Two
Folk-Giants at the Flax Mill
Colum Sands meets Willie Drennan
Marion Baur, owner of the Flax Mill broke the news to the
media yesterday: “Willie Drennan and Colum Sands aren’t just going to perform
in the one concert; they will join on stage to play for our audience which is
going to be from many different parts of the world.”
Two great
traditions – two amazing biographies – two ingenious musicians.
Willie
Drennan’s roots are
in the tradition of “Ulster Scots”, the music of Scottish people who immigrated
to Ireland in the 18th century. Many years of living in Canada where
he worked as a busker and producer of organically grown vegetables and herbs
and numerous tours to various corners of the globe have shaped a unique
performer who loves to fuse different styles.
His current band consists of a jazz-multi-instrumentalist with
love for Latino music, a bass-player who origins from Rockabilly, a
master-piper and recently as a special guest a young harpist who plays
traditional Irish style.
With this outfit Willie Drennan went for his Germany-debut in
the first days of July. They rocked the 60 000 strong crowd at the “UZ-
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Festival” in Dortmund, played and sung their way straight into
the hearts of thousands of music-lovers.
A master of many instruments (tin whistle, flute, fiddle, banjo,
mandolin), Drennan’s real love is that of rhythm. He plays various unusual
drums, the bodhran and the “Lambeg drum”.
In an interview with German weekly “Unsere Zeit” he spoke about
the “big lady”: “…as far as I can see the Lambeg drum is the end of the
evolution of rhythm-instruments in the world. Louder, richer in sound and more
high-energy is simply impossible….”
He brought the drum back as a concert – instrument, a tradition
which started in the village of Lambeg in the 19th century, hence
the name.
More and more songs in Willie Drennan’s repertoire are from his
own pen. His recent “No Whiskey in the Jar” – a dig at the corrupt system of
banks and multi-national companies – is rapidly becoming a hit in Europe.
To write a press – release about Colum Sands makes for a tall
order – to pen even a part of his huge career would inevitably turn into a
book.
For over 40
years Colum has been “on the road” and at home on the stages of the world both
with his family – band “the Sands Family” and as a solo-artist. More than 50
albums are chronological prove of the County Down man’s endless creativity.
He doesn’t
know how many songs he has written, a number of them such as “Getting the loan
of a spade”, “Buskers”, “Whatever you say, say nothing”, to mention but few are
now Irish- and international folk-classics.
The
traditions of Irish music were with Colum from the day he was born in a small
cottage in Mayobridge, his father, fiddler Mick Sands being one of the very
early teachers.
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Despite his
“long and winding journeys” to almost everywhere he kept his home in County
Down, lives not far from where he was born.
A master at
several instruments (fiddle, bodhran, double-bass and guitar), he uses them to
accomplish lyrics, and in many songs he uses words and phrases from his
home-area and –dialect.
Colum Sands
last appeared at the Flax-Mill in 2001. Several attempts to get him back to a
Yard-Fest didn’t materialise due to his very busy schedule.
Marion Baur
is fascinated that September the 10th will see him back on stage
“We’ve been
waiting for 15 years to have him back here. His concerts were wonderful experiences
and those who attended in 2001 will remember that we had to turn many people
away because of an absolute capacity crowd. To have Colum returning in 2016 is
all the more exciting because he will join with another folk-giant, Willie
Drennan.
“And one
more time again we will feature a young local artist who is just about to hit
the big stages. Dearbhla Mc Taggart is one of the most talented harpists we
have met, at her recent Germany – debut the 14 year old from Dungiven left
thousands of music-lovers stunned. Some of them are actually travelling over to
see her again.
“Add to
that the fact that popular German singer/songwriter Reiner Frankl is returning
to the fest after a break and you have the makings of a superb event.”
The organisers
are urging people who want to attend the concert on September 10th
to get in touch early. Whilst they recommend to book for the Open Day (full
programme will be out within the next few days), the evening event is an
“invitation only” affair with no exceptions.
Press Release:
23rd Flax-Mill Open Day and Yard-Fest:
A tailor from Colombia, Ireland’s
only female blacksmith, a weaver from Germany
It’s all hands on at
Derrylane Flax-Mills as County
Derry
“Ireland’s most
spectacular private gathering”, as a Dutch journalist once called it, is set to
bring visitors from all corners of the globe to the town land outside Dungiven.
They will enjoy an unrivalled gathering of the best crafters from these shores;
meet designers, artists, spinners, weavers, dyers and textile-workers from far
and near.
