irish music

Quay Arts Rocks

Around 150 people enjoyed a fabulous performance from Peter Knight and John Spires at Quay Arts Centre on the last Friday in February. The two superb musicians kept the audience enthralled with an amazing series of strong folk tunes, expert variations and a superb mix of styles .

If you missed it, you might like to know about the other high quality folk concerts coming up soon at Quay Arts. On Thursday 7th April, Rachel McShane and the Cartographers pay a return visit https://www.quayarts.org/event/rachael-mcshane-and-the-cartographers/ , Cara Dillon’s original concert was postponed, the new date is Saturday 30th April 19.30. Cara Dillon | (quayarts.org) , Singer songwriter Boo Hewardine visits the Quay on Thursday May19th https://www.quayarts.org/event/boo-hewerdine/ and finally, the much postponed evening with Martin Carthy, Angelina Grimshaw in support, has been rescheduled to Thursday 26th May. https://www.quayarts.org/event/martin-carthy/

St Patrick’s Day,

Thursday 17th March is awash with events this year. The Traveller’s Joy Folk Club reopens after its winter break at13.30. Later, an Irish themed ‘come all ye’ folk session takes place at a new venue, The Star Coffee House, in Ryde’s High Street. This may herald the start of a new folk club. Irish music can also be heard at The Steamer Inn, Shanklin, The Spyglass, Ventnor and Monkton Arts Centre in Ryde.

An Irish music session at The Porter Club

Storytellers on the move

The Island Storytellers have a special evening on Wednesday 16th March at Boojum and Snark, Sandown, starting at 7pm. when the theme is ‘ Traditional Tales’. Booking is essential, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-traditional-tales-tickets-271140256807 . The storytellers plan to move their regular meetings to the third Tuesday of the month in future.

Storyteller Monty at a dramatic point in a story

Caroline Giles

It was very sad news to hear that Caroline Giles died recently, in mid September. Caroline was an accomplished musician who joined in at play along sessions on a variety of instruments, guitar, violin, banjo and, most frequently, flute, recorder and whistle. In the 90s, Caroline played in the local band ‘Well Oiled’. She regularly visited the Dairyman’s Daughter Folk Night and her tunes were always a highlight of the evening.

Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties, 2021

The ever-popular Brighstone Barnacles produced a humdinger of a set at Yarmouth

Here are some random comments from enthusiastic audience members at the Yarmouth shanty festival. “The best so far”, “When is the next one?”, “That was a really enjoyable weekend”, “Very well organised”, ” Amazing quality of musicianship”, “We are so glad we came along”.

Great Expectations

There has been so much interest about the future of the Tuesday weekly folk night at the Dairyman’s Daughter. Unfortunately, it is unable to restart at the moment. Keep watching for announcements, as soon as a date is set it will appear in Events and the Clubs etc. page.

Following the success of a one-off Cajun jam session at the Porter Club last month, there are hopes of a monthly Irish jam session at the same location. A meeting has taken place between a potential session leader and the club secretary. Watch out for further announcements.

Meanwhile, rumours are coming out of West Wight. The possibility is being explored of a new folk night at Dimbola. The previous folk night was very successful, full to capacity and more for a number of years. Perhaps there may be pent-up demand for a singaround with a guest spot.

Andy Jackson Variety Concerts

So, after a year’s delay (side effect of Covid) and many, many changes of name, Ruth Lockyer’s series of concerts in aid of The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal for the Isle of Wight’s homeless will finally go ahead. The first concert is in Wellow on Saturday 2nd October, followed by Shalfleet at the end of the month, Ryde in November and finally the usual annual concert in Newport in December.

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