To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=81237
42 messages

Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival

16 May 05 - 08:40 AM (#1485971)
Subject: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival, August 5th - 7th 2005, Lions Harbour Park, West Street, Goderich Ontario Canada.

Performers from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, USA, Quebec, Ontario, and both the east and west coast of Canada. Also craft artistry, vendors, demonstrations, workshops, children's crafts and activities, dance, storytelling, and food.

Preceded by the Celtic College and Celtic Kids Day Camp.

More information available at the website: www.celticfestival.ca
Email: celticfestival@cabletv.on.ca
Phone: 519-524-8221

A sample of performers: Sean Keane Band, Janet Harbison, Mixolydia, Stuart Cassells Band, Anna Massie Band, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, bohola, Genticorum, The Wailin' Jennys, Kendra MacGillivray Band, Anne Lindsay Band, Heather Dale, Kerrykeel.

I expect to be in instrument security again this year, so if you're in the area, drop by and say hello.

Peace, Mooh.


16 May 05 - 10:28 AM (#1486002)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: JohnB

What game on, you missed out Crucible. Memebers of which group contribute to Mudcat threads at times. I will still be there anyhow.
JohnB


16 May 05 - 10:44 AM (#1486011)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Charmion

Health and jobs permitting -- and we both have signed leave passes for the first week of August -- Edmund and I will be in Goderich for both College and festival.


16 May 05 - 01:09 PM (#1486075)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

JohnB...I missed several groups including Crucible (who I REALLY like), Ecosse, Emily Smith Band, Andy Webster...Mooh.


18 May 05 - 02:40 PM (#1487408)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

The Celtic College runs August 1st - 4th, with courses in craft, culture, dance, language, and various "celtic" instruments. It is located at the local high school just a few blocks from the festival site and downtown. Goderich being a small townm nothing is very far away.

The Celtic Kids Day Camp runs August 1st - 5th in 3 age divisions (4-6, 7-9, 10-12) and features music, drama, dance, storytelling, crafts, and outdoor activities. It is located at a local elementary school, just a few blocks from the festival site, downtown, and only a block from the Celtic College site.

Thanks to those who asked about this.

Peace, Mooh.


16 Jun 05 - 01:29 PM (#1502328)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

Refresh...Thought I'd bring back this reminder since it has been a month. I'll be the College week in Instrument Repair. Maybe I'll go dig up something to fix.

Yup, Crucible will be there for the festival, Ecosse, Andy Webster, Gilles Roy & Steeping Ambassadors, etc.

Peace, Mooh.


08 Jul 05 - 05:10 PM (#1518345)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

bump


08 Jul 05 - 09:02 PM (#1518536)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: IvanB

Mooh, I managed to miss you last year but will try again to look you up this year. We've plans to arrive in Goderich Friday the 29th so we can attend Piping Down the Sun, then will run up to Kincardine Sat for the pipe parade and mini-concert. Then a glorious week of learning, singing and just good fun with a bunch of great people. This will be our only festival this year since we're saving for a month in the UK in Sept/Oct, so we're eagerly looking forward to the week.


09 Jul 05 - 10:36 AM (#1518913)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: CET

I think if there was only one musical event you could attend, this would be the one. This Festival favours traditional music, but there's nothing holier than thou about it and you do hear some contemporary music as well. If you can be there for the College during the week, so much the better. Goderich is a small town, but the talent is world class.

Edmund


09 Jul 05 - 01:22 PM (#1519007)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Phil Cooper

Kate and I may come up Friday to say howdy. We have a festival gig back here on Sunday, so can't stay the whole weekend.


09 Jul 05 - 07:40 PM (#1519201)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Jeremiah McCaw

Mooh - ya think you should tell folks about the double sunset thing?
I didn't know about it until after the 2nd time I'd been at the Celtic College.


09 Jul 05 - 09:44 PM (#1519249)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: GUEST,Mooh Up North

Phil...We'll miss Margaret, but take whoever we can. Hope you'll stay with us! The kids have been asking after you too.

Jermiah...Good idea. The sun sets twice in Goderich, once from the beach, and once from the top of the bluff overlooking the beach. But you gotta move fast or you miss the second one, so no stopping at the pub conveniently situated en route. By the way, do you have relatives in Goderich?

Edmund...We should be paying you to do our publicity! Thanks!

IvanB...That piping down of the sun is a cool new tradition (I like that, "new tradition") created by (I assume) the Celtic Blue Highlanders, the local pipe band. It's great publicity for themselves and the town, and a wonderful social atmosphere at the beach.

