Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer

Subject: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 03 Apr 25 - 06:09 PM

A wonderful programme on BBC iplayer about the 50 year get together of the Bothy Band. They are as good as ever.

An excellent interview with Paul Brady as well.

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 03 Apr 25 - 06:21 PM

Cheers. Be assured that I shall seek it out post haste!

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 03 Apr 25 - 06:36 PM

Here's a link to it:

An Bothy Band

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: gillymor
Date: 05 Apr 25 - 01:21 PM

Doesn't seem to be available in US yet.
Here are some bits on YT-

The Green Groves of Erin/ The Flowers of Red Hill

The Pipe on the Hob/The Hag at the Churn

Just as exciting as ever.

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 05 Apr 25 - 04:43 PM

It has been available worldwide on Tg4 for about a year:

An Bothy Band Tg4

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Apr 25 - 06:15 PM

Without the Bothies and Planxty firing me up (oh, and Jacky Daly's Music from Sliabh Luachra Vol. 6 album), I would never have got involved in traditional music. This programme is an absolute treat, and I don't mind admitting that it provoked the occasional tear in the eye. Wonderful. Do not miss!

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 07 Apr 25 - 05:58 AM

It was a nice wallow in nostalgia and great to see them at it for perhaps one last time.

I saw the programme just over a year ago when it first aired and revisited a few times in the months after it. I posted about it elsewhere at the time. I have mixed feelings about the reunion business although I readily admit to seeing the reunions of Planxty, both in 1979 and the one during the noughties. I saw Noel Hill and Tony Linnane regroup a few timnes after their break, with and without Alec Finn. Jackie Daly brought Seamus Creagh one night where we usually played for dancers and Tom Munnelly said it was like the Beatles getting back together for the night. Jackie also joined Kevin Burke one night here in town and most recently I saw Buttons and Bows come together again. I even saw the Castle Ceili Band reassemble a few times.   And I loved all of it, seeing the chemistry and the joy of the musicians to play together again. And that sweet nostagia for a time when it was all new and exciting.

With that in mind I wrote elsewhere at the time I would go see the Bothies when given half a chance if they came within spitting distance. The promised, and cancelled, series in the national Concert Hall in Dublin I had to let go of, it would have been too costly to go. I think there were more appearances scheduled for the University concert hall in Limerick and I had my eyes on that but it all became moot when further concerts were cancelled. It's now become unlikely they will ever appear again.

Not getting to see them will be a regret, I had tickets to see them in 1977/78 or so but with the audience seated in the hall it was announced they were stuck in customs at Europort and wouldn't be able to make it. Meh.

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Apr 25 - 07:26 PM

Lovely post, Peter, reminding me of some of the musicians who really inspired me. I have lots of CDs of the acts you mentioned, gathering dust somewhat these days, but which I'm now moved to resurrect. I guess I'm living in the wrong country!

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 06:41 AM

Location plays a part, Steve. I suppose if you lived where I live you'd be out every weekend to listen to or play with Jackie.

Saw Sweeney's Men as well some five years ago, that was great too.

Age and health of the musicians will make reunions of that generation of bands increasingly rare though.

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 10:40 AM

Adding to that bit in the previous post: at least Donal Lunny received lifetime achievement award last month at RTE's folk awards.

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: GUEST,P
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 01:00 PM

[Thx for clearing the spellchecker foul up]

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 01:32 PM

Have watched the first half of the programme, and loved it: must go back and hear the 2nd half. I missed their reunion gig at Celtic Connections (Jan 2024?) but did enjoy a workshop with Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch at Sidmouth Folk Festival in 2022: still playing the tunes they taught us!

Subject: RE: Review: The Bothy Band on BBC iplayer
From: Hagman
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 07:44 PM

Love the bit when Paddy Keenan says, "Ah, me bag is leakin'. Has anybody got a socket wrench in their car?"