manx celtic music and dance

Ruth Keggin 'Sheear' Album launch

06 Mar 2014

Vanessa McWilliam, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Ruth Keggin, David Pearce and David Kilgallon perform together
Vanessa McWilliam, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Ruth Keggin, David Pearce and David Kilgallon perform together

Ruth Keggin launched her debut album Sheear to a sold out Centenary Centre last month. The young Manx singer from the south of the Island is already a familiar face from appearances with her band Nish As Rish and as a member of Caarjyn Cooidjagh, but this was an opportunity to hear her carefully crafted arrangements of songs old and new which have been brought together on her new CD. Ruth generously gathered the full line-up from the album, with Vanessa McWilliam on double bass, David Pearce on guitar, Irish flautist and sean nos singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and David Kilgallon standing in for Tom Callister on fiddle.

The evening started with the talented trio that is Tree Cassyn, featuring Isla Callister-Wafer on fiddle, concertina and vocals, Doona Lambden on whistle and vocals and Paul Rogers on guitar. Next it was the turn of multi-instrumentalist Eoghan, who paired up with David on fiddle and keys to showcase traditional and self-penned tunes and songs, all prepared in the few hours Eoghan had spent in David’s company since arriving on the Island - something which underlined how talented both musicians are.

Ruth’s band then took to the stage, presenting the wonderful mix of songs and tunes arranged for her album. A beautiful production in its own right, the CD funded by Culture Vannin features photography by Phil Kneen, translations of lyrics from Manx to English and original songs by Annie Kissack, Bob Carswell, Breesha Maddrell and Stef Conner as well as traditional songs such as ‘Fin as Oshin’, ‘Tree eeasteyryn boghtey’ and ‘Arrane y Skeddan’. The arrangements are thoughtful and varied, and Ruth’s clear voice shines out - make sure you don’t miss out on a copy - in all good shops now!

The live concert performance was generous and warm, with Ruth giving introductions bilingually in Manx and English. Unsurprisingly, the audience demanded an encore, and a repeat performance of ‘She ‘neen aeg mish as aalin’ was delivered.

The following week, Ruth travelled to Ireland for a mini tour with Scottish Gaelic band, Dàimh. Successfully battling off tonsillitis, the two bands played gigs at the Cultúrlann in Belfast and the Cabaret Craiceailte in Bunbeg, Donegal. Ruth has already had airplay on BBC Radio 3, RTE1, Raidió na Gaeltachta and Manx Radio and has featured in online and blogs and articles by BBCIOM, isleofman.com, transceltic, NAMA, and a newspaper in Pakistan in the Singhi language! Jeant dy mie, Ruth! 

 

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