A “world-premier” of
what looks to become one of the most successful documentary-films ever to come
from Northern Ireland
Mill owner Marion Baur is delighted with the state of
preparations:
“After last year’s absolute capacity crowd and electric
atmosphere at both Open Day and evening-concert we had to try very hard to
top this. I think we have managed and will be able to please our visitors with
an even more comprehensive and exiting display of the best products made here,
unique demonstrations of old and new ways of manufacturing, great fun, the best
of home-made food and a forum for meeting and exchanging information.
To host a first-time showing of some of the amazing
footage, film-maker John Thompson and historian Bruce Clark have gathered
during the past year for their new film “Linen People” is honouring for us and
of course an extra bonus for our visitors.
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The evening concert and session
will be the most potent ever. Colum Sands is making an appearance for the first
time since 2001 and his fusion on stage with Willie Drennan, German singer/songwriter
Rainer Frankl and talented local harpist Dearbhla Mc Taggart has been creating
huge interest internationally. At this stage we have booking for the concert
from 9 different countries on our list.”
The owner of Flax – Mill has all
reasons to be pleased. The full programme for the Open Day which is just out
and available from the mill reads like a “who is who” in textile- and other
crafts and the melting – pot of crafters, artists, media-people and
textile-workers from far and near, the Flax-Mill-Open-Day has developed into
seems to be growing year by year.
Here are some of the highlights:
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Christine
Boyle/Belfast is returning after a break. The owner of the “colour and
cloth” company who uses natural ingredients only for her price-winning dyeing
will demonstrate linen-dyeing with things like blackberries, onion-peels and
other products from the mill-garden.
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Danna
Herron/Gilford is Ireland
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Elisabeth
Corrigan/Antrim, Flax-Mill’s “commission-tailor, will show her new range of
bespoke dresses. She opened her own shop (“Lizzienellie”) in Randalstown last
year and will be accompanied by her daughter Eimear who is going to model some of Liz’s brand-new creations.
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Flax-Mill’s new
range of cloth and finished products is out and will be on show. With hand-
and machine-woven linen – some of it made with yarn from our own flax – in the
centre, Marion Baur and her team will also show some new tweed from Irish wool
and a unique blend of linen and silk. Many designers and tailors have announced
their coming to see the new products. Textile-design students Almha Mc Cartan (Dublin-College) and Miriam Johnston (University of
Halle/Germany) had an input in design and making of a new range of one-off
scarves which will be ready for the day.
Last Minute news:
4 Spinners working on 4 wheels!
Alongside Lynda Kelly and Eileen
Patterson (Killeleagh) who produce high quality yarn for Flax-Mill’s
weaving operation two other spinners have just confirmed their coming to
demonstrate. The 4 master-crafters operating 4 spinning-wheels “in line” and beside
3 of Flax-Mill’s working weaving-looms will make for a spectacular show. They
will be spinning Alpaca (the animals live just a few hundred metres from the
mill), Irish wool and Irish linen. Of course some of their unique products will
be for sale.
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Ruth Walker is
back! The Welsh jeweller and glass-artist with a base in Ballyclare
kiln-fuses coloured glass in a high-temperature oven and manufactures bespoke
jewellery and window-decorations. She also weaves melted glass; her creations
have been used by Marion Baur at international fashion-events. Ruth has been at
several Open Days, had declined this year due her extremely busy schedule. Due
to public demand she has changed her plans and just gave us confirmation that
she will run her unique stall.
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Ireland
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Flax-Mill’s
contribution to “the year of food” is an international one! The much loved
“catering-brigade” is jetting in from Berlin
The organisers are urging people
to book their place, especially for the evening event. Marion Baur:
We have always had busy Open Days
and the gig in the evening had to be limited in numbers every year. This time
demand is huge, the number of visitors from abroad exceeds anything we have
experienced. Whilst we strongly recommend visitors for the day to let us know
they are coming, concert and session are a definite “invite only” affair this
year, otherwise we couldn’t cope with the numbers. We try our best to cater for
as many as possible but in order to do that right and to the detail we provide
people have to book for the evening. They will not regret what they are
getting.”
Important notes for editors:
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This press-release is free for immediate publication.
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Open Day and Yard-Fest are private events; the owner
reserves the right to refuse admission at all times.
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There is no cover-charge.
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For all up-front interviews, photo-shootings etc.
please contact Hermann at Flax-Mill as soon as possible: 02877742655 or flaxmill@gmx.net
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Photographers are welcome, recording at the concert
requires special permission as does all filming.
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Due to many request by journalists from abroad, both
Colum Sands and Willie Drennan will be present during the Open Day and prepared
for interviews. These have to be booked (contact Hermann).
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