Loving the 17th Annual Ennis Trad Festival!

Trad-heads Jack Talty, John Rynne, and Neil O'Loughlen competing for 'Ennis' Next Top Trad Model 2010' (image reproduced with permission).

The 17th Annual Ennis Trad Festival will take place this year from Thursday 11th to Monday 15th, November 2010. Where to begin!? As usual, there is a tasty program of events to choose from. I've always regarded it as a kind of 'musician's' festival, with the onus on an incredible session trail, causing a mass migration of trad players and aficionados from all over the world. Without sounding cheeky, I reckon it attracts a different kind of  following compared to other Summer festivals. It is a massive undertaking for the organizers, but everything always works out great. The calibre of players on the bill for gigs, master classes, and the mammoth session trail, is outstanding. This is surely one reason (of many) why musicians are attracted to this festival particularly. The festival does not revolve around competition, like some other festivals, although the céilí band competition has reached a kind of cult-like status at this stage. The festival is a credit to the organizers and the supporters of the festival. This is a  top class festival. This is also an opportunity for patrons to support local businesses. Ennis has tons to offer when it comes to food, entertainment and shopping.

I like particularly how even though the festival has some big corporate brand sponsorship (Guinness, Shannon Development, etc), it still has its own vibe, its own image, and its own style. Sometimes I feel like sponsorship of that magnitude muddies the original idea, but Ennis Trad Fest proves otherwise: you can secure sponsorship and still advertise tastefully (that is, without a giant pint in the poster foreground...). Although there is a massive program (See official Ennis Trad Festival website.), I've compiled a few of the highlights below. Of course the session trail continues all weekend, cumulating with the afternoon 'farewell sessions' around the town. I will be reviewing some of the gigs too, so keep an eye out for them next week! 

 

Thursday 11th November:

6:30pm The festival kicks off this Thursday (11th November) in the Maguire Suite at the Old Ground Hotel. The incomparable radio powerhouse and raconteur / musician /producer Mr. Pat Costello will officially launch it. Soon after that, at 7:30pm the eagerly awaited debut album launch for Dónal Lunny's trad-supergroup 'Ciorras' will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel, definitely get there early! 

Any Old Time (Mick Daly, Dave Hennessey and Matt Crannitch) play at 11:30pm at The Queens Hotel, followed by the infamous quirky trad club night Shuckin' and Jivin' with DJ Andrew MacNamara. Tickets for this event are €15. 

Friday 12th November:

7:30pm The West Wind Presenters' Concert, Glór, tickets €20, in association with Clare FM.

Midnight gig with Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, Seamie O'Dowd and Jimmy Higgins, Auburn Lodge Hotel. Tickets €20. 

Saturday 13th November:

11:00am: Instrument workshops. For info/booking see official website

02:00pm Talk and demonstration on behalf of Willy Simmons of his new flute and whistles by Jon Dodd. (upstairs in Tom Steele's Bar, Lifford. Free!)

07:00pm (Sharp).The 4th Annual Ard Ghaisce na mBuíonta Senior Céilí Band Competition takes place in Glór  for the first time. Nice change of venue, kudos to Ennis Trad Fest! This is like a céilí band 'X-Factor' but in the pursuit of impartiality, the judges do not see the bands, but will hear them from behind a screen. Bands will be identified to them by numbers only. The 5th adjudicator is the audience. NOTE: Latecomers cannot vote. For the rules and regs see the official website. 

Midnight: Concert with The Dave Munnelly Band (€20 ticket, also covers trad disco with Ollie Mullooly. Please note these events are on simultaneously at The Auburn Lodge Hotel. Also, just try to shut up when the band are playing, most Saturday night gigs are a tough slot, only because the audience get carried away with chatting! I love the clip below, they're fantastic live!

Sunday 14th November:

Unmissable masterclass with fiddle guru Brendan Mulkere Sunday 14th November at 12 midday, spaces are limited so make sure to book in advance. A seriously rare masterclass with Brendan Mulkere: €25, a wealth of knowledge and insight: priceless.

 Continuing with a leisurely Sunday pace, there are a few CD launches planned, including Eoin O'Neill, Kevin Griffin and Quentin Cooper, and Stevie Dunne. The Brock McGuire Band headline Sunday evening at Old Ground Hotel, 11pm.

Monday 15th November:

I love Monday of Ennis Trad Festival,  it's a day to 'reflect'. There are always great stories by that time, and if there aren't any (which is highly unlikely!), someone will make a few up! 

