Newer news items are towards the top of the page.
Scoiltrad Online Music School Scoiltrad online Irish music school will be up and running very soon, offering tuition on a variety of instruments, including fiddle, uilleann pipes, flute and whistle.

Diploma in Gaelic Language and Music

We are pleased to report on a successful first year of a Diploma course in Gaelic Language and Music which provides expert music and language tuition on Uist, a Gaelic-speaking group of islands famous for its bards, pipers, and singers.

Let Paul Robeson Sing!!!!
National Museum & Gallery of Wales
March 24 – June 3 2001

In tribute to actor, singer, writer and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, a joint exhibition between the National Museums & Galleries of Wales and The Theatre Museum, London, showcases at the National Museum & Gallery of Wales. Let Paul Robeson Sing! commemorates the artist and activist and also explores his affinities with Welsh communities, struggling for an independent voice and identity.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

 The folk scene in England enjoyed a spell in the media spotlight with coverage on BBC Television News of the second BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. John Leonard, producer of the Mike Harding programme, welcomed a packed audience to the Awards Ceremony and thanked Radio 2 for their support, both for the programme and the Awards ceremony, before criticising the BBC in a wider sense for its generally poor coverage of folk music - particularly on television.

Skelbo entertain Madonna

The band has played at Skibo Castle regularly over the years and, as a result, has played for numerous celebrity occasions. Initially we were booked by Skibo for an unspecified corporate event but, when we began dealing with a London agency, it became clear that we were being booked for the Madonna wedding and the Christening on the preceding day.
 

Obituaries

 William Main Doerflinger, Paul Davies, Eddie LeJeune, Isaac Guillory.
 

Radio Hong Kong Folk Programme

 On August 4th. Marshall Hughes will present his 1000th.weekly edition of the long-running Radio Hong Kong programme "Folk Roots". In the lead-up to this minor milestone, from show No. 980 onwards Hughes will be compiling a retrospective on folk in Hong Kong over the last two decades and, amongst other things, will feature archive recordings of many of the artists who have appeared there since 1981. The shows can be accessed via the internet at www.rthk.org.hk. Head for the "English "Guide Map", then "Programme Archive" then select "Radio 3" and finally "Folk Roots". It is broadcast on Saturday's at 6.15pm HK time which is a very reasonable 10.15 am in the UK. Hughes will also be happy to hear from anyone who has been on the show over the years at
roots@asiaonline.net

New Editor for Stirrings

At the beginning of December, Stirrings Editor Trevor Sommers was offered a job in Tauranga (New Zealand) starting at the end of January 2001. He moved there in January and will be followed, later in the year, by his wife, Lin, and daughter Amy. Raymond Greenoaken stepped into the hot seat at short notice and as Editor. Contact him at: Raymond Greenoaken, 11 Ratcliffe Road, Sheffield, S11 8YA email: greenr@taproot.demon.co.uk 0114 2661158

Trevor Sommers, would like to thank all those who have supported Stirrings during his 13 years as editor and he would especially like to thank Raymond for taking over the editorship at short notice. 'Rumours of Whiskey Ceilidh Band' will continue - details from Jeremy Radford - pamjem@btinternet.com

Travelling Folk on the WEB

BBC Scotland’s programmes will be webcast from December 30th. This will give all of our readers with Internet access the chance to listen to Scotland’s flagship folk music programme Travelling Folk, presented by Archie Fisher and other specialist programmes including Pipeline, presented by Iain MacInnes, by simply clicking on the ‘Listen’ button on the Radio Scotland home page at www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Pipeline is now broadcast on Saturdays at 8pm UK time. Travelling Folk has now been extended to a full three hours every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. with a repeat broadcast on Saturday evenings.
Inishowen Folksong & Ballad Seminar The Inishowen International Folksong & Ballad Seminar website now contains preliminary information on the March 23rd - 26th, 2001 programme. You may access the site at http://sites.netscape.net/milnerconroy/inishowenseminar

Workshops & Performances Offer

Brian Ó hEadhra (Anam; solo) and Fiona Mackenzie (Anam; Mackenzie) are offering their services providing performances and several workshops including Song-writing, Bodhrán, Scots/Irish Gaelic Song and Band Management & Self Promotion. Festival Organisers with any queries should contact Brian on +44 (0) 1899-850 258, E-Mail: brian@anam.co.uk

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