marafino Brice with Ellie Egan, Catriona Fee, and Mairead Fee. In addition, I’ll be giving a detailed, multimedia talk about the Flanagan Brothers on Saturday that will include recreations of the group’s music, with Diarmuid Ó Meachair and Matt Mulqueen.
It’s going to a full and rewarding couple of days down in Baltimore. Hope to see you there! To learn more and register, visit https://baltimoreirishmusicschool.org/.
Speaking of masterclasses and workshops, last week the legendary band Solas announced that registration has opened for a two day online music camp they’re holding on Saturday, Oct. 31 & Sunday, Nov. 1. The aim is to go deep into their creative process, so participants should expect intensive workshops about how the group’s members choose, write, arrange, and perform Solas’s music. It’s a cool and compelling concept that I think people out there might really be interested in checking out.
The camp will be hosted by Solas members Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, Moira Smiley, John Williams, and Alan Murray, but each day will include an hourlong workshop from a special, yet to be announced guest. And it appears the workshops will be intense, there’s a good bit of flexibility built in for those wishing to get a variety of in-band perspective, with the website report that “participants can choose their own adventures through the weekend with a potential to attend up to 13 hours of expert instruction.”
This is an incredible opportunity for anyone in or wishing to start a band! If this sounds like something you’d be interested in being a part of, don’t miss out on this special opportunity. To learn more and register, visit https://solastheband.com/.
Finally, congratulations to the Prodigals, who are now officially Guinness World Record holders! Yes, the Prodigals, who have been the house band at Paddy Reilly’s for 29 years (and counting), were recently recognized by the Guinness Book as having the “World's Longest Annual Residency by a Band.” You’d do well to keep this information in your pocket because you never know when you’ll need it to win a bar bet. You’ll win the follow up bet, too, if you know that Paddy Reilly’s was founded 40 years ago as an all-draft Guinness Bar, so a bit of congruence there with the record book!
To celebrate, the band, led by Gregory Grene, will be at Paddy’s on Friday, Sept. 18, which is halfway to Paddy's Day. The show will include appearances by former band members Brendan Smith, Dave Fahy, Colm O’Brien, Andrew Harkin and Trifon Dimitrov, and will include guest musicians Sean Tierney and Eric Kaye. It promises to be a rocking good evening. To learn more, visit https://www.prodigals.com and https://www.paddyreillysmusicbar.com/.
