For the first time in the 114 years history of the world-renowned BBC Proms, one day of this prestigious event will be dedicated to celebrating traditional music, song and dance. Return to Camden Town Festival Director Karen Ryan, is a consultant on the event which will take place on Sunday 20th July.
In recognition and support of the strong traditional Irish music community in Britain, the BBC Proms Team, in conjunction with the Return to Camden Town Festival, is commissioning a new project called ‘The Trad Gathering’ for young traditional musicians from different music schools across London, St Alban’s, Luton, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and further afield in the UK. Registered interest to date suggests that there will be a group of musicians to match the size of an orchestra.
Led by renowned Traditional Irish band, The London Lasses and Pete Quinn (who will also be performing for the late evening céilí at the Royal Albert Hall), the young musicians are currently working on the 15 minute piece which will be rehearsed over two weekends in July and finally performed at the Proms Folk Day on Sunday 20th July.
There is a full day of free music, dance, song and storytelling in prospect. Artists include:
Martin Simpson – stellar guitar player
Muzsikás – wonderful Romanian/Hungarian band
Kathryn Tickell and her Folkestra
Bellowhead - boisterous 11-piece big band and winners of three Radio 2 Folk Awards.
The Ian MacMillan Orchestra
Bella Hardy
The London Lasses and Pete Quinn
The Trad Gathering
BBC Family Orchestra
BBC Family Chorus
The Camden Set Dancers
The Ragged but Right Dance Band
Stanley Robertson
Billy Teare
Cath Little.
Programme
12.00 – 3.00 pm. The day kicks off at lunchtime in Kensington Gardens (bring a picnic), with performances on the bandstand and in surrounding marquees by Bellowhead, Ian MacMillan Orchestra, The London Lasses and Pete Quinn, The Trad Gathering, BBC Family Orchestra, BBC Family Chorus, Camden Set Dancers, The Ragged but Right Dance Band, Stanley Robertson, Billy Teare and Cath Little.
The afternoon features the first ever free Prom, featuring Muzsikás and Kathryn Tickell and her Folkestra, with a programme of folk and folk inspired pieces including works by Bartók and Vaughan Williams.
7.30-9.30 pm. Following the afternoon concert, which explores how folk and traditional music has influenced classical composers, the evening Prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall focuses on artists who are continuing, reviving and reinterpreting the traditions of English folk music, featuring English folk acts Bellowhead, Martin Simpson and Bella Hardy.
10.00 – 10.45 pm. Join your partners in the Arena, or just watch and listen to some great traditional music, as the Late Night Prom features the first ever céilí held in the Royal Albert Hall, with music from Return to Camden Town Director Karen Ryan’s band, The London Lasses and Pete Quinn, with calling by Sarah Pavey.
The evening céilí is free to ticket-holders for the 7.30pm concert; dancers require a free dancing ticket, available now by calling the Box Office 0845 401 5040
For further details of how to buy tickets, see the BBC website at www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/whatson/2007.shtml
Hi All,
Just to let you know that tickets are still available for this Thursday’s concert featuring traditional Irish music legends ‘Matt Molloy, John Carty & Arty McGlynn’ to launch their new album Pathway to the Well at the London Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB.
For those of you who have not already made an advance purchase - tickets can be purchased at the Irish Centre from 5pm this Thursday. Doors open for the concert at 8pm.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Karen
Further to my recent email about RtCT’s first 2008 Preview Event on Thursday 5th June at London Irish Centre - a fabulous concert to celebrate the launch of the album Pathway to the Well with living legends Matt Molloy, John Carty & Arty McGlynn - there are now a few ways of buying tickets in person in the North London area:
Tickets can be purchased from the bar at the London Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB (please ask for Terry or Linda).
Tickets can be purchased at the popular sessions held at The Cobden Arms, Camden High Street (near the Mornington Crescent end), London NW1 on Thursday evenings or The Auld Triangle, St Thomas’s Road (corner of Plimsoll Road), London N4 on Sunday evenings through Organising Group member & fiddle player Laurie Harper.
