Bengal's Corner

[Another one from another ad... need any hint?]

(by Landon Pigg - album Coffee Shop)

I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you
Yes
There's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you

I've seen the paths that your eyes wander down
I want to come too

I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you

No one understands me quite like you do
Through all of the shadowy corners of me

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you
Yes
There's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you

I've seen the waters that make your eyes shine
Now I'm shining too

Because
Oh
Because I've fallen quite hard over you

If I didn't know you I'd rather not know
If I couldn't have you I'd rather be alone

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

All of the while
All of the while it was you
You
You
You

[That music from the ad... can you guess which ad is this one?]

by 3 Doors Down
(Songwriters: Arnold, Brad; Harrell, Todd; Henderson, Chris; Roberts, Matt)

I guess i just got lost being someone else,
I tried to kill the pain
But nothing ever helped
I left myself behind
Somewhere along the way
Hoping to come back around
and find myself some day

Lately I'm so tired of waiting for you
To say that it's OK, tell me please
Would you one time,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself

Would you Let Me Be Myself
Coz I'll never find my heart
Behind someone else
I'll never see the light of day
Living in this cell
It's time to make my way
Into the world i knew
And take back all of these times
That I gave in to you

Lately I'm so tired of waiting for you
To say that it's OK, tell me please
Would you one time,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself,
For a while
If you don't mind,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself

That's all i ever wanted from this world
Was to let me be me..

Please, would you one time,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself
Please, would you one time,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself,
For a while
If you don't mind,
Let Me Be Myself
So i can shine,
with my own light
Let Me Be Myself

This week!!!

Thursday, June 18, 2009 to Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Taylor Park and on the Bay, St. Albans, Vermont

2nd annual (free) Franco-American Heritage Festival (a signature event of the Vermont Quadricentennial) , featuring

De Temps Antan
Benoit Bourque
Trish & Mike
Sabin Jacques
Rachel Aucoin
Michele Choiniere
Fabio Choiniere
Josee Vachon
Yankee Chank
Arthur Boulerice
Jeanne Begnoche
Roger Perrault
Fiddleheads
Don Roy
Frank Heyburn
Will Patton Ensemble
Conservatory Ballet
Chambly Caravane des Arts


FREE festival ...
Ticketed Events follow, below

Here's the text of Karen Bresnahan's press release.

After years of planning, the schedule of performing artists for the St. Albans Franco-American Festival is set. The list includes internationally- renowned, award-winning performers, talented student groups, venerable fiddlers, and cultural icons. The lineup promises to provide world-class, free, family-friendly entertainment, for which you neither have to speak french, nor share french lineage, to enjoy.

Headlining the event are La Bottine Souriante-frontman Benoit Bourque, as well as current and former La Bottine colleagues Andre Brunet and Eric Beaudry in their ensemble - De Temps Antan. Benoit, Andre and Eric have toured the world, are internationally revered and respected, and should not be missed. Joining them at the Festival is award-winning Maine fiddler Don Roy, who has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, among other venues. Hometown chanteuse Michele Choiniere will play with her remarkable bandmates from Quebec. Michele is the winner of the 2007 Governor's Heritage Award, and is herself a seasoned performer at national folk festivals.

Headlining Friday night's festivities in downtown St. Albans is Cajun band Yankee Chank, with Josee Vachon appearing Saturday night at a ticketed Soiree at the St. Albans Knights of Columbus. Josee is well-known to Franco-Americans throughout New England. Rounding out the music are regional student fiddlers the Fiddleheads, accordion legend Sabin Jacques and his wife Rachel Aucoin, fiddlers Frank Heyburn and Roger Perrault, and harmonica talent Fabio Choiniere. Some local surprise guest performers are also expected to participate.

In addition to these musical acts, an historical theatre production from Chambly, QC will perform an hour+ show. The production casts Samuel de Champlain as emcee, with a supporting cast of actors portraying other characters. The show highlights regional artistic, cultural, and historical achievements beginning with what Champlain would have experienced at the time of his voyage, through 400 years of history to the present day.

Kicking off the Festival is a ticketed Gala event held on Thursday night. The public can purchase tickets on or after Tuesday, May 25, by contacting the Franklin or Grand Isle Chambers of Commerce, at (802) 524-2444, or (802) 372-8400, respectively. The Gala will also feature the 2009 Vermont Quadricentennial inaugural viewing of the Lois McClure Schooner, music from the Will Patton Ensemble, and catering by Jeff's Maine Seafood. Regional dignitaries from Quebec and Canada have been invited to the Gala, with Governor Douglas slated to also attend.

