manx celtic music and dance

John Kaneen RBV

23 Aug 2024


We were very sorry to hear of the passing of Manx folk music stalwart John Kaneen RBV.

John was an influential figure in the Manx cultural scene for decades, and he will be fondly remembered by many. A singer, dancer, musician, event organiser, radio representer, researcher and collector of all things Manx, John certainly was a Manx worthy.

Most of the Isle of Man will remember John as a great entertainer - a larger than life character with a great bellowing voice, dragging shy audience members out of their seats at the ceili and spinning them around the dance floor!

For others (such as our Manx Music Development Officer during her time as a PhD student), he was a scholar – a generous font of knowledge on folk song and balladry, who would spend long hours scouring the old music collections to then freely share his research through local talks, publications and through his Manx Radio Folk Show. He also documented the live Manx music scene and his shelves are full of his own cassettes and CDs.

But he was also a revivalist and cultural activist – from skiffle to folk, blues to dance music, whether singing or playing the button accordion, guitar or concertina, John helped keep traditions such as Hunt the Wren and cammag alive, was an integral part of the trad session scene, and helped shape the development of the Manx folk dance movement as an accompanist for Bock Yuan Fannee and the Manx Folk Dance Society.

His encouragement of young musicians must be recognised too. He regularly featured up and coming bands on his Folk Show as well as organising for high profile folk musicians to perform on the Island.

Receiving his well deserved RBV award for contribution to Manx culture in 2019, John said he did it all for the enjoyment and pleasure that he still got from his music and dance.

He will be very sadly missed, by so many.

 

Some might like to revisit the following at this time:

Recent News

Archive by Year