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The Fuchsia Band
They're baaaaack... and they're bringing their Missing Man Mick Heffernan to CelticFest for the first time ever!
In their own words, The Fuchsia Band “are a group of four lads from Cork, Ireland who play, dance, sing and generally have a good time like it (used to be) is in Ireland.
Máirtín de Cógáin, fronting the band, is an All-Ireland winner in storytelling, and also sings, dances, and plays the bodhrán (Irish drum). Brian McGillicuddy is also an All-Ireland winner, playing the tenor banjo, mandolin, and tin whistle. McGillicuddy is nicknamed “Flash” for good reason! Eoin Verling on the button accordion comes from a musical family and has been playing since the age of 10 in his father’s céilí band. Mick Heffernan plays flute and guitar, adding the glue that binds the group together.
The Fuchsia Band's appearance at CelticFest Mississippi is also funded in part by a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency and by South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, and Culture Ireland. |
Brian McNeill
This will be Brian McNeill's first ever festival appearance in Mississippi and he's looking forward to building on the very warm reception to his first concerts there last
year.
A career spanning more than 40 years has established Brian as one of the most acclaimed forces in Scottish music. He has been described as 'Scotland's most
meaningful contemporary songwriter' (The Scotsman); add to that his work and
influence as performer, composer, producer, teacher, musical director, band leader,
novelist and interpreter of Scotland's past, present and future and you have a man
who has never stood still. He has performed around the globe, both as a soloist and
with some of the era's most influential bands, including Battlefield Band, which he
founded in 1969.
Brian is a multi instrumentalist – chiefly fiddle, bouzouki, mandocello, guitars
and concertina – and the importance of his songwriting has long been recognised
with such songs as The Yew Tree, The Lads O' The Fair, The Snows of France and
Holland, Strong Women Rule Us All With Their Tears, Any Mick'll Do and No Gods
and Precious Few Heroes.
His audio visual shows, The Back O' The North Wind, about Scottish emigration to
America, and the sequel, The Baltic Tae Byzantium, exploring the influence of the
Scots in Europe, have won wide critical acclaim. His continuing connection with
America's Lone Star State led to him being created an honorary Texan by the then
Governor George W. Bush. For six years Brian was Head of Scottish Music at the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
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Téada
Téada, now firmly established as one of Irish music's leading exponents on the international world music stage, continues to be driven by a fascination with the timeless, expressive force of traditional tunes inherited from previous generations of musicians.
Since 2001, when the freshly-formed band landed a spot on the innovative Irish television show Flosc, Téada, has evolved to frequent headline performances at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Israel and Australia. A notable highlight was a headlining appearance to a 30,000-audience in Brittany during 2006, a year which also saw the band launch a hugely successful CD/DVD 'Inné Amárach', released by Gael Linn and Compass Records.
With lush Irish orchestration, Téada, meaning "strings" in the Irish language revels in the vibrant traditional music of Ireland, deftly playing up its structural intricacies while preserving the timeless energy of the reels, jigs, hornpipes, and other lesser-known tunes in the repertoire.
Last year at CelticFest, piper Pádraig McGovern stood in for box-player Paul Finn (who's hurling team is doing too well to allow him to travel!). This year, the boys are bringing none other than... Séamus Begley!
Séamus Begley comes from one of Ireland’s most musically acclaimed families. He is known for his sean-nós (“old style”) singing, hailing as he does from the Irish-speaking region of West County Kerry. Equally brilliant on the accordion, Séamus plays with astonishing energy and spontaneity, belting out jigs, slides and polkas with rapid sprays of ornamentation. Begley has won numerous awards including Best Folk/Celtic Duo at the 2009 Ireland’s Music Awards. “Begley’s voice is buoyant…a joy” says The Irish Times.