After the Gala, the Lois McClure schooner will be docked at St. Albans Bay, and open for free, public viewing on both Friday and Saturday of the Festival. In addition to the schooner, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will be bringing other exhibits and displays. Other planned attractions at the Festival include an art show organized by the St. Albans Art Guild, french genealogy exhibits, an historical lecture by Prof. Fred Wiseman at the St. Albans Historical Society, a walking tour of St. Albans City highlighting historically significant city attractions, other St. Albans Historical Museum events, a farmer's market, children's activities, a United Way food drive, a wine and beer tent, food from notable local restaurants, crafts, local vendors, and much more. Official Festival T-shirts with the Festival's logo are being sold by Kevin Smith's sports store in St. Albans.

All events are free to the public, with the exception of the Thursday night Gala and the Saturday night Soiree at the Knights of Columbus. The Festival will take place rain or shine.

A free shuttle bus will be provided, running between parking sites and Festival venues at Taylor Park and St. Albans Bay.

The Vermont Quadricentennial marks the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of the region back in 1609. The Vermont celebrations will span the breadth of 2009, with four signature events leading the way, taking place in St. Albans, Burlington, Vergennes and Crown Point. The St. Albans Franco-American Festival is a Vermont Quadricentennial Signature Event, and is the first Signature Event of the Summer. The St. Albans event is unique, in that all but 2 events at the Festival are free and open to the public.

TAYLOR PARK is situated between North Main & Church Streets and Bank St. & Fairfield St.

ST. ALBANS BAY STATE PARK is at the end of Lake Street/Lake Road at the St. Albans Bay.


Information on purchasing tickets for the Josee Vachon Soiree at the Knights of Columbus Saturday, June 20, can be found by calling 524-1492.

SCHEDULE :
Free festival. Ticketed events follow, below

Friday, June 19

Bay Park:
11-11:45am Fabio + Michele Choiniere, and invited guests: Arthur Boulerice and Jeanne Begnoche
12pm-12:45pm Roger Perrault
1pm - 1:30pm Fiddleheads
1:45pm - 2:30pm Don Roy

Taylor Park:
5:00-5:20pm Fiddleheads
5:20-6pm Family Dance, with Fiddleheads and Don Roy Ensemble
6:00-6:30 Don Roy Ensemble
6:45-7:45 Michele Choiniere et compagnie
8-9:30pm Yankee Chank (Cajun Band)

Saturday, June 20

Bay Park:
9:30-10:15am Roger Perrault
10:30-11:30am Don Roy Ensemble
11:45-1:15pm Chambly Caravane des Arts
1:30-2:30pm Michele Choiniere et compagnie
2:45-4:15pm De Temps Antan
4:15-5pm Ensemble Soiree

Taylor Park:
9am-2pm St. Albans Farmer's Market
9:30am-10am Fabio and Michele Choiniere, and invited guests
10:15-11am Fiddleheads
11:15-12pm Family Dance and City School students- with Benoit Bourque,
Sabin Jacques and Rachel Aucoin
12:15-1:15pm Benoit Bourque, with Trish and Mike
1:30-2:30pm Don Roy Ensemble
2:45-3:30pm Frank Heyburn (Fiddler)
3:35-3:50pm Josee Vachon "KofC" Sneak Peak
4:00-4:30pm Conservatory Ballet

TICKETED EVENTS :

Thursday, June 18
Gala - Will Patton Ensemble
6-9pm, St. Albans Bay Park - $40 or 2/$70

Saturday, June 20
Knights of Columbus
6:30pm - Josee Vachon at Dinner/Dance - $25

Next week!!

Mark your calendar for Franco-American Festival Week to be held from June 20th through 27th 2009.

The opening event is a free performance of French music by the group La Famille LeBlanc to be held on June 20th at the Senior Center on 276 Broadway St., Lowell, MA., from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is cordially invited. The schedule of events to be held throughout the week is available online.

Cecile Provencher

Member of the Franco American Day Committee
Lowell, MA

Marc Gunn is Celtic American Musician and Podcaster. Good food, good drink and good company. Folk ballads, Irish drinking songs, fantasy, Sci Fi, and cats on the autoharp. Embrace independent Celtic music!

