Alice - thank you for the nice compliment and adding the link. I never could figure out how to add a link here!

After posting a few notes about the Joe Heaney show I have received so many nice comments on here, through e-mail, and other newsgroups. In my 25+ years with WFDU I never have enjoyed putting a special together as much as this one. The comments from my guests and the ones I have received have been so positive about the music Joe believed so strongly in. Whether you are a fan of sean nos or not, I think there are some themes that came across that are fitting for anyone who is interested in traditional music.

One of the themes we discuss is the fact that sean nos wasn't popular at the time, and still only has limited appeal. If I learned anything from producing this special it is the message that Joe got tried to teach - one has to be true to their own voice and to honor the song. You don't need a bunch of instruments to do that. I think that is the problem I have with many of the singer-songwhiners of today. So much time is spent on production in the studio that the song becomes secondary. Joe was booed off the stage by audiences that didn't understand what he was singing. Joe never blinked, he remained true to the song.

Ron