Fiddle Fair 2:
Live at Declan McCarthy’s, Baltimore
Own label – no catalogue number; 50 minutes; 2004
The
Baltimore in question is in County Cork where Declan McCarthy’s bar hosts an annual
traditional music festival, somehow cramming a hundred people inside its walls
for its concerts. Some years ago the bar issued the first Fiddle Fair
album and this is its belated successor, recorded in May 2003. As such, it must
be a bit of a rarity in being co-recorded, co-mixed and co–mastered by a parson
– the Reverend Billy Robinson from County Donegal (whom, I presume, by his name
and title and the fact that he is based in Ramelton, is of the Church of
Ireland). 
As
the title suggest, there’s a strong fiddle element present and, in this case
especially, a very powerful Donegal presence. The most striking of these is an
astonishing unaccompanied set of tunes, The Old Wheel of Fortune, from
Dermot McLaughlin. Though Dermot (who is brother-in-law of the late Frankie
Kennedy) hails from Derry, there’s more than a touch of the Atlantic roar about
his playing and, as he whisks through Patsy’s Touhy’s Reel, the listener
can almost hear the waves crashing below Glen Head.
Then
there’s Altan’s Ciarán Tourish whirling through The Silver Spire, The
Killavil Reel and The College Groves all to some typically tasteful
guitar accompaniment from Paul Brady. (Ciarán told this reviewer some two years
ago that his own solo album would shortly be appearing – it still has not, but,
on this evidence, he should need no encouragement to release it. (Of course,
Ciarán’s album did finally appear in 2005. Ed.).
In
contrast, Altan’s own two tracks are rather more subdued. The first, Roaring
Water, is a slowish jig co-composed by Tourish and guitarist Mark Kelly,
while the other is Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s song An Cailín Óg from The
Blue Idol album. Other fireworks, however, are supplied by the Shetland (I
think) band Filska on a truly pyrotechnic set Bunjie’s Dilemma while Liz
Carroll, accompanied by guitarist Paul Meehan, is typically ebullient on Anlon
McKinney’s/Mind the Dresser and rather more reflective, as the title
might suggest, on her second outing, the moody Long Nights on the Misty Moor.
Other Irish bands present include
Calico who kick the whole affair off with their sprightly Songdogs set
while North Cregg head for polka heaven on Pete Bradley’s. Seán Tyrrell
also adds one of his most cogent song interpretations, The Coast of Malabar.
Those
who might have wondered what happened to Nicolas Quemener after the demise of
Arcady will find him in suitably fine voice as part of the Breton band Kornog’s
rendition of Dame Lombarde while lovers of the flute will enjoy
Jean-Michel Veillon’s role in the same
band’s La Belle Elénore/Les Filles de Saille. Lastly, there’s the
Foghorn String Band laying into Indian Ate the Woodchuck with full
bluegrass fervour, though perhaps the band’s rendition of Golden Slippers
might be regarded as an aberration.
All told, it’s a grand compilation, so it’s sad to report that the very brief liner has clearly not been proofread. Indeed, some of the errors pay the musicians a major disservice since the track listing reports that each of the following participated: “Dermot McGloughlin”; “Sean Tyrell”; and, “Forhorn String Band”. The title of the Altan song is misspelt and I also have my doubts whether Liz Carroll’s “Anlon” is actually “Anton McKinney’s”! Nevertheless, don’t let that be a deterrent, although anyone looking to book “Dermot McGloughlin” should pay heed.
Oh,
and there’s also a hidden track which sounds from the voices very much like the
Altan gang enjoying the crack and features the somewhat rudimentary fiddling of
Mr Declan McCarthy himself.
Geoff Wallis
13th
July, 2004
The
album is available directly from the bar and is from www.fiddlefair.com.