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

6.21 (AUSTIN, TX) The Saxon Pub
6.24 (SPRINGFIELD, MO) The Coffee Ethic
6.26 (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) Cummings House Concert
6.27 (ELMHURST, IL) Benefit Concert for Feral Fixers at Fitz's Pub
6.28 (BROOKFIELD, IL) Irish Times Pub
7.1 (WINCHESTER, KY) Panzarella House Concert
7.8 (NEW ORLEANS, LA) Neutral Ground Coffeehouse

--
Irish & Celtic Music Podcast -->

Date: Monday-Friday, August 17-21, 2009
Location: Old Songs Community Center, 37 South Main St., Voorheesville, NY
Phone: (518) 765-2815
Email: oldsongs@oldsongs. org

Join Pascal Gemme and Yann Falquet of Genticorum, cellist Natalie Haas, dancer Marie-Soleil Pilette, fiddlers Donna Hébert and Daniel Boucher and accordion/pianist Jeremiah McLane. Be one of only 30 campers with LOTS of one-on-one time for students and lovers of French-Canadian music. Not only will we teach 9-4 daily, there are long group jam sessions in the evenings and a faculty concert Thursday. This week promises to be one long Québécois soiree, so don't miss it!

It will be a great celebration!

Bengal.

Dentdelion, a five-piece band from the Lanaudiere region of Quebec will offer fiddle workshops and a performance in Chassell, Michigan on Wednesday, July 8, opening Chassell's Strawberry Festival.

FIDDLE WORKSHOP ~ $10
6:00-7:00 pm - Chassell Heritage Center , 2nd Street & Hancock Ave.
· Adult workshop by Claude Méthé
· Student workshop by Béatrix Méthé

CONCERT & DANCE ~ Free ~ Donations appreciated
8:00-9:30 p.m. - Chassell Centennial Park Pavilion, 3rd Street

As a trio consisting of Claude Méthé, Dana Whittle and Denise Levac, Dentdelion has brought their fresh sound to audiences in Quebec, festivals in maritime Canada and most recently to concert stages in France and Spain. In addition, Dentdelion welcomes the next generation to the stage in the form of 15-year-old Colin Savoie-Levac on banjo, mandolin, feet & vocals and 13-year-old Béatrix Méthé on fiddle & vocals. The latter are themselves veteran performers, having performed since they were knee-high to a grasshopper on stages in Quebec, Scotland, Canada and the U.S.

Special thanks to the Chassell Lions Club, the Chassell Historical Organization, and the Sigma Rho Fraternity for making this event possible. For more information, contact Dave Bezotte at 482-4956.

Celtic Woman will be filming their brand-new live show for PBS Television and DVD at Powerscourt House and Gardens, County Wicklow, Ireland on Wednesday July 29th and Thursday July 30th 2009. If you would like to attend the concerts please email your requests to tickets@celticwoman .com. We can not guarantee admittance due to the high
demand expected, however we will endeavour to accommodate as many requests
as possible.


Treasa Ní Conchobhair (Chrissy)

Lord of the Dance
13th October - Cornwall Civic Complex, Cornwall, ON, Canada, 7.30pm
14th October - K-Rock Centre, Kingston, ON, Canada, 7.30pm
18th October - WFCU Centre, Windsor, ON, Canada, 7.30pm
30th October - Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, USA, 8pm
7th November - Paramount Theater, Seattle, WA, USA, 2pm & 8pm
20th April 2010 - Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL, USA, 7.30pm

Riverdance
19th December - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2.30pm
19th December - Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 8pm
25th-27th January 2010 - Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany, 8pm
29th-31st January 2010 - Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany, 8pm
30th-31st January 2010 - Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany, 2pm
2nd-4th February 2010 - Stadthalle, Bielefeld, Germany, 8pm
8th-10th February 2010 - Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, Germany, 8pm

Spirit of the Dance
22nd September - Beck Theatre, Hayes, U.K., 7.30pm
3rd-4th October - The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, U.K., 7.30pm
4th October - The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, U.K., 2.30pm

For complete schedule for these and other shows please visit our tour
section.

Alex

SAT. 20TH JUNE 2009 – THE SEAMUS ENNIS CULTURAL CENTRE

On Saturday, 20th June 2009 The Seamus Ennis Centre plays host to two of Ireland’s emerging talents. Tickets are on sale now at The Seamus Ennis Centre.

