RTE Folk Awards 2018

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 30 Oct 19 - 12:27 PM

One of the funniest bits on the tv broadcast (RTE 1) was Margaret Barry being recalled as hitting someone who called her a disgrace to the Irish nation over the head with her banjo!

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 19 - 01:01 PM

Spend a bit of time in out in the sunlight, you'll be amazed.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 19 - 12:51 PM

"But a folk award would be like someone receiving an award for the amount of freckles on their body."
Doesn't matter how much time I spend practicing, I just cannot seem to increase the number of freckles on my body.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Stringsinger
Date: 28 Oct 19 - 12:48 PM

Jim is right of course. Traditional folk music was never meant to be competitive.
Folk Star is an oxymoron. The Folk Awards speak to a penchant for celebrity which negates the entire meaning of traditional folk music.

It's as meaningful as a competition to grow the largest tomato.

That said, I am happy that a fine musician like Andy Irvine is being recognized for his achievements.

But a folk award would be like someone receiving an award for the amount of freckles on their body.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 19 - 04:16 PM

Can a mod remove the troll post at 27 Oct 19 - 04:28 AM . Please?

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 27 Oct 19 - 04:06 PM

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2019 - The Winners

Best Original Folk Track: Rock the Machine – Lisa O'Neill
Best Emerging Folk Act: Saint Sister
Best Folk Instrumentalist: Zoë Conway
Best Traditional Folk Track: The Foggy Dew – Ye Vagabonds
Best Folk Singer: Iarla Ó Lionáird
Best Folk Group: Ye Vagabonds
Best Folk Album: The Hare’s Lament – Ye Vagabonds
Lifetime Achievement: Moya Brennan*
Hall of Fame: Margaret Barry

*Clannad have announced their farewell tour.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 27 Oct 19 - 02:56 AM

Andy Irvine's award was last year wasn't it? The whole thing passed me by almost completely but I did see in the news Moya Brennan got the lifetime award for 2019.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: matt milton
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 06:49 PM

End of the day, awards are a good thing if you happen to think the right people are winning them. End of story.

Can't argue with Lankum winning best group, Radie Peat (a member of Lankum) winning best singer. Or a lifetime achievement going to Andy Irvine.

I think Lankum are great. I think Andy Irvine has been and continues to be great.
All the rest I have little opinion about.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 06:38 PM

Marked similarities between RTE and BBC awardees.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 02:19 PM

Daren't look whose been awarded
I hate CCE competitions - I fear these
Jim

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 01:43 PM

No mention on Mudcat of the 2019 installment then?

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Thompson
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 05:46 PM

Hmm, should there only be a couple of literary awards, then, not all the different ones from the Booker to the Irish Times and so on?

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,CJ
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 01:47 PM

Lankum are great. Live they have a real power. And Radie Peat's voice is something else. If any one is suggesting she sounds American then they've not heard her. Or not heard an American. And Lisa O'Neill too - there's no American sounding anywhere near like her.


Lisa O Neill and Radie Peat

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 12:55 PM

Not really anything to do with the "Folk Awards", but I've been hearing all this crap about "CDs being finished" for the last 10 years.
Congratulations to "Breabach" on the release today of their latest CD "Frenzy Of The Meeting". Some great music on it.
I also just received today my copy of "Back To The Island", the new CD from Matt Molloy, his first solo recording since "Shadows Of Stone" nearly 20 years ago. It is excellent, and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in a) - Irish traditional music and b)- any kind of flute-playing.
I'll be surprised if this CD isn't featuring in Irish awards next year.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Johnny J
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 11:25 AM

"First of all, CD, Albums etc., are done, over, gone, finished."

They certainly aren't as far as our music is concerned. There's always CDs for sale by visiting guests at folk clubs and usually at most of the concerts I attend.

Of course, there's not much money in it now for the artists although I'm sure they get a bigger return from CD etc sales at gigs than they will from streaming sites etc.

I also convert my music to MP3 but it's still good to retain the original "hard copy". I've also got several hundred CDs, vinyl, cassettes, mini disc recordings with which i have no intention of parting. It's too big a job to transfer all of them to MP3s but many are now available to "stream" and I can still convert whichever albums I want as and when I need to do so.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 06:06 AM

I think giving recognition to musicians is a good thing and Andy Irvine well deserves his lifetime achievement award. At the same time I try to imagine what Tom Munnelly would have said to his elevation into the Hall of Fame.