11:00pm The final big gig of the festival, at the Queens Bar, features 2009 TG4 Musician of the Year awardee Charlie Harris on accordion, Maeve Donnelly on fiddle,   Geraldine Cotter on piano, and Eamon Cotter on flute. This is your very last chance to catch Shuckin' and Jivin' with DJ Andrew MacNamara. Tickets for this event are €15. 

Happy Ennis Trad Festival :-)

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Our Generation: Music and Fashion Treasure Trove, a big 'Like'.

Like all other dedicated record-buying clientèle from Ennis and further afield, I was devastated that Record Rack was closing its doors. Our Generation/Fear and Clothing is located on Lower Market Street above The Wine Buff.  The manager, Criona Wickham, has a long history with arguably the most renowned record shop in Ennis ever, Record Rack. I was expecting to walk in to a shop full of CDs and records that time (and people) had long forgotten. However, the spirit of Record Rack is alive an well. Of course, it was a strategic business move; bringing two strong elements of R.R. under a new revamped store idea. Our Generation has a large open-plan space, making everything visible the second you make it up the stairs. New releases, back catalog, and specials on vinyl, CD and DVD are a specialty. Even though I presumed it would sell mostly rock and 'alternative' music, it actually houses an eclectic range of genres. It still caters for pop and rock music fans with chart-toppers and classic releases, while whetting the appetite of the most seasoned classical music buffs with an extensive Deutsche Grammaphon catalog. There is a pretty quirky selection of DVDs, from early screen comic legends, slasher horrors and chick-flicks, to poor old Arnold Schwarzennegger's 'Hercules in New York' (yes, it exists!). Select DVDs are only a fiver each or three for €10. In addition to all this, there is clothing from brands such as Hell Bunny and Darkside, accessories (badges, lighters, audio gear), posters, and, the weirdest gift-ideas I've ever seen: Celtic Toaster anyone? Giant calculator? Why not! 

New 7" from C!ties/Deviant+ Naive Ted 

Our Generation hosts live performances from bands and DJs, ensuring throngs of eager listeners. It's a great thing to see this happening: in-store events in a place like Ennis is valuable because it brings music closer to the audience, and helps maintain and develop a fanbase (for the shop, and the band). Last Saturday townie-band C!ties performed a set, promoting their new single fresh of the presses with Deviant and Naive Ted on the B-side. I bought the 7" and had a little surge of joy: at last! A physical product, is way nicer than an 'invisible' mp3. What a boring format. Everyone should buy a record player. C!ties are tight performers, and always draw a crowd with their techno-tinged prog-rock. They kind of traverse many genres, and appeal to a wide audience. 

Our Generation is a perfect example of a business that is a product of the recession (urgh! that word!), and I mean it in a good way: if things weren't so crap economically, it might never have happened. You can buy, swap,  or get store credit for your old records/CDs/DVDs. 

Visit and 'like' Our Generation

Visit and 'like' The Ennis Review  AND C!ties

A taste of C!ties in Our Generation last Saturday (sorry about poor quality). Loads of pics below.

Seán Hurson&Ian Malone of C!ties

Happy Customers!Cian McKeown, John Slattery and Eanna Talty @ Our Generation / C!ties In-store event.

Hell Bunny rockabilly@Fear and Clothing

Classics galore....

Ballyvaughan Farmers Market - Defying the 'designer organic' price-tag

I went to Ballyvaughan last Saturday to the Farmers Market. If you don't live nearby you'll enjoy the drive; looking out over the wild karst landscape, and navigating some incredibly windy roads! It's roughly about an hour from Ennis. Ballyvaughan is a small village so the Farmers Market is well sign-posted. 

It's comparable to French village fêtes, which attract visitors from all over their localities and further afield. The market supports locally sourced produce ranging from fresh seasonal veg, fruit, herbs, cheeses, and preserves, to homemade relishes, crafts and a vast array of baked goods. It was a sunny day in North County Clare, and I was greeted with the sound of a local guitarist singing an unexpectedly diverse repertoire (everything from ballads, Elvis and contemporary Irish, to satirical and nursery rhymes!). I couldn't help but smile! There was a raffle for a hamper of produce from the market: carrots, cupcakes, eggs and turnips among other delights. I see smiling faces all around, I overhear many people complimenting the price, quality and variety of produce. 