Singer/Songwriter Liz Madden and Irish Fiddle virtuoso Niamh Fahy combine their dynamic talents for an evening of show-stopping Irish favourites along with some wonderful original works.

International recording artists and solo performers in their own right, this Dynamic Duo have joined forces to give fans an outstanding Irish Roots Concert. This is an evening not to be missed!

From a family rich in Irish traditional music, Liz Madden, former singer and songwriter with Irish duo RUA, has had a successful music career culminating in 3 albums and performances worldwide including the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, the World Music Festival in Israel, the Catskills Irish weekends, the 7th International China Folk & Art Festival and the Nobel Women’s Initiative Conference. Liz has just completed her solo album and globally Liz’s beautiful voice and original compositions have been featured on over sixty compilation albums and used in both Film & TV. As a vocalist, Liz moves easily between Irish, Celtic, New World, Folk and Classical music and her captivating voice leaves a lasting impression with its deep emotion and energy.

Trained in the Suzuki Method, Irish fiddler, Niamh Fahy was introduced to Traditional Irish music early on but it was when Antoin MacGabhann, renowned Cavan fiddle player, took her under his wing that Niamh fell in love with her native music. She has performed worldwide in such prestigious venues as The Kravis Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida, The Berklee Performing Arts Centre, Boston, the Hammersmith Apollo, London, The Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh and the NIA, Birmingham. Niamh released her debut album 'Stolen Kiss' to high acclaim and is currently a soloist with the Irish phenomenon Riverdance. She has just completed a three month tour of the UK and will appear in the summer run of Riverdance in The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin..

Yep, I'm still alive! :) I'm offline though. I moved last weekend to my new address and my internet isn't installed yet. It's promised for this week, so hopefully by Friday I'll be able to upload many news on events going on in the near future! Please, don't give up on me yet!

I know I speak on behalf of the entire Riverdance family when I say we are all deeply shocked and saddened at the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, Eithne Walls.

Eithne joined Riverdance in 1998 as a member of the Flying Squad and then danced full time with the Shannon on Broadway. She later joined the Foyle for the first run in the Gaiety in Dublin in 2004.

Eithne was someone who once you had met her you would never forget her.

I never saw her without a smile on her face and she just seemed to be always happy and enjoying life. However that constantly smiling face did not mean that she was simply skimming through life, far from it, anyone who travelled with Eithne will remember the medical books always on the go and her constant attention to her studies.

Eithne was someone you could always sit down with and have a chat, she was always interesting and interested and without doubt she was someone with a rich future stretching out ahead of her.

It is hard to believe that such a bright light could be quenched so early and while burning so brilliantly. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time.

Julian Erskine

Senior Executive Producer
Riverdance

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of former Riverdancer Eithne Walls.

Walls family statement

Eithne Walls a young doctor and Irish dancer from County Down was among 228 people onboard the Air France airliner which disappeared on Monday. Her family have issued this statement.

It is with the heaviest and with the saddest of hearts that the Walls family confirm the loss of their dearest daughter and sister Eithne.

Eithne was an extraordinary person who brought light into the lives of everyone she touched. She was beautiful in every way especially of spirit.

She had a passion for life that permeated, enlivened and enriched those around her.

We feel privileged to have shared her too short life and the countless memories of her will stay with us forever.

She had many hopes for her life and was looking forward to the exciting journey to fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming an eye surgeon.

At university she made many lifelong friends with who she shared the trials and tribulations of university life and on her last holiday we know she was delighted to have be reunited with so many of them.

'Inconsolable loss'

Her friends will, we hope, remember their time together with fondness and joy despite its tragic end.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of her dearest friends Jane and Aisling who are suffering the same inconsolable loss.

Many people have known Eithne through Irish dancing, a passion she had continued throughout her studies and into her professional life.

We have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from so many family and friends from our community and throughout the world.

Your thoughts and prayers give us comfort at this most devastating of times.

Eithne we will miss your easy smile. We will miss your loving embrace. We will miss your happy hello and we will miss your dancing feet. We will miss your silliness, your wit and your hugs.

We will always hold you in our hearts and you are never truly gone.

Robert & Gabrielle Bouthillier, father and daughter, members of the Quebecois a cappella, folk, roots and traditional music group Serre L'Ecoute, will perform in the Sea Music Festival at the Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT, 11-14 June 2009.

Franco-Americans musicians Marc Bernier, Judy Cormier, Tom Goux, Dan Lanier & Dave Peloquin will also perform in the Sea Music Festival.