In fairness though, with regards to my earlier comments about this appearing confused: I saw some rehearsal footage on the RTE news last night and that was thoroughly, unmistakably 'folky'.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 05:29 AM

"First of all, CD, Albums etc., are done, over, gone, finished."
Bollocks. There are currently 5.9 million CDs up for sale on eBay, and that's mainly the second-hand re-sale market. Explain that.
At least 5 of the winners above have released CDs this year - [although of course, they are also available as downloads ].

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 05:12 AM

There has been an incredible change in the fortunes of Irish traditional music which has now guaranteed it at least a two-generation future
This is due largely to the hard work of a a handful of devotees and often has been in spit of disinterest and often hostility of the mainstream media, who often referred to it contemptuously as "diddly-di music"
While any serious attention to traditional music is to be welcomed, it would be a crying shame to see it flounder on the rocks of media glitz - a serious danger, as we learned from the 'Folk Boom' in Britain.
I'm never sure about 'prizes', they are too much like competitions
Traditional music should be for everybody, not just winners - winning should not be allowed to be an objective
If it does, it will become like a certain unnamed musical organisition and have "a great future behind it!!"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 26 Oct 18 - 04:42 AM

Nevertheless, there is an environment in Ireland which encourages young people to take up traditional singing, playing and dancing.

RTE gives tremendous support to traditional arts. I don't think you can blame RTE for the aspects that don't appeal to you.

And well done, Andy Irvine. You have made a fantastic contribution to both traditional and contemporary music. You weren't restricted by national boundaries either. Never tire of the road!

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: j0_77
Date: 25 Oct 18 - 07:44 PM

Interesting to note that RTE is so far into the trees it has completely missed the forest!

First of all, CD, Albums etc., are done, over, gone, finished. Everybody I know who had collections have converted to MP3, including myself.

Secondly, discriminating aural art collectors go for 'tracks' not bulky heaps of files/ usedtobe CDs etc.

Thirdly, today Folk music is a backdrop the to big picture, the visual, because it is not music that is selling, rather, and not surprisingly, it is video! See YouTube for more data.

Lastly Irish Folk-song today sounds to me too like English did 40 years ago, the same arrangements, and, most confirming of laziness among performers, actual English folk songs as well. What really grinds my gears is that the originals - Maddy Prior/Martin Carthy etc - are far better than the rubbish these geniuses are shoving on the market.

Also, that Irish female singers trying to sound like American is so corny, so stupid that I cringe when they light up! Look! in Ireland you do not live in a climate like ours, you do not live in an American landscape, you do not have even a minuscule bit of what the American life is like, Go sound like yourself in your own accent, with your own singing voice, and your Irish home made tunes and for heaven's sake stop whining like some Colorado hoe busking on the sidewalk.

Finally I find nothing more depressing than some washed up artiste pressuring me with e-come-ons to buy his/her CD. If Irish artists want to impress,how about stop copying American/English style and do their own, like it was back when Irish folk music was original and exciting.

Maureen McCauly / Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh - has it right! The rest of them ....yawn

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 25 Oct 18 - 06:52 PM

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - The Winners

BEST FOLK SINGER Radie Peat
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK Bean Dubh A’ Ghleanna - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST Martin Hayes
HALL OF FAME Tom Munnelly
HALL OF FAME John Reilly
BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK Along the Western Seaboard - Declan O'Rourke
BEST FOLK ALBUM Haven We Banjo 3
BEST EMERGING FOLK ARTIST Emma Langford
BEST FOLK GROUP Lankum
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Andy Irvine

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 11:10 AM

I agree with Peter Laban & Johnny J.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 09:37 AM

Perhaps the notion that someone in RTE#s light entertainment division came up with the thought 'well, it works for the BBC, let's have a go at folk awards' and apparently implemented it without a clear vision is what makes the whole thing feel so wrong.

I am not one for competitions and award thingies but in fairness, TG4's Gradam has consistently given recognition to musicians who well deserved it and fair play to Andy Irvine for getting a lifetime achievement in this one but 'folk awards' reeks of confusion and something cobbled together on the fly.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Knockroe
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 09:05 AM

I agree with Pater Laban & Johnny J. The RTE folk awards, judging by nominees list, is blurring "difference" between folk and traditional music. TG4s Gradam Ceoil serves the traditional scene fairly well. Oddly, the BBC Radio 2 folk awards seems to fit for the UK, even though that has become too Hollywoodish lately. As you might gather, I am not a great fan of music awards thingies.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 08:01 AM

This can easily descent into a discussion on where to pigeonhole a particular musician, best avoid that.

