Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 10:36 AM

Andy has put his own tunes - and lyrics too - to several sets of traditional words, including The Two Sisters and The Plains of Kildare - new words and music by Andy Irvine to Stewball and the Monaghan Grey Mare.

They'll Never Believe it's True from Way Out Yonder; "This was meant to be a song called 'The Two Sisters' that I found in a Cecil Sharp collection many years ago. I'd always been a bit irked that some people, who recorded it subsequently, had seemingly not known that the tune - and some of the words - were mine."

His remaining tour dates are;

09/Oct/10 Universal Hall, Findhorn Foundation, The Park, Forres, Findhorn, IV36 3TZ.
10/Oct/10 JMS Concerts, Fraser Centre, Douglas Street, Milngavie
11/Oct/10 Stirling Folk Club, Stirling County Rugby Football Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Causeway Head Road, Stirling
13/Oct/10 Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, Edinburgh.

Then back in England;

14/Oct/10 Old Laundry Theatre, Crag Brow, Bowness on Windermere, LA23 3BX.
15/Oct/10 Reeth District Memorial Hall, Arkengarthdale Road, Reeth
16/Oct/10 and 17/Oct/10 Rodewald Suite, Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP.
18/Oct/10 Four Fools Folk Club, The Crown, Worthington, Standish, Wigan.

19/Oct/10 Amberley Folk Club, The Black Horse Inn, High Street, Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9NL.
20/Oct/10 Warthog Promotions, The Old Ship Inn, Main Street. Lowdham, Nottinghamshire
21/Oct/10 Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8EE.
22/Oct/10 Unicorn Folk Club, The Bradford Arms, Ivetsey Bank, Wheaton Aston ST19 9QT.
23/Oct/10 Acoustic Routes, Cambridge

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 06:04 AM

Saw him on Thursday night in Plockton on the west coast of Scotland. He was in great form, - "Willie Of Winsbury" was mentioned. A fine mix of traditional, original and recent songs by other writers. Hadn't seen him in years, and really enjoyed it. He also came in to the "Plockton School Of Excellence In Traditional Music", spoke about his music to the students, and played a few songs, so fair play to him for that.

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: GUEST,guest - Jim Younger
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 05:41 AM

Maybe the 'Willie' problem stems from the old story that Andy Irvine was looking into Bronson (Tunes to the Child Ballad) for a tune to WoW and picked the 'wrong' one by happy accident. This might have been mentioned in the sleeve notes (by Mick Moloney) to the first Sweeny's Men album - I don't have it to hand so I can't check. However, if others picked it up from such a source, then they can't be blamed for taking the statement at face value. I never heard that he wrote it himself - but of course he may well have done, and not wanted to claim the credit at the time, although I can't think of any reason why this might be, other than the reluctance of some folksingers to admit to 'tampering' with the tradition. But choosing the 'wrong' tune is tampering too, so it can't be that ... can it?

Anyway, the marriage of tune and the words, as recorded on the first Sweeny's, are Andy Irvine's inspired work ( whether deliberate or accidental) and I can see why he might be miffed at people not acknowledging him as the source.

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: Colin Randall
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 05:01 AM

Are you are lurking Mag by any chance, Dave?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 04:54 AM

If he already had a stinking cold why would he want to inflict further misery by going to watch Sunderland?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 02:58 AM

If I read the review correctly, Andy claims to have written the tune and is annoyed about not being given the credit by a number of artists who have recorded it.

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:30 PM

Yes, I know the song - but why would Andy be cross about it?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 03:59 PM

Aye, whit is it wi wimmen and Willies?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: Continuity Jones
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 03:49 PM

What Willie o' Winsbury problem?


Well basically, the king had been a prisoner a long time over in Spain, and Willie o' Winsbury had lain with his daughter at hame.

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 03:20 PM

What Willie o' Winsbury problem?

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: buddhuu
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 12:25 PM

Andy's brilliant. Recently saw him twice in the space of a month. Excellent both times.

Subject: RE: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 12:15 PM

Saw him last Monday, and he was nearly over his cold. He did a fantastic set, most of which I have on film.
He mentioned the Willie O' Winsbury problemagain, so he's obviously cross about it.
Can I also add another recording of it, to the list?
It was also recorded by Derek and Hazel Serjeant, can't remember the name of the album it was on though. I have 3 of theirs and it's not on them.

Subject: Review: What is Andy Irvine like at 68?
From: Colin Randall
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 09:44 AM

Well, the answer may depend on whether he has a stonking cold.

He battled heroically to overcome one at the Davy Lamp in Washington, if my pal Pete Sixsmith's review is to be trusted.

Bonnie Shaljean has been kind enough recently to commend Pete's live reviews - not something he has done much of -   as refreshingly detailed and from the heart, and I'd like to think more people would appreciate seeing this one than would otherwise have been the case.