This fall, the Quebecois group Le Vent du Nord will be launching La Part du Feu, their latest album. For more information [in French], check Chroniques Trad. I'll bring more information on the same subject during the summer.

Another album coming soon... well, not that soon. The album is scheduled for next January 2010! This is the newest work of Bernard Simard. Three of the songs featuring in this album can be downloaded now through his official site. More information can also be found on his MySpace.

Enjoy!

Du 08 Août 2009 au 15 Août 2009

Cet événement, qui aura lieu cette année pour sa sixième édition, fera une grande place à la danse. Pour la première fois en effet, les danses traditionnelles québécoises et la danse country seront au programme...

Les festivaliers pourront s'inscrire à des stages et mettre en applications leurs savoirs faire lors des deux concerts dansants qui seront organisés. Il sera dailleurs possible de danser tous les soirs...

- Les Tireux d'Roches (8 août 2009)

- Genticorum (9 août 2009)

- Johanne Provencher (10 août 2009)

- Pierre-Etienne Rouillard et Pierre-Luc Brilland (11 août 2009)

- Les Batteux Slaques (12 août 2009)

- Le Trio Barbecue (BBQ) (13 août 2009)

- Abitibi Pure Laine (14 août 2009)

- Dentdelion (15 août 2009)

Dear all:

I know everybody is excited for the program of Chants de Vielles festival this year. While it will take a bit more till it's published on their official page, the names I was informed that will be performing next September are:

Le Vent du Nord
Les Mononcles
Nightingale
Ad Vielle Que Pourra

See you all there!

Bengal.

Amazing Scottish harper and singer Maeve Gilchrist teams up with fiddler Ed Pearlman and pianist Neil Pearlman for concerts and workshops in June. It's traditional music blended at times with jazz influences.

Maeve has played for such events as the opening of the Scottish Parliament, and the Edinburgh Harp Festival, as well as performing with well known Scottish and jazz performers. Ed has worked for 30 years with many of the top Scottish and Cape Breton fiddlers; Neil is both a Scottish and jazz pianist and a Cape Breton stepdancer with a number of great performers; he's teaching piano next month at Alasdair Fraser's Sierra Fiddle Camp.

First off: Sat June 20 at Hooker-Dunham Theater in Brattleboro VT - Maeve with Highland Soles (Ed with dancer Laura Scott & family - the Boston Globe called Laura a "showstopper" ). Enjoy harp, song, fiddle, & dance!

Tue June 23 in Bemus Point, NY (near Lake Erie, between Buffalo and Cleveland) - afternoon workshops and evening concert and jam session with Maeve, Ed, and Neil. Email Sue at fiddlehead55 at yahoo.com for info.

Thu June 25 at Nighttown Cleveland; dinner show with Maeve, Ed and Neil.

Maeve, Ed and Neil will also be teaching at the Ohio Scottish Arts School, June 27-July 3.

Hello All,

It’s hard to believe that our O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp is just a month away. This will be our second year, and we are expecting a great learning experience for our students, and of course, two very fun days. Here are some of the highlights of the Youth Camp and later in this email we’ll address the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat.

2^nd Annual O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp

Dates: Monday & Tuesday, June 29-30, 2009

Location: the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, Texas

Ages: 6-16

Classes: 45-minute classes in fiddle, flute, tinwhistle, guitar, piano, mandolin/tenor banjo/bouzouki, and bodhran. In addition to our core instrument classes, we will introduce a new class called “Fun with Irish Music” that is an interactive introduction to the basic elements of music in general as well as how these relate to traditional Irish music . Children will have fun while learning the basic elements of rhythm, melody and harmony through engaging group activities such as marching, playing instruments, dancing and singing. Children may bring their own instruments and use them to explore the elements taught in the class and learn a simple Irish tune. Traditional Irish music will be used as the basis for the activities where appropriate.

Teaching Staff: Our instructors are some of the top professional players of Irish music in our area.

Other Activities: singing, dancing, games, concerts, sessions, a cookout and more. On the last day of the camp, the campers will participate in a Tune Tussle when they will get to perform musical acts that they prepared during the two days of camp.

Costs: tuition is $75 for two days and $50 for one day. Online registration is underway.

Lodging: There are limited number of dorm beds available at the Center for out of town guests. There are many hotels in the area.

Meals: Lunches must be brought to the camp each day. The cookout on Monday evening is open to campers and their families and is free.