Peace, Mooh.


09 Jul 05 - 11:12 PM (#1519287)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Phil Cooper

Tell the kids we're fine. I'll keep you posted on what is going on.


18 Jul 05 - 08:36 PM (#1523761)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

bump... Got nothing to say, just want this up top. Mooh.


19 Jul 05 - 10:02 AM (#1523931)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: IvanB

To add on to CET's comments about Celtic College, I'd say that being in Goderich during the week of CC would be worth it even if one wasn't attending the college. There are sessions and singarounds galore in the evenings and the abundance of like minded people around the town seems to make gatherings spring up almost anywhere. And, as Edmund also said, the definition of "Celtic" seems to be all-inclusive during that week.


28 Jul 05 - 08:53 PM (#1530763)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

One last bump as I'll be absent from here until after it's over. Thanks for looking in!

Peace, Mooh.


07 Aug 05 - 06:43 PM (#1537118)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: GUEST


08 Aug 05 - 07:19 AM (#1537421)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

Thanks to everyone who dropped by to say hello, it's so cool to me when the world gets smaller. Sorry I was so distracted by events. It's so much better to actually hear the voices one reads here all the time, and to put a face to the words and voice.


So, anyone have personal favourites among the performers? Crucible, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan for me, but it's hard to choose.

Peace, Mooh.


08 Aug 05 - 10:39 AM (#1537583)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: JohnB

I totally forgot all about coming over to find Mooh again. The trouble I have at Goderich I seem to know so many people there that it takes at least half an hour to get from stage to stage or even to the washroom.
I will try harder next year.
Personal favourites, totally agree with your choices. It is difficult though with so many brilliant musicians around there.
JohnB


08 Aug 05 - 07:20 PM (#1538016)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

No sweat JohnB.

For whatever reason, there's never enough English music at festivals for my liking, but Crucible sure fills the bill. Saw them perform four times this past week. I've discovered English pipes are my favourite pipes so a-Googling we go.

Peace, Mooh.


08 Aug 05 - 08:29 PM (#1538068)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

Jess (of Crucible) asked me to sing the song I led at the song circle into her tape machine - what an honour!

Mooh, please tell Mrs. Mooh that I had 2 separate terrible migraines on the way home from Goderich, and Mr. Black Walnut was able to help me through the first one in Sebringville, but that during the second one, I was hiding in a dark corner of a McDonalds restaurant, trying to recover from the migraine, whilst Mr. Black Walnut was driving my harps and keyboard back to Toronto in another car, trying to keep them out of the baking heat of the sun, and into McDonalds walked 2 Celtic Festivalers from Peterborough, who rescued me - one of them drove me and my car from Kitchener to Toronto! So I got home safe and sound. What a ride.

Other than that......Wonderful college. Wonderful festival. Wonderful volunteers. Wonderful bed and breakfast. Wonderful town.

~b.w.

P.S. I liked so much of the music, but probably especially Crucible, and the Wailin' Jennys, and Janet Harbison, and the McDades (Jeremiah, and their throat singing drummer!), and the Anne Massie band, and the Emily Smith band, and of course Nancy and James, and the college concerts, and Jean Mills' accordion T shirt, and the beach, and the sunsets, and the stars, and The Bean, and ....... I'm getting off topic, aren't I.


08 Aug 05 - 08:31 PM (#1538070)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

I meant to spell it Anna Massie band. Sorry Anna.

~b.w.


08 Aug 05 - 08:35 PM (#1538071)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: IvanB

I DID remember to look up Mooh this year and, after many questions of "what's Mudcat?" and "WHO are you looking for?" we managed to have a short chat. I agree with Crucible and Kerr and Fagan as favorites although I have to give credit to Brian McNeill for making my wife a groupie when she professes not to even like folk music - and I enjoy his music as well. I took both Brian's Scottish music class and Nancy's and James' harmony class, so I might be a little biased.

I also thought Goderich's own acquitted themselves well in their Sunday performance on the North stage. I found both the selection of tunes and songs and their performance quite well done.


08 Aug 05 - 08:38 PM (#1538074)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

IvanB...which vocal harmony class were you in? I was in the one after lunch.

~b.w.


08 Aug 05 - 11:28 PM (#1538134)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Phil Cooper

Kate and I had a great time there on Friday. Thanks, as always for the hospitality. We got back to Chicago in plenty of time to pick up Margaret and make it to the Lake County Folk Festival back home. Great to see all of you. Rosie the wonder dog and Boots the cat are great companions.

