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Tara Hoy Interview and Performance from Homegrown Films on Vimeo.

 Please click here to read articles on St George's Market.

New York City with the beams of light on the site of where the twin towers stood.

In September of last year I was in New York City with other pipers to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Colin McClelland another piper who was on the trip had composed an air called 'Waves of Remembrance' for the commemorations to be played on Highland Pipes. Whilst in the Big Apple we also played it on smallpipes and whistles to great effect.

On returning home we decided to record the track and I have posted it here for you to listen to.

Musicians  who played on the recording were Ian Burrows (Smallpipes and Low Whistle) Sarah-Jane Bellingham (Fiddle) Sam Davidson (Guitar and Keyboards) Colin McClelland (Highland Pipes) Robert Cupples (Highland Pipes)

Ian Burrows

 Please click the link to listen. http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b019p5yf/ Please scroll ten minutes into the programme, that is when the interview begins.

In Issue 4 we ran a story on the Baglady’s trip to Stormont to highlight her
environmental awareness campaign. Shirley Lewis has been enthusiastically preaching her message since arriving in Northern Ireland, from Australia around 1999. Shirley grew up in Ballymena, her father was the well known Dr Bill Laird who died recently at the age of 92, but has spent most of her life in Australia. She is now heading back down there as I write this, but Shirley is not your normal every day traveller. She has calculated that the environmental impact of flying off on a jet plane to the far side of the planet is an environmental price too high to pay. She began her journey to Australia on November 1st by catching a ferry from Belfast to Liverpool. Not too sure how she got to Belfast, but knowing Shirley she probably went on her push-bike. From there it was down through England to catch the Eurostar from London to Rome. From Italy, on November15th she gotonboard a boat bound for Freemantle, Western Australia, via the Suez Canal. She expects to arrive th ere just before Christmas and then travel overland to the Blue Mountains to arrive at her destination early January. That’s right, a two month journey in total.
Now this is obviously a more expensive way to travel to Australia considering the cost of food and accommodation for a two month period. Not too many of us would calculate that we had the time or the money for such a venture, and that is indeed unfortunate. There can be no doubt that it is, by far, the most environmentally friendly way to go. Then I got to thinking, as occasionally I do. Shirley Lewis just might be on to something here; her experience just might kick-start some sort of revolutionary outside-of-the-box approach to global travel. What if people planned ahead and planned to work on a project during the monotonous parts of the journey? In this age of the global market so much can be developed on computers and information passed on when internet access is available. Books could be written, artistic masterpieces created and you never know there might even be opportunities for live musicians. If shipping companies, entrepreneurs and governments got together they could encourage groups to synchronise their trips, self-catering accommodations could be developed and there could even be educational programmes designed for such a journey. Failing al that at least sweaters and woolly hats could be knitted. Nobody knits pullovers or even mittens anymore. I bet you, anything knitted on such a remarkable voyage could no doubt fetch a pretty penny on shore. Ok, this might all seem a bit far-fetched and fanciful – but this time last century people would have roared their heads off at the suggestion of travelling to the moon in a space ship; but we’re not talking about travelling to the moon, we’re only talking about a journey within our tiny wee planet [Mind you on page 14 we are talking about a journey to Orion]. If anyone ever hears of such ideas being developed please let me know. I’ve been on my way to Australia since 1982 but keep getting distracted and something like this just might be the impetus I need. In the next issue of The Ulster Folk we will update you on the Baglady’s voyage of discovery. She may be getting as far away from Ulster as she can but in these days of easy global communication you can be sure we haven’t heard the last of Shirley Lewis. She is working on a new environmental film; no doubt as I write she is working on it from somewhere out on the Atlantic Ocean – see what I mean? That film will no doubt have much relevance for us in Ulster where we have to take as much responsibility for the survival of our wee planet as the USA or China or anybody
else. No planet, no Ulster. Follow Shirley on twitter or www.Bagladyproductions.org 

Please click link to see recent workshop at Knockloughrim P.S. by Willie Drennan  http://knockloughrim.educatr.com/2012/01/18#a2900 

Gerry Anderson is joined by a very new singer called Tara Hoy from Ballymena. Tara performs When Love Found Her on BBC Radio Ulster.

Review of Low Country Boys’ ‘No Lang Tae Go’ and ‘Plain And Simple’.

www.lowcountryboys.com

In the last issue of our publication we examined the development of the Christian music scene in Northern Ireland and promised to look at what contemporary offerings are available. We will begin by taking at look at County Down’s Low Country Boys. Now a three piece comprising Gibson Young, Ivan McFerran and Richard Mottram, this outfit have firmly established themselves as first rate purveyors of rootsy gospel music. Their two most recent offerings No Long Tae Go (2009) and this year’s Plain an Simple showcase in the studio what they do so well live – close harmonies and quality musicianship infused with a sincere, uncomplicated spirituality.

No Lang Tae Go boasts 16 tracks and features well-known hymns and choruses such as Rock of Ages and The Happy Day Express as well as spoken word tracks and instrumentals. There are also very endearing pieces using ‘the hamely tongue’ such as O Aa The Airts and Drunkard’s Ragit Wean.

This recording certainly offers a good balance between light and shade. The haunting accapello version of Rock Of Ages, which makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, is in stark contrast to the jaunty, lilting version of Happy Day Express. The spoken word of O Aa The Airts is a devotional poem to the Lamb Of God back by an ethereal howling wind effect evocative of the Holy Ghost Himself. The crackling record effect adds to this giving it a stark, ancient, mystical quality. The instrumental Granda’s 35 is a tour de force on banjo and guitar guaranteed to lift the spirits of even the most ‘crabbit auld divil’.

The c.d. booklet is a treasure trove in itself with all sorts of historical rural memorabilia from the boys’ beloved Ards Peninsula. All in all a very well put together package.

On a close listen, it is hard to believe that the Low Country Boys’ latest offering, Plain an Simple, was almost an afterthought springing out of impromptu recording sessions by Ivan McFerran. It opens with Tumblin’ Jack, a banjo-led instrumental with harmonica interludes. This is another foot-tapper guaranteed to make you smile.

The second track, Sweet Rivers, displays those rich, haunting vocal harmonies characteristic of the Low Country Boys and is definitely a highpoint on the album. Gospel standards such as I’ll Fly Away, Jesus Loves Me and Nothing But The Blood give the boys excellent foundations for displaying a range of musical moods as well as their musicianship and fine vocal abilities.

One of my favourite tracks has to be the instrumental The Old Crosscut Saw which featured on a BBC Radio Ulster show showcasing humorous local anecdotes. It sees fiddle and banjo trading off each other and is very infectious. I also appreciate the fantastic dobro playing on Workin’ On The Farm, a wonderfully witty reflection on the joys of raising livestock.

The final track “Time Has Gone” not only reflects the culmination of the album but is also a reflection on the transient nature of life and an appeal to look to the transcendent in life for meaning.

If roots music with a spiritual flavour is your scene I would definitely commend these cd’s to you and would encourage you to catch the boys live if you have occasion to do so.

Review by Andy McKinney