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The Best Guitarist in Dublin

23 Jun 08 - 06:36 PM (#2372819)
Subject: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Murray MacLeod

not my opinion, but the title of the YouTube video featuring the remarkable Niall Lawlor, street musician extraordinaire.

how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ?

he busks on Grafton Street, after all.

anyway, savour his unique talents on This video

Jeff Healy meets Jerry Douglas imo ...


23 Jun 08 - 07:03 PM (#2372838)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: skarpi

he´s good but , your question , is it for folk , hillybilly or country ?

if it is for folk , well then he´s not the best .
hillybilly heard them better .
country heard them better ,



but thats me :>)

ATB Skarpi Iceland


23 Jun 08 - 08:10 PM (#2372887)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan

I've seen this guy busking in Grafton Street and he is very good.

Whether he's the best around is a debatable subject. There's some very good competition out there.


24 Jun 08 - 12:04 PM (#2373322)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Zen

Yes he's certainly very good indeed but I'd need to hear the contenders to say whether he's the best!

Zen


24 Jun 08 - 12:38 PM (#2373346)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gedpipes

...what does best mean- fecking stupid question


25 Jun 08 - 04:47 AM (#2373825)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean

I think he's stunning (haven't seen him live, but the clip makes me want to). Pity about the thread title because discussion of that meaningless word "best" has overshadowed discussion of Niall's fine talent. Murray did say, "not my opinion, but the title of the YouTube video" - and in the column to the right on that page there are a half dozen other "best" guitarists. It's only ever going to be a matter of personal taste, not worth debating. It might have been better if whoever posted that video had labelled it "my favourite guitarist" or something that can't be argued. Calling anyone The Best usually does them no favours.

Anyway, thanks Murray for bringing him to our attention. He certainly deserves wider recognition. I notice also from the comments that people who know him seem to say what a great guy he is. Has a CD out, apparently. Certainly what I saw here (wish the sound had been clearer) would entice me to listen further. Hope he'll manage to mosey down to The People's Republic* one day.


*Cork


25 Jun 08 - 10:52 AM (#2373970)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver

He has (or had) a residency in Whelan's in Aungier Street on, I think, Sunday evenings--I'll check next time I'm passing. He has a myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/nclawlor .

He's good, but as someone said, what does "best" mean? There are a lot of good guitarists in Dublin.

Don


25 Jun 08 - 11:24 AM (#2373994)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Big Al Whittle

Talking of great jazz guitarists from Ireland, do any of you guys over there see Louis Stewart at all?


25 Jun 08 - 12:40 PM (#2374048)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Geoff Wallis

Yep, I've seen Louis on several occasions over the last few years. He used to have a regular Sunday lunchtime spot at the Herbert Park Hotel, but that's not happened for a while. Considering his age, he now seems to play just the occasional gig in the city.

He does have a website, http://www.louisstewart.net, but it isn't particularly helpful.


28 Jun 08 - 12:10 AM (#2376000)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver

I called by Whelan's and sure enough Niall plays there every Sunday from 8:30 PM. I'd go there but I'm playing somewhere else that evening.

Cheers, Don


28 Jun 08 - 12:21 PM (#2376175)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Big Tim

What about Philip Chevron?


28 Jun 08 - 08:27 PM (#2376398)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan

I don't know what Philip is up to these days. I remember Phil Ryan when he was a school mate of mine, although a bit older than me.

Prior to Jimmy Faulkner's passing earlier this year, I don't think there was much doubt in my mind about who the best was. As Gedpipes says its a stupid question - Niall is great. Let's just acknowledge him for that.


29 Jun 08 - 03:14 AM (#2376533)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Murray MacLeod

What exactly is the stupid question that has been asked ?


I asked in the opening post, " how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ? "

Is that a stupid question ?


29 Jun 08 - 04:23 AM (#2376542)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: GUEST

The Stupid question Murray, and don't be offended, is
what does 'best' mean. and I didn't say 'stupid question' I said fecking stupid question.


29 Jun 08 - 04:37 AM (#2376543)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean

Murray, try PM-ing Joe Offer or one of the other clones and asking them to PLEASE change the title to "Great guitarist in Dublin" or something, before this thread goes west entirely. It's sparked some interesting input and I would hate to see it go down in flames.

"How come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention" is a perfectly valid question, and this Irish Mudcatter didn't because she had never heard of Niall. Now I have, and it's my gain. So get onto Joe -


29 Jun 08 - 05:17 AM (#2376550)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Declan

No offence intended on my part.

It might be a good idea to change the thread title, but it might be confusing for people reading it later on.


29 Jun 08 - 05:21 AM (#2376551)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Bonnie Shaljean

Didn't mean you, Declan -


29 Jun 08 - 06:24 AM (#2376567)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Lowden Jameswright

Technically he's brilliant - but sometimes less is more.


29 Jun 08 - 06:39 AM (#2376574)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Betsy

Not my cup of tea


29 Jun 08 - 08:33 PM (#2376994)
Subject: RE: The Best Guitarist in Dublin
From: Gulliver

how come none of our Irish Mudcatters have brought this remarkable talent to our attention ?

If we were to bring every remarkable talent in Dublin to Mudcat's attention we'd be here till the cows came home...

I heard him still playing in Whelan's tonight as I returned home from my session. By then I was all music-ed out, so I didn't stop.

Don