Unwilling to leave well enough alone, Téada are also bringing dancer Brian Cunningham. Brian is one of the most exciting sean-nós or ‘old-style’ dancers to have emerged from Ireland in quite some time. At 24 years of age, he has won all the major dance competitions in Ireland, and was honoured with an invitation by the President of Ireland to perform during an Official State visit to Japan and South Korea in 2005. Brian has appeared on Ireland’s most popular television show, ‘The Late Late Show’ with vocalist Seán Keane, and currently produces his own show in Ireland called ‘The Cunningham Sound’.
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Éamonn de Cógáin -- Céilí Mór
Éamonn de Cógáin is widely regarded as Ireland's most energetic MC. He has called céilís far and wide across the Emerald Isle and is now devolping a name for himself stateside.
Éamonn is one of the chief organisers of Damhsafest, The Cork International Folk Dance Festival and was once again MC at it's Gala Event, the Dance Extravaganza in Cork City Hall. This past summer he has orchastrated locals and tourist alike at The Flying Enterprize Complex in his native Cork, where thousands have learned the basic steps and movements of Irish Ceili Dancing. His smooth Brog and easy going nature allows people of all ages to believe that they can Ceili dance the night away without difficulty.
The return to Mississippi was an easy choice for both CelticFest organizers and Éamonn himself as he enjoy the Festival so much last year! Éamonn looks forward to seeing you all at his workshops and especially at the Saturday Night Céilí Mór.
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Máirtín de Cógáin - Storytelling
In addition to his Fuchsia Band duties, Máirtín de Cógáin can be counted on for a few stories. In fact, few could be more qualified to tell stories at CelticFest -- Máirtín is a two time All-Ireland winner in storytelling.
A native of the rebel County Cork, Máirtín is also a noted singer, drum player (the Irish bodhrán), and céilí/set dancer. His work can be seen with Co. Cork’s The Fuchsia Band, and more recently Captain Mackey’s Goatskin and Stringband with Jimmy Crowley, and the brand new Máirtín de Cógáin Project, who will be releasing a new CD this summer.
As if there weren’t any limits to his talents, Máirtín is an up-and-coming-actor, with a significant role in the 2006 Cannes Palm d’ Or winner, The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Additionally, Máirtín is bilingual, speaking both English and the Irish language (also known as Irish Gaelic).
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Brían Ó hAirt - Sean Nós Singing
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Brían Ó hAirt
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Brían Ó hAirt’s ability as a traditional singer has afforded him great acclaim at his age—the only American to become a champion All-Ireland singer. A voice Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh of Danú hails as “beautiful…sweet and full of sensitivity,” his singing has been featured on radio programs across Ireland and North America. Brían’s dedication to Irish Gaelic song and the sean-nós singing style has bonded him to the close-knit community of Conamara on Ireland’s culturally rich west coast. His “delivery and vocal quality are perfectly suited” not only for the sean-nós but for the sister tradition of Scots Gaelic singing as well. Brían’s mastery of the improvisational sean-nós Irish dance style and his deft finger-work on the concertina and accordion make him a well-rounded and sought-after performer. Through extensive touring with his Chicago-based ensemble Bua and with famed singing partner Len Graham, he has become a seasoned performer and wellspring of Ireland's many traditions.
