MOHAWK VALLEY IRISH CULTURAL

Volume 14, Issue 9 EVENTS NEWSLETTER Sept 2017

High Kings Return to Central New York

Central New Yorkers fell in love with the High Kings when they headlined the Great American Irish Festival and the Syracuse Irish Festival, and the band obviously feels the same way about our area. Making one of their final performances in the US before bringing their “Grace and Glory” tour to Canada, the band best known for their impeccable harmonies, infectious humor, outstanding musicianship and unique interpretations of Irish classics will be performing at the Egg in Albany on September 21st.

The band -- , Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden -- has released four highly-acclaimed studio albums, two live albums, and two live DVDs. Their first three studio albums appeared at number three or higher on the Billboard world music chart, the first two went platinum in Ireland, and all of their albums charted in Ireland. They just received a 2017 World Country Music & Entertainment Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Irish Music Worldwide.”

Tickets for the 7:30 PM show are $34, and are available on line.

Young Dubliners Make Area Stops on Whirlwind Tour

The hardest working band in Celtic Rock is at it again. After a packed 2016 that started in Alaska, cruised to the Bahamas, returned to , Ireland, and then toured all summer long in the US, the band hit replay to do it all again in 2017. And as the 2017 tour winds down, the Dubs plan to make two stops in the Central New York area.

On Sept 23, the band will be giving an 8 PM concert at the Cohoes Music Hall (58 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY). Tickets range from $19 to $23, and can be purchased at the Cohoes Music Hall Box Office, at the Palace Theatre Box Office, by phone at (518) 465-4663, or by going on line, here.

Then on September 27th, you can find them even closer, when they come into Syracuse’s Westcott Theater (524 Wescott Street) for a special 8 PM show. Tickets are $20, and are available at the theater or on line.

Formed in the early 1990s, the Young Dubliners’ live concerts bring unrivaled spirit and energy to Celtic music. Their live shows had a jam-like appeal, similar to that of a Phish or a Dave Matthews show. They’ve built a fervent fan base both through their own whirlwind touring schedule and by joining such national tours as Jethro Tull, Johnny Lang, Collective Soul, Great Big Sea and the Allman Brothers. Local fans may recall their stints as headliners at the Great American Irish Festival in 2006 and 2013.

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Celebrating the Feast Month of Septibáeth

As we all know, the month of September is named after the Celtic deity, Septibáeth, the god of good music, ice- cold beer and hair-removing wristbands, and… Okay, that is a total lie. But September in Central New York is historically known for all that, and this year is no different. In this month alone, there are no less than six such events…well, no more than six either. Okay, it’s six, and here they are:

Capital District Scottish Games (Sept 2-3) The Altamont Fairgrounds hosts the 40th annual Scottish Games, with Irish and Scottish music, crafts and other vendors, Highland dancing, athletics, Pipe and Band competition, great food and fun for all ages. Entertainment will be provided by Enter the Haggis, The Brigadoons, Get Up Jack, The McKrells and more. This event runs from 8 AM – 9 PM on Saturday and from 9 AM – 7 PM on Sunday. Tickets to the games are $22 for Saturday, $12 for Sunday, and kids under 12 are free. The Altamont Fairgrounds are located at 129 Grand St. in Altamont, NY.

Hooley on the Hudson (Sept 3) Held in the Rondout section of Kingston, NY, this festival features music from Andy Cooney, Derek Warfield and the Young WolfTones, Get Up Jack and others. Admission is free. For more info, check here.

Syracuse Irish Festival (Sept 8-9) On September 8-9, the Syracuse Irish Festival once again takes to the streets. In total, performances will take place on two separate stages in Clinton Square by such Celtic and Irish bands as The Elders, The Prodigals, Goitse, Aoife Scott Band, Moxie Strings, the Blarney Rebel Band and others. The festival, which runs from 5 to 11 on Friday and 11 AM to 11 PM on Saturday, is free. For more info, check their web site.

Rochester Celtic Festival (Sept 8-9) Started in 1994, the Rochester Irish Festival is committed to the ideal of staging an event in an atmosphere conducive to families and children, with entertainment that is dynamic, vibrant and energetic. This year’s lineup includes Steel City Rovers, 1916, Linda Rutherford and Celtic Fire, Dady Brothers and others. For more information, check here. Tickets are $8 each day and children under 12 are free.

Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival (Sept 16) The 21st annual Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival will take place at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. Gates open at 11 AM. Performers include the Screaming Orphans, Hair of the Dog, Shilelagh Law, Get Up Jack, Emish, Narrowbacks, Searson and many more. Tickets for the festival are $20 at the gate ($15 in advance). Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit their web site.

9th Hudson Valley Irish Fest (Sept 30) The Hudson Valley Irish Festival will feature performances by the McLean Avenue Band, Celtic Cross, Aoife Scott & Band, pipers, dancers and more. The festival, held on the majestic banks of the Hudson River at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green Park, runs from 11 AM to 7 PM. Admission is $10.

Celtic Sister Duo to Perform at the Earlville Opera House

On September 22, the Earlville Opera House welcomes sisters Cassie and Maggie MacDonald for a special 8 PM show. Born in Halifax, with strong roots in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Cassie and Maggie have been wowing audiences across Canada with their unique blend of original and traditional Celtic music. Cassie’s fiddle playing has been described as “sweet and elegant with just the right amount of raw power,” while Maggie’s piano playing has an “irresistible drive that will leave your foot incapable of staying still” and complements Cassie’s playing perfectly. Cassie is an award-winning highland and step dancer and also sings harmony for Maggie. Maggie sings lead, plays guitar, banjo, accordion and is also an accomplished step dancer. Tickets for the show are $20 general, $15 members, and $10 students/youth, with premiums applying in the first 4 rows. The Earlville Opera House is located at 18 East Main St. in Earlville, NY.

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Celebrate Utica’s Diverse Culture at International Day!

Jay Sumner loves Utica and he isn’t afraid to say so. The driving force behind the grassroots ILoveUtica movement, Jay promotes Utica’s attractions, food, music and art scenes, and – showing the country how it should be done – its diversity.

From its earliest beginnings, Utica has been an enviable model of diversity and acceptance; marked by friendships forged with local Native Americans, involvement with the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement, its welcoming of a huge influx of German, Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants in the mid-1800s, and more recently, offering a haven and home to tens of thousands of evacuees from war-torn countries.

Marking the city’s storied legacy, ILoveUtica, the Bank of Utica and the Fitness Mill will be sponsoring the first Utica International Day on September 16th; a family-friendly event designed to celebrate the ever-growing diversity that makes our city so great.

The event, which takes place at Hanna Park, promise a day where attendees can learn about the other cultures, taste different foods, hear different music and witness cultural dance performances. Sprinkled throughout the grounds will be representatives from Utica Children’s Museum, The House of the Good Shepherd’s “The Shepherd Drummers,” Dance Ensembles, Live Art Wall, crafters, the Irish Cultural Center, Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Polish Community Center and the Utica Refugee Center. Live music includes The Jamie Fox All-Star Band, The Human Element, Joe Macri and The Blue Suede Shoes, Brothers and Company, Mutt Farm and Joe Sweet. And of course, no Utica celebration could be complete without “Foodica;” the many culinary treats for which Utica is known.

Tickets for the event are a mere $3 in advance (here) and $5 at the gate. Make plans now to spend a perfect day of music, art, peace, love and unity at Utica’s International Day.

Learn How to Dance the Old Irish Way in Utica This Month By Sue Romero for the Utica NY Area Irish Coalition

A couple of years ago, I was at the open session at the Great American Irish Festival when a young woman in red sneakers hopped into the center of the circle as we were playing a lively reel. She started dancing. It sure looked like Irish dance, but it was different. Her feet were staying pretty close to the floor and tapping to the rhythm. Her arms weren’t tight to her sides and stiff. They were loose and free and relaxed. And best of all a smile stretched out across her face and her joy and fun couldn’t be missed.

At the time, I had never heard of nor seen sean-nós dancing, and I remember thinking it was just magical to see her red sneakers joyfully stepping out the beat as we played our favorite music.

Later on I found out that what she was doing is an old Irish art originally from Connemara. Sean-nós is Irish for “old style” and you’ll often see the words attached to dance and song. For now, we’ll stick to the dance style. It’s a casual, informal, non-competitive, fun kind of social dance.

