Those of you in and around Germany should certainly look out for the "Irish Folk Festival '01" tour - the line-up is stunning, even though some of the names aren't too well known.

Two and a half of the four "acts" we know from personal experience; the other act and a half we can only judge from the Tour CD - which we bought on Friday and haven't stopped playing since. The line-up is:

Flook: Stunning flutes and whistles underpinned by bodhran and guitar; "the second best band in the world" (after Bottine), IMO. Imagination, sensitivity, drive, originality . . they've got it all . .

DEZI DONNELLY & EAMON Mc ELHOLM: Dezi's fiddle is amazing, and it's well supported by Eamon's guitar - although I have to say Eamon's singing does nothing for me (mid-Atlantic singer-songwriter stuff) and is the only disappointment on the CD.

KEVIN ROWSOME & LORRAINE HICKEY: Kevin is the grandson of master piper Leon, and is the finest and most sensitive Uillean piper I've heard . . Lorraine (his wife) give excellent support on fiddle. We heard them at Sidmouth and were bowled over . . (actually we trailed round after them for the rest of the festival . . )

NA DÓRSA: These are the ones I only know from the Tour CD - a very fine, tight, fairly traditional Irish band - but when their singer starts - they move into a different realm. A delightful voice, and the band's song arrangements are magnificent . .

More details at http://www.irishfolkfestival.de/ (sorry, no time to look up how to "blue clicky" it!!

Also - this is my last post to Mudcat, at least for now. Our office and this connection are about to be shut down.

Should you wish to contact me you can do so at:

george.hawes@orange.net

Regards to all . . and many thanks for many things!

George