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| Additional Music Performers |
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Albert Alfonso, Dallas, TX
Contemporary & trad. bodhran |
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Legacy Jackson, MS / Orlando, FL
Trad. Irish tunes & songs |
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Arguing Sisters, Jackson, MS
Celtic fiddle tunes |
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Peggy Loyd & John Burleson
Little Rock, AL / Dallas, TX, Irish songs |
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John Burleson Fort Worth, TX
Storytelling
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Sean McGuinness Reno, NV
edgy Irish songs |
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Donie Carroll & Heather Bixler
New York, NY, Cork Ballads and tunes |
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New Orleans Strathspey Reel Society
New Orleans, LA, Scottish tunes |
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Celtic Crossroads Hattiesburg, MS
Celtic songs & tunes |
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Nine-8ths Irish Sacramento, CA
Trad. Irish tunes & songs |
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Coyne and Reeves Providence RI /Gainesville FL, Irish tunes & songs |
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N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe
New Orleans, LA, Songs of the sea |
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Crossroads Ceili Band New Orleans, LA, Irish tunes |
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O'Rourke & Zeitler
Saginaw, MI, Irish & original songs
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Donny Brook Fair Jackson, MS
Celtic tunes (student band) |
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Ricky Pittman Monroe, LA
storytelling & songs |
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Emerald Accent Laurel, MS
Celtic-old time tunes & songs |
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SlipJig Huntsville, AL
Celtic tunes & songs |
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Father of Waters Pipe & Drums, Jackson, MS, Scottish bagpipe band |
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Spirits of the House Jackson, MS
Trad. Celtic tunes & songs |
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Finvarra's Wren Ann Arbor, MI
Trad. Irish tunes & songs |
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Smithfield Fair Baton Rouge, LA
Scottish & original songs |
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Donna Fitch Bedford, TX
Celtic songs |
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The Tea Merchants, Austin, TX
High energy trad. Irish tunes |
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Jim Flanagan Hattiesburg, MS
Irish songs (in English & Irish) |
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Troen, Selmer, TN
Trad. Irish music |
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Louisiana Mummers
New Orleans, LA |
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Jim Waters Bedford, TX
a cappella Celtic songs |
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Vulcan Eejits, Tuscaloosa/Birmingham, AL, Trad. Celtic tunes & songs |
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Wild Irish Roots Baton Rouge, LA / Raymond, MS, Irish-American music |
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| Dance Groups |
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Ballet Mississippi,
Jackson, MS |
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McTeggart Irish Dancers of Louisiana,
New Orleans, LA |
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Birmingham Irish Set Dancers,
Birmingham, AL |
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MacCrossan School of Irish Dancing,
Gulfport, MS |
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Katie Cox School of Irish Dance,
Homewood, AL |
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New Orleans Irish Set Dancers,
New Orleans, LA |
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Jackson Irish Dancers,
Jackson, MS |
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Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance,
Nashville, TN |
 Field Displays
Shire of Iron Ox, Jackson's chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, will be on the grounds Saturday to demonstrate mideaval sparring techniques.
Highland Games and Demonstration
Highland games are events held throughout the year in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain aspects of the games are so well known as to have become emblematic of Scotland, such as the bagpipes, the kilt, and the heavy events, especially the caber toss.
Heavy Hammer Throw: 22lbs in wt, traditionally a Scottish event now an International Olympic event. What probably began as an informal contest between two young men in front of a blacksmith shop in the highlands of Scotland has grown into the Olympic event. The competitor is judged on the best of three throws.
Light Hammer Throw: 16 lbs in weight.
Open Stone Throw: 18.6 lbs of Georgia Granite thrown for distance. This event is known in Gaelic as the Clachneart and is similar to the Olympic shot put. Each competitor is judged on the longest of three throws.
 Braemar Stone of Strength: 21.7 lbs
16 lb. Sheaf Toss: A sheaf of hay in burlap tossed over a bar with a pitchfork for height. The origins of this event obviously lie in the agricultural regions of Scotland. A 16 pound sheaf of hay enclosed in a burlap bag is tossed with a three tined pitch fork over a bar. The sheaf must clear the bar without touching. Each competitor is given three chances to clear the bar. After each have had their throw, the bar is raised. This continues until all but one has been eliminated.
Light Weight For Distance: 28 lb weight is tossed. These events consist of a three part competition using two metal weights. Both weights are thrown for distance and the 56lb weight is tossed for height. Each competitor is judged on the best of three tries.
Heavy Weight For Distance 56lb weight
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Benefit Events for CelticFest Mississippi
Feeling Lost?
You can read the F.A.Q., or try searching the CelticFest site here.
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