Tickets can be purchased at some set dancing events in North London through Organising Group member & dancer Margaret Reilly. (I know you set dancers will know where to find her 
)
This Sunday, 18 May, tickets can be purchased at the London Regional Fleadh at the Haringey Irish Centre, Pretoria Road, Tottenham, London N17 through Fee McAuliffe (Orlaith, Brogan and Micheal McAuliffe’s Mum, who is currently ‘manning’ the Festival Hotline - Fee suggests you look for the one with the red-haired pony tail who is looking stressed out :-), alternatively you could ask one of the Fleadh stewards to point her out if you don’t know her.)
Of course you can also purchase tickets by contacting Fee on the Festival Hotline: 07871 088121. Cheques for tickets must be made payable to London Irish Centre.
When Matt, John and Arty appeared at Return to Camden Town Festival in 2005, tickets sold out in advance and there were a lot of disappointed people who were unable to get tickets ……. If you would like to go to this concert, I would strongly advise that you buy your ticket(s) now.
Look forward to seeing many of you there.
Karen
17 MAY: KATHLEEN O’SULLIVAN, KAREN RYAN and PETE QUINN appear at the venerable Folk Club The Cellar Upstairs, with Irish songs and tunes on fiddle, whistle and keyboard. All three are well-known in London and far beyond. Kathleen has been a London Lass, and is a long-term Festival Committee stalwart. Pete is of course the latter end of The London Lasses and Pete Quinn, providing the keyboards that underpin that London sound. Karen is our festival’s lifeblood and organizer, and her fiddling is well-known through both solo performances and with The Lasses and her other bands. Come on out to support them!
VENUE: Exmouth Arms, Starcross Street, London NW1 2HR (on the corner of Cobourg Street, near Euston and Euston Square stations; parking is easy), on Saturdays at 8.15pm
INFORMATION: 020 7281 7700; http://hometown.aol.co.uk/cellarupstairs (PUB: 020 7387 5440)
ENTRANCE: Members: £5, non-members: £6 (unwaged £1 less) except on nights marked *, when it will be £6 and £7 (** higher price). Membership: £2 for the year
ACCESS: The club room is up a short staircase.
Matt Molloy, John Carty & Arty McGlynn
The RtCT Preview Event Series is pleased to announce a very special preview event!
Album Launch Concert: Pathway to the Well
Thursday 5th June 2008
Doors 8pm
London Irish Centre
52 Camden Square
London NW1 9XB
£13/ £10 conc. / £6 under 16s
Tickets available from Festival Hotline: 07871 088121
Or email for more info.
A ONE OFF LONDON CONCERT - EARLY BOOKING ADVISED!
Probably the most exciting trad combination of recent times, Matt Molloy and John Carty explore the rich and varied tapestry of the fiddle and flute tradition of North Connaught.
Matt Molloy is regarded as the greatest exponent of flute playing alive, a member of the Chieftains for more than two decades he was also a founder member of the legendary Bothy Band. John Carty’s musical prowess has grown steadily since his debut recording 12 years ago and he has since produced a plethora of solo recordings. A member of the bands At the Racket and Patrick Street, John finds himself in constant demand as a musician. Both Matt and John are recipients of the prestigious TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year Award. They are delighted to be joined on the album by Ireland’s number one guitar player, Arty McGlynn. His subtle guitar playing is the perfect accompaniment to this unique duet.
“…it doesn’t get much better than this. The solidity and tightness of Molloy’s flute and Carty’s fiddle are a joy to hear”
Sarah McQuaid
Hotpress
“this duet recording is a riproaring success..and ends as it began, with world class grace and power. Pathway to the Well is one of those must-have flute and fiddle albums.
Alex Monaghan
Irish Music Magazine
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