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Author: |
Fusive |
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Wednesday, November 09, 2005 |
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This is a blog about folk music.
It will include information on music from Ireland, music from Scotland, the U.K, information on musicians and also local Folk from the Lancashire area. Also info on local live music and gigs in the Pendle and Lancashire area. |
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Another great Mike Harding Show last night |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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Tonight Mike's show features three songs written about the civil rights movement in America, in recognition of the late Rosa Parks' Montgomery bus protest 50 years ago. Also Mike chats to 1970s folk icon Roy Harper and plays tracks from his new retrospective release Counter Culture. Plus Mike's usual great selection of the best in folk, roots and acoustic music including news of artists currently on tour and the latest album releases.
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Mandolin - The mandolin was first built in early 18th century. |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument. At different times and in different places, the number and type of strings found on mandolins has varied. Today, the predominant configuration is that of the Neapolitan mandolin, with four courses of metal strings. Each pair of strings is tuned in unison, and are a fifth apart from adjacent pairs, giving an identical tuning to a violin (G-D-A-E low-to-high). Unlike a violin, the fingerboard of a mandolin is fretted and it is typically played with a flat pick (a plectrum).
The mandolin was first built in early 18th century, and was descended from the mandora, a small lute used in the 16th century.
Like the guitar, the mandolin is a poorly sustaining instrument. A note cannot be maintained for an arbitrary time as with a violin. Its higher pitch makes this problem more severe than with the guitar, and as a result, use of tremolo (rapid picking on a single note) is sometimes used to emulate a sustained note. This technique works particularly well with a mandolin's p
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Andy Irvine |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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Andy Irvine is an Irish folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and former member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar, cittern, and harmonica.
Irvine was born in London to Irish/Scots parents. As a child he took to acting, but gave it up when he reached adolescence. He studied classical guitar, but forsook it for the traditional method upon discovering Lonnie Donegan and the Skiffle boom of the 50s, and later Woody Guthrie.
In the 1960s he found himself in Dublin, and began an itinerant life of a musician. He found musical influences in the likes of Ewan MacColl (notably the songs he wrote for his radio-ballads), and the Child Ballads.
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Acoustic Guitar |
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By Fusive on
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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An acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the Classical guitar, but generally strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound. Much heavier construction is required to withstand the added tension. Sometimes the term steel-stringed guitar or folk guitar is used to differentiate from the classical guitar. The term "acoustic guitar" is a retronym, since before the invention of the electric instrument, "guitar" meant only the non-amplified variety.
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Bodhrán - Irish Traditional Drum - Frame Drum |
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By Fusive on
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
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The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging in anywhere from 10" to 26" in diameter, with most drums measuring from 14" to 18". The sides of the drum are 3 1/2" to 8" deep. A goat skin head is tacked to one side (although nowadays, synthetic heads, or new materials like kangaroo skin, are sometimes used). The other side is open ended for the left hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch. One or two crossbars may be inside the frame. Some professional modern bodhráin integrate mechanical tuning systems similar to those used on drums found in drum kits.
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A great Night at Hebden Bridge - Rory McLeod - Rory Ellis -Trades Club |
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By Fusive on
Friday, November 25, 2005
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I missed going to Jim's Cafe last night to go to the Trades Club at Hebden Bridge to see the Rory McLeod and Rory Ellis gig.
An excellent nights entertainment, with two brilliant singer songwriters, the night started with Rory Ellis an Australian singer/songwriter who combines a rich distinctive voice with emotive lyrics to produce an exhilarating and original sound.
Next we were spoilt by the skillful Rory McLeod, a fantastic, multi-talented singer songwriter, who played harmonica, spoons, guitar and trombone, his style of rythmical finger picking on the accoustic guitar and his amazing harmonica playing need to be heard to be believed.
Not to be missed.
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Mike Harding - Nominations for the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, November 24, 2005
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This weeks Mike Harding Show BBC Radio 2 - 8pm Wednesday, includes the nominations for the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. A veritable feast of Folk Music, not to be missed.The show is always worth a listen as he plays the best in folk roots and accoustic music, you can listen again to the show for the next seven days through the website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/harding/
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Rory McLeod - Hebden Bridge Trades Club - 9 pm |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, November 24, 2005
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Hebden Bridge Trades Club - November 24th - 9pm
Tonight is looking good, Rory McLeod is playing at the Trades Club Hebden Bridge at 9 pm. I have just listened to a couple of songs of his and he sounds superb, the reviews I have come accross on the web rate him very highly
"...eloquently expressed ideas are set to vibrant, dynamic music with bouncy rhythms, infectious riffs and nifty tunes. McLeod transmitted a pure joy of music making ..."
St Louis Post-Despatch (USA)
"McLeod is one of the most energetic, most generous performers I've seen."
Doug Spencer, ABC Radio (Australia)
"Atavistic peoples' music ... something uncommon and most certainly an endangered species. You'll know Rory when you see him - above all don't miss him next time he's here."
Molly McAnailly Burke, Hot Press (Ireland)
"Rory is a dynamic live performer - never still or silent, his shows radiate energy. All this dynamism does not obliterate his songs which are always thought-provoking and well crafted. Get hold of one
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Bob Dylan - November 16th 2005 - MEN Arena |
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By Fusive on
Thursday, November 24, 2005
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I've not seen Bob Dylan myself, just had a review sent to me by a friend who went to see him in Manchester, here are her thoughts on the concert.
It seems like a lot of people who went to see him were of a same mind, I heard a phone in on the radio myself the other day people were saying it was not what they expected from such a legend and maybe it's time that he gave up. Here's the review from Christine
"hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm very mixed about 'Sir bobness' - lacked passion, in my opinion he was going through the motions.......i could forgive his wierd undulating voice that at times sounded like Vic Reeves when he does his "pub singer impressions" I find it hard to forgive the fact that he hadhis back turned to 50% of the audience the whole night and even worse that he never even attempted to interact - he forced a weak introduction of the band at the end - quite dissapointed really.
I love live music of any kind ('cept jazz) and I also think he is a poet and a legend.
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