The Ennis Review: 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.