I met Barry, one of the main organizers of The Knitting Club, surrounded with intriguing gadgets and some very excited children. On display was a bicycle-powered generator which powered two big PA speakers (one sure way of expelling excess kiddie energies, and recycling an old bike!). I asked him what T.K.C is all about and he simply says " it's a open to anybody, our goal is to de-mystify electro-mechanics and technology". Axel Shannon speaks enthusiastically about T.K.C, "when you understand it, you can make loads of cool stuff!", Jessica Kelly agrees, "I thought science was OK at school, but T.K.C. is really interesting". T.K.C is based in the Enterprise Center in Ballyvaughan. Read more about T.K.C here

Buttercup Cakes invited me to take the Taste Test Challenge: of course I preferred the home-made buns! The cupcakes are light and fluffy and you an taste 'real' ingredients, as opposed to that awful chemical-y aftertaste from mass-produced ones. The whole 'cupcake' scene is booming, but hopefully, like good coffee, the independent and more attentive producers will come out on top.

The award-winning Aillwee Cave/ Burren Gold specialty Gouda cheeses are available in Plain, Cumin, Garlic and Nettle, Smoked, Piri Piri, Black Pepper and Fennugreek. Mary Ellen (pictured right) told me you can watch the cheese being made in the workshop. For info about the Aillwee Caves and workshop click here. 


Finola Costello, the secretary of the Farmer's Market, explains her main aim is to make sure families who visit can afford a light lunch for as little as €3.50 each. She sells a really decent-sized portion of biscuit-marshmallow cake for just €1.50 and a wide choice of coffees and preserves. 


Local historian, researcher and author Seán Spellissy was also there, selling his publications, and imparted some interesting facts about the local history. He and his partner Detta set up next to Monk's, where I bought broccoli and half a dozen fresh eggs for €2.50!

The traders are friendly and knowledgeable. The variety is outstanding and very affordable, despite the popularized 'organic' designer price-tag myth. Aside from the superior quality of organic and locally sourced foods, it is important for the economy on both a local and national scale. If you pay a low price, expect a low quality product, unless of course,  you want random crap spuds and moldy tomatoes from the backarse of nowhere...

Championing local produce and entrepreneurial spirit, I strongly recommend visiting this Market. To keep up to date see their website here 






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The Somalia Shop: All good things come to those who Rummage!

Any non-native of Ennis will find it amusing that there is an actual shop called 'The Somalia Shop'. This charity shop is the grand-daddy of all charity shops in Ennis, has been there since at least the early nineties. I love the disorder of the place, at first glance you see an abundance of useless paraphernalia, and admittedly there is a lot of trash. But if you take a longer look around, and root around in the mounds of books/tapes/clothes, you might just find a gem. I recall rummaging through unlabelled boxes as a teenager, not knowing what I was going to find (or if I was going to find anything!). And who knows? Someone might just be looking for that spare plastic microwave cover, that unmistakable Mother Theresa print, or sequined owl?

A few years ago, I'm not sure when, a new breed of charity shop emerged: the type that markets old, forlorn, forgotten apparel from past decades as 'vintage'(!). Dublin is the number-one culprit, with poor hipsters being diddled into paying extortionate prices for Dublin City Marathon tees from the '90s, when you could grab it for a €1 in Ennis' Somalia Shop! What does vintage mean anyway? Does it not just mean 'old'? Or does it mean different things to different people (with more or less pretentiousness)? What I am getting at here is charging an appropriate price for the 'product'. The Somalia Shop in Ennis is one such place,they do not slap ridiculous prices on things: they know as well as you do, that you are not going to pay €8 for an old Guinness Book of Records. 

When people donate/dump things to a charity shop the majority are just happy to be rid of the stuff and/or  glad that the shop in question might raise a few quid from it. I'm not dissing charity shops, and because the Somalia Shop is still open, I presume they are still making money. I still enjoy going there, finding little gems from time to time. The staff are lovely, and Mary has been manager from day one. Some of the things I have picked up include: Yves Saint Laurent scarf (actually real) for €2, 'vintage' jewelry, tons of great handbags, scarves, and interesting once-off kitsch crockery/glassware. Keep the traditional charity shop ethos alive and donate your old stuff or drop in next time you're in town, you never know what you'll find! 

Other Charity Shops in Ennis:

Three of these are in close proximity to one another (St Vincent de Paul, Cancer Society, Somalia Shop), and Enable Ireland, Oxfam Books are both on Parnell St Upper (nearer to the Square).

The Society of St Vincent de Paul shop is  great for books (ie. NOT chick-lit or  Readers Digest back-issues). At 5 for €2 you can't go wrong, especially for a bit of summer reading.

Oxfam is excellent for special-interest books, popular fiction/non-fiction and vinyls/CDs.