--Phil


09 Aug 05 - 08:12 AM (#1538352)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

black walnut...We're very happy you eventually found your way home, Tami had fretted about your predicament, trying to put things right for you. Hope your head is clearer now! Glad we had the time to chat at the Livery.

IvanB...Thanks for the kind words about Goderich's own. We love to play our own festival of course, but given everyone's involvement it's very difficult to be calm, cool, and collected, and we virtually never practice enough to be prepared. It was very good to see you!

Phil...Hope you weren't too tired by the time you made it to the next show. Thanks again for the visit and the gift. The youngest, who's become quite the little decorator, was especially tickled.

Yesterday was nuts. Spent hours tidying up my own music and instrument stuff, the festival instrument lock-up stuff, catching up with housework (even mowed the lawn), but was rewarded with ferrying Crucible to their next abode. Great band of course, and great folks who I hope will return again very soon.

Peace, Mooh.


09 Aug 05 - 09:22 AM (#1538405)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

So nice to meet Sarah, too, Mooh. I'm jealous of your drive with Crucible! You volunteers get good perks :-). I forgot to include Jean and Christina on my list above - they weren't at the festival, so they seem so long ago now....

Off to The Woods tomorrow....

~b.w.


09 Aug 05 - 01:15 PM (#1538601)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: mike_in_st_c

Mooh, it was wonderful to finally meet you. Third time at the festival for Diane and Myself. Must say I don't think there were any musicians I didn't care for. Loved every last one. Fav's probably Crucible and McDades, but also thoroughly enjoyed Kerr and Fagan. I saw James pedalling a bicycle in downtown Goderich yesterday, resisting the impuse to yell "hello" across the street. Oh! and I don't want to neglect mentioning kerrykeel's performance. Delightful!We stayed over yesterday to scope out the stores in Goderich, then made the long trek back to St Catharines, arriving home at midnight.It was a n absolute pleasure meeting you andgetting to chat for a bit. We definitely look forward to going next year! Thanks, Mike


09 Aug 05 - 03:24 PM (#1538707)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Phil Cooper

I dropped Kate off at her place in Evanston around 5:15 Saturday afternoon. We both agreed it was worth the trip, even if we couldn't stay the whole weekend. I stayed at Susan's Saturday night and picked everyone up in a timely fashion, after lots of sleep, Sunday morning. The Lake County Folk Festival was not as highly attended as Goderich. On the other hand, Margaret, Kate and I got to do a great ballad workshop with the incomparable Kat Eggleston. She ought to be invited to Goderich some year, you'll be in for a treat if you do. Main stage set was nice, too.


09 Aug 05 - 03:38 PM (#1538719)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

mike...Glad you had a good time. Next time let's try to get lunch together or something. Actually, that's not a bad idea, a Mudcat Lunch, maybe on the Saturday next year.

Phil...Sounds like you made good time home.

black walnut...Oh yeah, the perquisites. I would list a few here, but it's embarrassing. Gotta say though, it's brutal hard work some of the time, a logistical nightmare, but the public experiences the dream festival and that's why we do it. Time to fine tune again now for next year.

Peace, Mooh.


09 Aug 05 - 09:04 PM (#1538967)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

Oh, and by the way, I'm always in awe of the beautiful stage 'setting'. The banners, and the colours, and the trees and the stars, and the coloured lights...very beautiful.

Not even too many skeeters this time 'round.

~b.w.


09 Aug 05 - 09:12 PM (#1538972)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: IvanB

black walnut, I was in James' and Nancy's morning class, 1st period.


10 Aug 05 - 12:30 PM (#1539494)
Subject: Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

Well no wonder then. Sorry I had to miss the class performance at the north stage. "Blue Murder" keeps running through my head...

~b.w.


10 Aug 05 - 12:34 PM (#1539497)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Mooh

b.w...Your picture was in today's paper. I'll try to get a copy sent off to you.

Peace, Mooh.


10 Aug 05 - 01:46 PM (#1539550)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: Charmion

Edmund (CET) and I had a wonderful time, as we always do. Odd that we can already say "always", but this was my fifth time and Edmund's sixth at both college and festival, and we intend to keep going as long as we can, so I guess it applies.