Other Info: Instructor concert will follow cookout. A limited number of scholarships are available. If you’re interested in attending, visit the youth camp’s website or call our Camp Director, Gordon McLeod at 972-530-0757. Please note that we will only have the capacity for about 75 campers so we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

Dates: Friday – Sunday, Oct. 23-25, 2009 The retreat will officially begin on Thursday night, October 22, with a “meet & greet” BBQ and bonfire. Classes start Friday morning and continue through Sunday late afternoon.

Location: the Hoblitzelle Camp and Conference Center in Midlothian, Texas, about 30 minutes south of Dallas.

Ages: 6 through adult

Classes: 90-minute classes in fiddle, flute, whistle, guitar (standard, dropped-D & DADGAD), piano, bodhran, harp, uilleann pipes, button accordion (C#/D & B/C), piano accordion, concertina, tenor banjo, bouzouki, mandolin and Gaelic singing. Enrichment classes teaching Irish music history or exploring Irish music today will also be offered. Additionally, workshops presenting music theory, use of ABCs (cyber notation), learning by ear, and basic sound system operation will be available. This year the retreat will introduce a special program for youth called “Kids Irish Music and Heritage Workshops.” These workshops are for elementary school-age children ages 6 to 10 and offers an introduction to Irish music, dance, history, language, and customs. It will include the following activities: games, arts and crafts, singing, instrumental instruction, learning simple Irish Gaelic phrases and songs, folk dancing, cooking, and storytelling. This is a highly-structured, educational program designed to teach Irish music but in a way that provides context for the music through cultural appreciation.

Teaching Staff: An exceptional lineup of instructors will teach including such great players as Manus McGuire (fiddle), Brian Conway (fiddle), Mickey Dunne (uilleann pipes), June McCormack (flute), Pat Egan (guitar), Michael Rooney (harp), Enda Scahill (tenor banjo), Brendan Dolan (piano) and Patty Furlong (button accordion). They will be joined by 22 other respected teachers from throughout the U.S.

Other Activities: Each evening there will be concerts by instructors and mini-concerts during meals with a “farewell” concert on Sunday evening. On the Saturday night program, there will be a “Texas Tune & Song Tussle” which features friendly competition among ensembles that form at the retreat vying for “O’Diddley Awards.” Sessions will be plentiful and organized by levels with some instructor-led and others not.

Costs: Tuition is $200 and just $120 for youth 18 and under and seniors 65 and older.

Lodging: A variety of lodging options on campus will be available from Thursday evening through Sunday night including cottages, motel rooms, dorm beds, RV spaces and tent camping.

Meals: Meals will be offered Thursday dinner through Monday breakfast.

Transportation: The retreat will offer a shuttle service to and from the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport for $15 per trip per person. There is parking for personal vehicles at the camp.

Other Info: A limited number of scholarships are available. If you’re interested in attending, visit the retreat’s website or call the retreat office at (972) 238-8724 or email info at oflahertyretreat.org. Online registration has now begun. Because there are caps on class sizes, early enrollment is best.

[Dear all: if you are in Quebec and can participate of this event, I strongly recommend. A house concert is always a more intimate musical journey, which means close audience-musician interaction making this experience much more personal for each participant. Enjoy! Bengal.]

Vendredi 29 mai à 20h

Bill Garrett et Sue Lothrop - chanteurs folk;
Benoit Bourque - musicien, danseur, chanteur - membre de La Bottine Souriante;
Simon Gauthier - conteur et lamiste (scie musicale);
Antoine Pigeon-Bourque - accordéoniste et tubiste;

au 262 Marie-Victorin, à Verchères
information et réservations : 450.583.6918 ; pigbourque (at) aei.ca
Régulier : 20 $ - étudiant : 15 $
_____________________________________

Bill Garrett et Sue Lothrop : "deux voix en parfaite harmonie", c'est ainsi qu'on ce duo montréalais. Un couple sur scène comme dans la vie, Bill et Sue se sont produits dans de nombreux folk clubs et festivals d'un océan à l'autre. Bill Garret est un des fondateurs de la maison de disques torontoise Borealis et a été réalisateur à la radio de la CBC pendant dix-huit ans. Sue Lothrop, native des Cantons de l'est, a fait partie de différents groupes folks et folk-rock avec lesquels elle a fait des tournées dans tout le Canada et aux États-Unis. Aujourd'hui, en plus des spectacles en duo avec Bill, elle fait de l'animation en musicothérapie auprès des aînés.

