manx celtic music and dance

Review of Yn Chruinnaght 2011

01 Aug 2011

Yn Chruinnaght just keeps getting better every year, and this year’s festival saw seven action packed days! There were around 50 visiting performers and over 100 Manx artists, with events in Peel, St Johns, Ramsey and Douglas. This year the festival boasted some must-see Celtic acts: Capercaillie kicked off the week in style with a crowded gig at the Villa Marina, supported by a great new band, aptly named David Kilgallon and Some Thoroughly Nice Folk. Breton duo Landat-Moisson showed immense skill and sensitivity through their music, and wowed audiences whether they were playing for dancing, or singing a tragic song. Yn Chruinnaght has been extremely lucky in booking the nicest people from the folk circuit, and this was definitely true of Guidewires and The Maeve MacKinnon Trio. Both acts thoroughly entertained the audiences at Peel Centenary Centre with their superb playing. Support was provided from excellent Manx bands, Staa, sharing their delicate arrangements of Manx songs and tunes, and new trio Scammylt showing off a fresh new sound centred on Katie Lawrence’s excellent fiddle playing. From Wales, well-known academic and performer Cass Meurig gave the Ian O’Leary lecture on the crwth (bowed lyre), and took the audience back into the fascinating world of medieval Welsh music, as well as explaining how the music of the crwth was being reinvented now. Other Manx acts featured included popular Manx choir Cliogaree Twoaie, who led an excellent singing session in the Brittania Hotel in Ramsey, The Whitehouse Experience, who are a collaboration of musicians who used to play together regularly in the Whitehouse in Peel. In the Inter-Celtic concert in St. John’s Church, the Isle of Man was represented by fiddle and guitar duo Laura and David Rowles, and the gorgeous singing of Aalin Clague. Tarroo Marroo, who have over 90 years of playing experience, provided an excellent ceili at Douglas Masonic Hall on Saturday night. The fi nal weekend was a feast of dancing, and defi nitely benefitted from the glorious sunshine, meaning that outdoor dance displays could be enjoyed by all around Douglas and in Ramsey. Visiting dance groups Kemysk, from Cornwall, and Shoostring from Wales were extremely popular, and gave fun and lively performances. Many thanks to them and Manx dance groups Ny Fennee, Perree Bane and The Manx Folk Dance Society for giving such enthusiastic performances in the heat! The Mooragh Park on Sunday afternoon was very busy, with lots of people enjoying three dance groups, as well as the wonderful Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums (as well as an ice cream!). Alongside the main line-up was a whole host of fringe events. Talented young Irish group, Mo Chara, led bite-sized performances in the House of Manannan as well as Bree session and an uillean pipe workshop. Shoostring brought Appalchian dancing to the festival for the first time, and opened many people’s eyes. Visiting Scottish bagpiper, Lea MacLeod, took to the stage with Manx acts as well as offering a workshop to Manx pipers. There was even time for Yn Chruinnaght Rocks with IOM Newspaper’s photographer, Mike Wade, at the helm, singing with the Ballaghs alongside The Reeling Stones and the Fecktones. All in all, Yn Chruinnaght was a truly inter-Celtic celebration, made possible by the support of the Manx Heritage Foundation, the IOM Arts Council, Manx Telecom and a whole host of hard-working volunteers. Keep tuned for plans for next year. www.ynchruinnaght.com

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