manx celtic music and dance

Perree Bane in South Wales

15 Apr 2013


by John Dowling

Perree Bane recently made what is becoming an annual visit to the Inter-Celtic Festival in Porthcawl, South Wales. (We must be doing something right!). Friday was spent at local schools with outreach activities, including trying out the latest performance in front of an uncritical audience, but no Welsh cakes in the staff room this year! All the activities were in the Grand Pavilion, an excellent venue with all facilities although it needs a goodly audience to make it feel busy; the event seemed blessed with the biggest crowds we’ve seen for quite a while. The weather was quite benign for the street dancing, little wind so hats were worn successfully, we travelled around with some lady Morris dancers who were very good. Good appreciative crowds, although energetic dancing by your scribe occasioned elastic failure needing an emergency visit to a shop for some replacement under-rods. More performances in the Grand Pavilion and a ceili called by the indefatigable Grainne Joughin; thanks also Grainne for the cracking Sharon’s Jig that enlivened our set-piece performance. The beach ceili was approached with misgivings with memories of sand-filled shoes and swiftly tiring legs; however, it was held on a concrete area below the promenade although it needed the Manx contingent of both musicians and dancers to get it going. No records broken here! It was cold and windy, but we soon got warm and dances from several Celtic countries were called before a general retreat to warmth and lunch. Good journeys both ways and good crossings courtesy Steam Packet. May thanks again to the organisers for the invitation, it was noticeable that every Celtic country except Galicia was represented, the Asturians particularly making their presence felt both on and off the stage, and the Irish who were SO enthusiastic! When not performing ourselves there were some wonderful musicians and dancers to enjoy. Even the caravans were warm! Truly a cracking festival. Thanks are due to the very welcome support from IOM Arts Council which enabled otherwise impecunious performers to make the event which adds greatly to the spectacle.

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