Benoit Bourque souligne cette année ses trente ans de vie professionnelle en tant que musicien traditionnel. Plusieurs groupes ont pu profiter de ses talents et de son indéniable charisme et depuis quelques mois, c'est au sein de la célèbre Bottine Souriante qu'il partage son amour de la musique traditionnelle québécoise à tous les publics.
Pour en savoir plus : La Bottine Souriante [The band's page is finally updated!]

Simon Gauthier : originaire de Sept-Iles et établi en Montérégie depuis quelques d'années, Simon est arrivé au conte comme on tombe amoureux, avec fougue et passion. Depuis plus de dix ans, il captive tous les publics par son imaginaire débridé, son énergie incandescente et sa sensibilité de poète. Simon est aussi lamiste, c'est-à-dire qu'il joue de la scie musicale. Pour ce concert maison, il s'exécutera à la scie musicale, en solo, en duo, en trio...


Antoine Pigeon-Bourque vient de terminer ses études au programme de musique du cégep St-Laurent, où il a étudié le tuba avec Robert Ellis et l'accordéon-piano avec George Camitsis. Il s'intéresse à plusieurs styles musicaux. Il exécutera, à l'accordéon, des pièces de Tony Murena, René Dupéré (Le cirque du soleil), Yan Tiersen (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain), J. Ivanovici.

Dear all:

Thanks for so many kind messages. I didn't know I was reaching so many people and so far. I'll be moving by the end of the month from my current home, so things are a bit messy around here, but I'll try my best to keep online at least propagating the links to the fests and events coming up. There are so many great shows announced for this summer.

Anyway, let's see how time will evolve from my end.

Thanks again for all your support. I really appreciate!

À bientôt!

Bengal.

Voir sur le web | Désabonner | Préférences

Who is this workshop for?

Intermediate hurdy-gurdy players who have their own instrument.
Contents: The workshop will be devoted to instrumental technique over a common repertoire (PDF & MIDI files to provided by the teacher).

Maximum participants: 10
Where: Sacristy of Ste-Théodosie Church, Calixa-Lavallée

Workshop Master: Gilles Chabenat (FRANCE).

Born in 1963 in Lignières (Centre France), Chabenat started playing hurdy-gurdy with folk art and traditions organization Les Thiaulins at the age of 13. After studying with Georges Simon, he won several folk music awards. Then, he turned to the corpus of his area and became interested in other music styles. Following in the footsteps of Valentin Clastrier, he had to reinvent his instrument and how it is played. Simultaneously, after several years of research, instrument-maker Denis Siorat designed a modern electroacoustic instrument that made it possible for the hurdy-gurdy to foray into the field of new music. In 1992, Chabenat joined the Corsican group I Muvrini, with whom he played for 12 years. During this period, he performed with several high-profile artists, including Véronique Sanson, Florent Pagny, Stephan Eicher, Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Sting, but also Frédéric Paris, Edouard Papazian, Alain Bonnin, and Gabriel Yacoub. Lately, he has been working on various creative projects with jazz musicians, among others Vincent Mascart, Jacques Mahieux, Alain Bruel, Alain Gibert, and Jean-Marc Padovani. In other words, his musical background and evolution have been constantly shaped by musical encounters. He sees the hurdy-gurdy as a multifaceted instrument that has been morphing and reinventing itself for over a thousand years.

SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Thursday, September 10
10 AM - NOON Master Class (1/4) with Gilles Chabenat

Lunch at the Manoir in Calixa, with all participants

Concert dinner at La Brunnoire in Verchères

2 PM - 5 PM Master Class (2/4) with Gilles Chabenat
Friday, September 11

10 AM - NOON Master Class (3/4) with Gilles Chabenat

Lunch at the Manoir in Calixa, with all participants

2 PM - 5 PM Master Class (4/4) with Gilles Chabenat
Saturday, September 12
2:30 PM Hurdy-Gurdy Meeting, with Gilles Chabenat and workshop participants
Sunday, September 13

2 PM Concert with Gilles Chabenat
4:30 PM En avant toute: Parade with singers, musicians, on-lookers

*Activities in GREY are optional

FEES:
$150: Workshop THURSDAY & FRIDAY

$200: Workshop THURSDAY & FRIDAY + Cafeteria (includes: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, Thursday dinner & weekend pass