Enable Ireland has brilliant window sales with new and nearly-new designer gear, if that's what floats your boat.

The Irish Cancer Society shop has household furniture, a wide range of specialist books, crockery, clothes, shoes, and accessories.

Clare Care is located on Harmony Row opposite the De Valera Library.

Top 5 tips for doing the charity shop run in Ennis:

-----

1. 
   
   Check the opening times, usually your best bet is to go early as they don't always open or close when you expect!
2. 
   
   Bring a bag with you (saving trees etc man!).
3. 
   
   Have plenty coins, I don't think they like breaking €50s, or even €20s.
4. 
   
   When donating things make sure clothes are packed neatly (or that similar items are packed together), that there is no actual rubbish in the bag, and that you drop-off the bag in when there is someone there in case it gets dumped or stolen.
5. 
   
   Enjoy the hunt, remember rummaging is an art in itself: girls can be very good at this, knowing what you like can give you a sharp eye for hidden gems :-)

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 x  T.E.R

The Somalia Shop is located near the Wood Quay car-park, and opens until 4:30/5pm most Monday-Saturday.

Brandon's Bar - a unique live-music venue and dive-bar. 8/10

Firstly dive-bar isn't a bad label, I mean it in the best way possible (see here). Having grown up in Ennis town, I couldn't resist writing about Brandon's Bar. Located next to renowned secret townie-bar O'Dea's and the Cathedral Church on O'Connell Street, it has its doors open to the public for nigh on three decades. And as time has passed, oh how it has hardly changed! A few benches, extensions, lights, TVs etc have been added, and a lick of paint here and there. I think perhaps the appeal is in the familiarity. What would the clientelle do if things changed? Change is scary. Real change in Brandons, would be wasted on us. Why bother redecorating if we're just going to make a pigs arse of the place anyway? Give us new picnic tables and chairs periodically and we'll be satisfied, and even if we aren't we'll still turn up on weekends. It's not the beer, it's not the décor: we go there out of habit, and a what a wonderful habit it is. Brandon's has always supported local bands, having the monopoly for years. If only there was a proper PA and a bigger stage. But if that changed, we'd have one less thing to nark about! We make it what it is: a proper bar. 

No matter where I end up in the world, I know I will meet some of those people I hung out with, at the 'Height' (Daniel O'Connell Monument) and the Tourist Office at lunchtimes during our woeful secondary-school years. Our venue of choice is Brandon's, we congregate there for Christmas and other major holliers. The Brandon's crew never tire of good company,  free BBQs in the rain, or the quintessential Brandon's soundtrack (rarely updated, but remember that small issue of 'change'?). It is what it is, and Declan is a damn straight, old-fashioned barman. Glad to see its name over the door instead of some tacky title like 'The Place' or whatever. Long live Brandon's! 

Brandon's Bar is on Facebook here

The Ennis Review is also on Facebook here

O'Riada Concert, Fleadh Nua 2010 and 'Close Encounters of the Comhaltas Kind'.

Maybe it was the weather, but I got the impression that there were not as many tourists(or people,come to think of it) at the Fleadh Nua this year. To be honest, I didn't stick around too long myself, I caught a session or two on Saturday and Sunday. I noticed a decrease in gypsies selling those massive balloons with rice in them, and bad hairbraiding jobs (the majority have probably left for Slovakia or wherever). However there are always good silver jewelry vendors in the square.

The 'gig rig' was at the square, and various grúpa ceols and céilí bands provided entertainment. O'Connell St was made a pedestrian-only zone, and THAT is when I noticed the difference between a sunny Fleadh and a rainy Fleadh. Give us good weather and we come out in droves: I bet there were tons of Ennis-folk and beyond, looking out the window thinking 'ah sher, we should make an effort and go to a session or something', but staying in to watch the 'Some place has got Talent' instead.

The Fleadh Nua is always a great occassion, but I prefer the Trad fest later in the year (when the weather is crap, and more spontaneity with the programmed events). I'm not going to get into a big Comhaltas debate, my traditional music ideology is a firmly neutral one.....Whatever about the roles and responsibilities of Comhaltas-heads, and there are/were some fabulous people involved, BUT, I am waiting for the day when Labhras O Múrchú sets up a Comhaltas party and takes over the government It seemed like such a great idea back in the 1950s, but the corruption doesn't go unnoticed, the organization needs to modernize, get with the times. I feel like a hypocrite of the first order, because I have been employed by them over the years, but that's business! It is a funny and contentious subject amongst musicians, almost all of them have had 'Close Encounters of the Comhaltas Kind' at some stage in their musical lives. I think the perceived embarassment of being alligned with Comhaltas has something to do with the competitions? I'd be interested in hearing what you all think! On a more positive note, Comhaltas have an amazing online (free) archival database which will have a huge impact on Irish traditional music scholarship and research! You can access that web-archive here. 