I agree there may be grey areas and some musicians/singers will straddle the two areas but most names in the instrumentalist category that would not come to mind when thinking of 'folk' musicians.

It's silly stuff.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: Johnny J
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 07:37 AM

Peter and Kenny,

Those were my thoughts too.

If I recall, there always used to be separate categories for "folk" and "traditional" in some Irish awards and in yearly choices in publications such as "Irish Music magazine".

Of course, some musicians and singers have always overlapped to a certain extent. e.g. Andy Invine for one.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 07:26 AM

I had thought exactly the same, Peter. The only thing about the list above is that it gives me some new names to check out.
Would Iarla O'Lionard really regard himself as a "folk" singer ? Or any of the instrumentalists as "folk" musicians ? Ireland doesn't need the "f" word at all , in my opinion.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 07:09 AM

I am not quite sure what RTE is trying to do with this.

I always felt Ireland maintained a distinction between the terms 'traditional' and 'folk' music. The selection of nominees seems to blur the line between the two to a great extend.

FWIW, there is already a longstanding, and reasonably highly regarded, award scheme for traditional music, the Gradam Ceoil. Some of the nominees for the 'folk' award would be more at home there.

The whole thing seems confused.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 05:38 AM

In advance of this year's inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, RTÉ present a series of features exploring the myriad strands of the Irish folk tradition...

Listen: The Road Well Travelled - Niamh Dunne's folk family
Updated / Tuesday, 23 Oct 2018 10:28
Listen The Road Well Travelled

Niamh Dunne hails from Co. Limerick, and is better known as the fiddler in Beoga, Ed Sheeran's favourite Irish band. In The Road Less Travelled, Niamh delves into her musical heritage alongside her father piper Mickey Dunne. Her grand-uncles The Blind Dunne Brothers were very popular travelling musicians who toured Ireland in the 50's and 60's, and for the first time Niamh takes a closer look at her rich family history.

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 05:30 AM

NOMINEES

BEST FOLK SINGER
• Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
• Iarla Ó Lionáird
• Radie Peat
• Declan O'Rourke
• Lisa O'Neill

BEST EMERGING FOLK ARTIST
• Emma Langford
• Niall Hanna
• Navá
• David Keenan
• Ye Vagabonds

BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST
• Zoë Conway
• Seamie O'Dowd
• Cormac Begley
• Martin Hayes
• Colm Mac Con Iomaire
• Liam O'Connor

BEST FOLK GROUP
• The Whileaways
• Beoga
• Ye Vagabonds
• The Lost Brothers
• Lankum
• The Gloaming

Subject: RE: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 23 Oct 18 - 06:02 PM

NOMINEES

BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK
• The Autumn Winds - Niall Hanna
• Déanta in Éireann - Lankum
• Rosaleen - Mick Flannery
• Along the Western Seaboard - Declan O'Rourke
• The Granite Gaze - Lankum

BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK
• Cucanandy - The Gloaming
• Bean Dubh A’ Ghleanna - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
• What Will We Do When We Have No Money? - Lankum
• Lowlands of Holland - Ye Vagabonds
• The Bonny Light Horseman - Lúnasa and Natalie Merchant

BEST FOLK ALBUM - voted for by the public
• Foxglove & Fuschia - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
• The Curious Hand - Seamus Fogarty
• From What We're Made - The Whileaways
• Ye Vagabonds - Ye Vagabonds
• The Gap of Dreams - Altan
• Halfway Towards a Healing - The Lost Brothers
• Between the Earth and Sky - Lankum
• Magnificent Birds - Hedge Schools
• Haven - We Banjo 3
• The Thomas Moore Project - Eleanor McEvoy

Subject: RTE Folk Awards 2018
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 22 Oct 18 - 07:51 AM

The inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards will take place in Vicar Street in Dublin on 25th October 2018. The event will be hosted by presenters Ruth Smith and John Creedon and broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1. In addition, RTÉ Radio 1 are producing five separate folk music features.

RTE Folk

Performing on the night: Saint Sister, Lankum, Andy Irvine,
Landless, The Whileaways, Christy Moore, Iarla O'Lionard, Daoiri Farrell, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Eleanor Shanley, The Lost Brothers, Steo Wall, Slow Moving Clouds

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Congratulations to Andy Irvine!