People in Ireland (and wherever Irish music is played) often just get up and start sean-nós dancing at a session. Like this.

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Usually, sean-nós dancing is done solo because it’s mostly improvised by the dancer just putting together the various steps as the spirit moves and as the music inspires. So there’s no choreography or patterns to remember like in ceili dancing. You just learn the basic steps and throw them together as you go.

Your arms relax and move freely, unlike the step-dancing you see in Riverdance where the dancers keep their arms straight down.

Some of the best-known sean-nós dancers today have videos on YouTube. So you can get a sense of what it looks like and how much fun it is. Emma O’Sullivan, and Edwina Guckian are both great examples.

Although today many of the most popular sean-nós dance performers and teachers are women, the dance style was originally done mostly by men. And there are still many men who continue the tradition. Brothers Gerard and Patrick Devane give a great demonstration here.

Even kids love to get in on the fun. Edwina Guckian runs a very popular school in Ireland and she posts lots of cute videos of her young students dancing.

It’s one thing to appreciate the skills we see in YouTube videos like these, but it’s so much better to get in the game for real. So the Utica NY Area Irish Coalition has arranged a special sean-nós dance workshop in Utica on September 24.

Rebecca McGowan a professional sean-nós dance teacher from Boston will lead the workshop. She has danced at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has taught at Catskill Irish Arts Week.

I asked Rebecca what she likes best about sean-nós dance and she said, “I like the dialogue of music and dance, and the fun of making music with my feet.”

You can see Rebecca and her dance partner Jackie O’Riley demonstrating some of their expertise in the videos on this page.

The hardwood floors in the Knights of St. John building on Varick Street will be perfect for amplifying the sound of tapping shoes. And that brings us to the shoes. You don’t need any special dance shoes. Rebecca says any flat hard-soled shoes will work fine.

There was a famous sean-nós flash mob in Galway in December 2013. And whoever took the video zoomed in on the feet, so you can see that any kind of shoes will do - from bright red tap shoes to Converse sneakers.

Now that you’ve seen all these videos and know a little more about sean-nós dance, I’m sure you’ll want to know how you can be a part of keeping this Irish tradition alive. So here are the details:

Join us Sunday, Sept. 24 from 1:00-2:30pm at the Knights of St. John building on the corner of Varick and Court Streets in Utica. It’s right across from the Saranac Brewery Shop and there’s plenty of parking in the lot at Shoppes at the Finish Line. The workshop is geared toward adults and teens, but younger kids are welcome to come along with their parents.

We’re charging $20 per person to cover Rebecca’s expenses and we only have room for 20 students. Visit www.UNYAIC.weebly.com or Eventbrite.com to get your tickets today.

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From the Irish Kitchen (recipes suitable for clipping)

This month’s recipe – Brandy Cider Sauce - By Margaret Johnson Spice up your favorite meat dish with this delicious and easy to prepare sauce

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup apple cider 2 tablespoons brandy 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 tablespoon cornstarch

METHOD

In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the cider, sugar, and cornstarch. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the mixture thickens. Stir in the brandy and butter. Remove from heat and let cool. Transfer to a small bowl or crock, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bring back to room temperature before serving. Makes 3/4 cup.

If you try this recipe, feel free to share your experience with all of us; and of course, if you have a recipe you’d like to share, please contact Beth Loftis at [email protected].

Thistle and Shamrock – Yeah, It’s Still Out There…

We haven’t mentioned the wonderful NPR radio show, Thistle and Shamrock, in quite a while, and we’re going to remedy that right now (while reminding ourselves that we owe you a more detailed article – soon – on the many ways you can catch Irish/Celtic-themed music over the airwaves). For those of you who don’t know about the show, Thistle and Shamrock -- the brainchild of award-winning radio host Fiona Ritchie -- explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America, featuring well-established and newly emerging recording artists along with in-studio guests. Thistle and Shamrock can be heard on Sunday mornings from 11 AM to noon on WAER in Syracuse (88.3 on the FM dial) and on Sunday evenings in Utica from 7 to 8 PM on WRUN-AM; 1150 on your dial, and at other times via various streaming stations.

This month’s shows include:

September 07: Harpers Hear innovation on an ancient instrument with harpers William Jackson, Wendy Stewart, Maire Brennan, Grainne Hambly, Savourna Stevenson, and Alan Stivell all feature in an hour dedicated to small harps.