The Celebrity Concert paid homage to luminaries Brian Prior and Sonny Murray with a great cast of musicians from Clare and beyond. I still think it's hilarious that it's called the 'Celebrity Concert' though.... I always liked the Fleadh Nua because it means that Willie Clancy Week isn't far off, and us Ennis-folk can wander with pashtey skin onto the beaches once more. Hopefully the weather will be great this year, Clare is a beautiful place when the weather is right. Beaches, vast landscapes, mountain peaks, and a range of odd and wonderful festivals. I think it is worth noting that Ennis has a vibrant traditional music scene outside of these festivals, and so you don't need an 'excuse' to go out and enjoy music when it is available to you in several bars, every night of the week, almost every night of the year!

Peadar O'Riada, Cór Cúl Aodha, Ceoltóirí Chualann, Peadar O'Loughlin, Geraldine Cotter, Maeve Donnelly, Eamon Cotter, Hugh Healy, Blackie O'Connell, Edel Fox, Tara Breen, and many other musicians performed at a benefit gig in Glór recently. The historic occassion commemorated Seán Ó Riada, and raised funds to commission a memorial sculpture of him. I'm not sure about the full story, but I imagine the government made a promise of it, and (surprise surprise) the project fell through.

Aside from raising money for a worthy cause, the concert also raised the profile of Seán O Riada's work, reaffirming his position as a real figurehead for Irish Traditional music composition, and performance. It was a full house, and everyone had a great time. Peadar O 'Riada has a new album out with Martin Hayes and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh called 'Triúr sa Draighean' featuring all new compositions. It's fantastic, you can buy it in Custy's or Peadar's website: http://www.peadaroriada.ie/

The Rowan Tree, Harmony Row. - Not your average dingy hostel. 9/10

Sitting beside the calm flow of the River Fergus drinking a damn fine cup of coffee, it is clear that this cafe/bar slash restaurant and fancy hostel is a big hit in Ennis. ‘The Buena Vista Social Club’ is piped outside to the terrace full of lunchtime diners, reminding us how lucky we are to have a warm and dry day. Managing director Brian O’Neill tells me that he and his partner Marianne developed this idea after realizing that yes, there was a niche market in Ennis for both casual dining and no-fuss hostel accommodation that doesn’t break the bank. It is obvious that Brian loves it, he speaks with great enthusiasm about the Rowan Tree which is approaching its first birthday this August; of course this is good to hear, as oppose to the usual down and out whinging of late due to the dreaded ‘r’ word (rhymes with ‘session’). Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the town, the property itself dates back to 1740 when it was originally a gentleman’s club; ‘they had tons of money, good taste and time to build it’ says Brian. So he and Marianne have hardly touched the original structure ‘we just enhanced what was there’. There is a range of options for foodies and wine connoisseurs: from light bites to evening dinners and an extensive wine list.

The interior has high ceilings, great light, and ambience. Very importantly they have suitably spaced tables allowing for conversation (this is not a cafeteria people!). One of my gripes with cafes/bistros these days is the extortionate price of scones: it’s a scone, not haute cuisine! In fact, scones are pretty ugly looking things, and I will welcome anyone to try and convince me otherwise. In the Rowan Tree, a yummy freshly baked scone is a measly €1.80, and so it should be! My favourite salad is their Bluebell honey and garlic goats cheese salad with roasted cherry tomatoes and rocket leaves drizzled with house dressing and basil pesto. It is only €6.95 and thankfully it isn’t drowned in dressing. A salad dressing should only coat the leaves of the salad, what is wrong with people who drown salads? :-( While the weather is fine, why not go for a glass of their Campo Nuevo Garnacha Rosado rosé with a crisp salad?

Their menus read ‘good food Mediterranean style’, but it has its own stamp: great locally-sourced ingredients, consistent presentation, friendly and knowledgeable staff who are on the ball and a unique location. I sometimes sense an air of pretension in nouveau-med-bistro joints, but this place is just plain chilled-out.



For menus/rates/bookings see:
www.rowantreehostel.ie
(Breakfast 10-12, Lunch 12-5pm and Dinner 5pm-10pm.)

Brian and Marianne also run the award-winning Kinlay House in Dublin.
www.kinlaydublin.ie