Favourite band? The French guys -- Genticorum -- by a long sea mile. Excellent musicianship, interesting repertoire, clever patter and piquant personalities. I learned a whole flock of new tunes from flutist Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand (as good an instructor as he is a musician), and thoroughly enjoyed the four performances I saw. Unlike many festival acts, Genticorum varied their set list and stage patter with every performance so they were as fresh and exciting the fourth time (in three days) as the first.

I also treated myself to a new instrument: an octave mandolin by Peter Cox. It cost $750 (dirt cheap by luthier standards), and I bought it within an hour of arriving at the park, without even waiting to discuss it with Edmund -- I was afraid that if I walked away even for 10 minutes I would come back and find it sold. With a Western red cedar top and cherry back and sides, it has a nice deep, thrummy sound that will sound great behind Edmund's voice -- especially when I have mastered some more mandolin-type chords.


16 Aug 05 - 11:03 AM (#1543108)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

Mooh -

I just got back from The Woods Music and Dance Camp. But that's another (wonderful) story.

But WOW! You're kidding. Me in the Goderich Herald (or Post or Star or ?). Did they get me lying under a tree in the parking lot with ambulance attendants bringing me cold wet cloths for the migraine? Or do I actually look like I'm enjoying the music? :)

Thanks - can't wait to see it.

~b.w.


16 Aug 05 - 11:58 AM (#1543158)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: GUEST,Jack

Hi all,

Nice thread, and great to hear from so many familiar 'voices'. It was a great college and great festival this year, and congratulations to Warren and Eleanor and their teams!! A lot of hard work.

The college's informal singing session should get a mention - every night in a blissfully air conditioned room (YES It was a hot week). We averaged about 35 people, most of them leading a song, and going from about 9:30 until 1 or 2 AM every night. Some fine performances, lots and lots of sing alongs, and some folks stretching their voices for the first time. And it was nice that faculty like Crucible, Jeans Hewson and Mills, Heather Dale and one or two others came by to share too. In fact - a favourite moment was Jess Arrowsmith of Crucible singing The Good Old Way. Wow.

A big change from my first year (1997) when we couldn't dredge up enough singers to have a circle.......YAY!!

Jack Cole
Kitchener


16 Aug 05 - 12:37 PM (#1543197)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: JohnB

I really don't want to upset the Crucible fans around here, but I'm going to anyhow.
We like them so much we took them home with us, no not the CD's wrapped in plastic (we already had those) the real thing.
They arrived at our place on Wednesday, Thursday we (Orange Peel Morris) had a dance out with them in Orangeville outside the Opera House, Then off to the Winchester Arms to play a few tunes and sing some songs. On Saturday we did more dancing at Mono Cliffs Inn and the Hockley General store then we did a catered supper in the Seniors Hall. Then to top it all off, Crucible did two 45 min sets for us.
Even people who had seen them at Millrace and Goderich for the two times they were here were so much more fulfilled with a whole concert, it was GREAT. Then a couple of beers at Hiding Inn Hockley and back to our place for a campfire till about 3. We then did a Sunday Brunch thing and they left us yesterday for a couple of days in Toronto before they fly home on Wednesday. So i am starting to shake a little now, I hope the withdrawl symptoms don't last too long.
On the serious side, I think that both Millrace and Goderich were both better than ever this year. The singing in the Bedford has improved so much over the last 5 years or however long it is, people relying far less less on the written word and performing so much better for it. You did not hear the whole of Crucible do the Good Ols Way at the final Festival Song Circle Jack. That was good too, however I agree with you, Jess just filled the entire room on her own.
If anyone wants to PM me with an email address, I have a panorama photo of the final song circle and I know CET, Ivan and Black Walnut (well at least the back of your head)are on it.
Try to meet you ALL next year, JohnB


16 Aug 05 - 01:53 PM (#1543286)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

Well, JohnB, that's my best side!

~b.w.


16 Aug 05 - 05:12 PM (#1543419)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: IvanB

black walnut, were you the person on the ground under the tree in the handicapper parking area on Friday afternoon? If so, my wife and I were the couple who drove in next to you and put our luggage carrier behind you to block anyone from inadvertently trying to park there.


16 Aug 05 - 05:57 PM (#1543452)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

YES!!!!! Holy smokes! Thanks so much for helping me out!!!! I was getting a bit nervous! Wow!!!!! Mudcatters to the rescue!!!!!

~b.w. (please forgive all the exclamation marks!!!!!!!!)


16 Aug 05 - 06:04 PM (#1543455)
Subject: RE: Goderich 2005 Celtic Roots Festival
From: black walnut

(I might have become a flat walnut!!!!)

~b.w.