September 14: The American Folklife Center at 40, Part 1 Join Fiona and guests as they explore selections from the American Folklife Center’s collection of about half a million sound recordings, including songs from Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Carrie Grover.

September 21: The American Folklife Center at 40, Part 2 This week Fiona and her guests conclude a two-part exploration of the American Folklife Center’s extensive sound archive. It features rare recordings from collectors Jean Ritchie and John Matheson.

September 28: Cathy Jordan at Swannanoa Join Fiona and Irish singer Cathy Jordan of the internationally acclaimed band Dervish as they share conversation and music at the Swannanoa Gathering in the North Carolina Mountains.

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“Game of Ghosts” - Book Review by Mark Sisti

There is a problem with the Charlie Parker series of books by Dublin-born author John Connolly, and it’s a significant one.

They only come out roughly once a year, and that’s way too long to wait; they’re that good. (A quick semi-warning: because every book builds on previous entries, this review may contain very minor spoilers regarding earlier books. Don’t worry, they’re not really spoilers, and they won’t keep you from enjoying the prior entries if you haven’t read them yet. Which you should.)

This time around, Parker is approached by his accomplice/nemesis FBI agent Ross (who, like everyone and everything in Parker books, is clearly not what he appears to be.) As part of a symbiotic deal they have made (a deal as dangerous to both as it is mutually beneficial) Ross demands/asks Parker to locate a private detective named Jaycob Eklund. Eklund, like Parker, is obsessed with murders and disappearances with paranormal overtones. He has also been hired by the FBI to track a series of homicides and disappearances, each linked to reports of mysterious hauntings. Now he has disappeared.

Parker knows there is more to the story than Ross is telling him – there is always more to the story than Ross is telling him, and their relationship, tinged by equal parts respect and suspicion, is fascinating – but he takes the assignment anyway and begins his investigation. His search leads him to cross paths with some very dangerous people, including a group of doomed souls who call themselves The Brethren, and an intriguing, if slightly psychotic. mother-son pair that makes Norman Bates’ maternal connection seem normal.

But Parker is also very dangerous, and so are his allies, who include not only the ever-present lethal pair of Angel and Louis, but also his two daughters. Oh sure, one of them is dead, but what does that matter in a Charlie Parker book? His daughter, Jennifer, who was murdered in the first book, has taken on the role of Parker’s protector and, in that role, has connected with Parker’s (living) daughter Samantha. And Samantha? If Parker, his friends and his enemies are dangerous people, Samantha may be the most dangerous of all, and is just now being to realize it. In addition, Parker’s other ally/enemy, The Collector, makes an appearance and, as usual, brings his own brand of chaotic vengeance to the proceedings.

As if spectral visits and murderous cults weren’t enough to deal with, Samantha’s mother, still dealing with the kidnapping of her daughter (from the last book) is seeking full custody and looking to limit Parker’s visitation. Parker reluctantly would go along with it for his daughter’s sake, but Samantha has other plans. And no one (except maybe her half-sister Jennifer) is quite sure what she’s capable of. Or for that matter, what she even is.

Connolly loves to turn the concept of morality on its ear, and he explores that concept in this book as well. The Brethren seem outwardly to be good, normal church-going suburbanites, when in actuality they are pure evil who adhere to their long-dead leader’s unholy pact with an angel to avoid eternal suffering in the afterlife by meting it out in this life. Conversely, Angel, Louis, even Parker himself have a fundamental core of morality that allows us to overlook – even cheer– their moments of brutality. More than any of them, The Collector, as creepy and disturbing as he is, has been developed gradually and brilliantly by Connolly, and now we actually find him likeable and his relationship with his ailing father touching.

In the first books in the series, the element of the supernatural was hinted at but kept at a distance. The balance has shifted little by little with each successive entry to the point where, in this story, the existence of other worlds than this is front and center. Connolly reveals what he wants to reveal when he wants to reveal it. It’s like a scrim on a theater stage: you can tell there’s something behind it, but the images are blurred and indistinct through the opaque gauze, only becoming transparent when the director cues the lighting.

And underlying it all is Connolly’s writing which, as always, is nothing short of brilliant. The most difficult thing to do in a series is to end each entry with a sense of finality, while still maintaining suspense about what’s to come, and Connolly manages it every time. And there appears to be major changes ahead for Charlie Parker’s world; Connolly deftly hints at questions for which we need to find the answers: Who or what is the Dead King? What’s that nature of Sam’s gift (or curse?) What’s Ross’ end game? And what part does Parker play in all of it? Disparate threads from each book seem to be coming together, and what a tapestry it may prove to be. I may not want to live in Charlie Parker’s world, but I sure enjoy visiting it for a short while.

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RANDOM RAMBLINGS

“Nuacht as Craobh Dugan” ---news from the Dugan Branch Chris Hoke writes: “Performances in September include: Sep 1 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 5 - Nail Creek Pub Session, 7:30 PM; Sep 8 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 13 - Performance Irish and the Erie at New York Mills Senior Center 7 PM; Sep 15 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 19 – Stockdale’s Session, 7:30 PM; Sep 22 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM; Sep 27 – “Irish and the Erie” at Oneida Public Library, 7 PM; Sep 29 - Ceili Dance Class, Seton Center, 7 PM.”

GAIF ‘17 Remembered The 2017 Great American Irish Festival is in the books, and many of its scenes and memories have been captured and are now available for your viewing pleasure. To see what’s been collected so far, check out the GAIF Photo Gallery here. Do you have some photos you’d like to share? We’d love to see them!

Gaelic Football and Hurling Demonstrations On Sep 2, the Irish Cultural Center Hudson Valley and the Manhattan Gaels GAA are bringing an exhibition of Gaelic Games to Dietz Stadium. Check here for details.

Celtic Club Calendar Finally, here’s the Irish Musical and Cultural calendar for September:

Sep 1 Enter the Haggis Daryl's House Pawling 8 PM $15-$25 Sep 1-3 Kevin McKrell The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM Free Altamont 8 AM – 9 PM Sat; 9 $22 Sat, $12 Sun, Sep 2-3 Capital District Scottish Games Altamont Fairgrounds AM – 7 PM Sun under 12 free Sep 3 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 3 Hooley on the Hudson Rondout Section Kingston 11:30 – 9 PM Free Sep 5 Nail Creek Sessions Nail Creek Pub Utica 7:30 PM Free Sep 8-9 Syracuse Irish Festival Clinton Square Syracuse 5-11 Fri, 11–11 PM Sat Free Sep 8-9 Lewington & Downie Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 9 PM Free MLK Park at $8/day, 12 and Sep 8-9 Rochester Irish Festival Rochester 5-10 Fri, 12-10 Sat Manhattan Square under free Sep 9 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Sep 16 Utica’s International Day Hanna Park Utica Noon-10 PM $3 Sep 16 Irish 2000 Saratoga Cty Fairgrounds Ballston Spa, NY 10 AM-11 PM $20 ($15 adv) Sep 17 Donal O’Shaughnessy Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 17 Syracuse Irish Session J. Ryan’s Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 17 Traditional Irish Session Irish Amer Ass’n Albany 2:30-6 PM Free Sep 19 Traditional Irish Session Stockdale’s Oriskany 7:30 PM Free Sep 21 The High Kings The Egg Albany 7:30 PM $34 Sep 22 Blarney Rebel Band Piggy Pat’s Washington Mills 6-9 PM Free Sep 22 Cassie & Maggie Macdonald Earlville Opera House Earlville 8 PM $10-$20 Sep 23 Traditional Irish Session Kitty Hoynes Pub Syracuse 2-5 PM Free Sep 23 The Young Dubliners Cohoes Music Hall Cohoes, NY 8 PM $19-$23 Sep 24 Flying Column Coleman’s Irish Pub Syracuse 4-7 PM Free Sep 27 The Young Dubliners Westcott Theater Syracuse 8 PM $20 Sep 28 The New McKrells The Parting Glass Saratoga Springs 8 PM $10 Sep 30 Hudson Valley Irish Fest Peekskill Riverfront Peekskill, NY 11 AM – 7 PM $10

If you have anything you want to share with us, feel free to send it to us ([email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]), and we’ll be happy to include it. As always, while we strive for accuracy, sometimes Beth gets blamed for mistakes. It always makes sense to call ahead to confirm some of these further-out trips.

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