Monticello, New York, was the continuing site of Green Linnet's
Irish Weekend, in Sept, 1995. This music and dance party has
become so popular that the host resort had arranged for additional
housing at a neighboring hotel with shuttle busses running back
and forth night and day. Concerts, dance workshops, and lectures
were plentiful, with several events going on simultaneously throughout
the day and evening. Scheduled events ran from Friday afternoon
till late, on Saturday from immediately after breakfast to 2 AM,
and on Sunday till 5pm, with informal sessions continuing even
as I left at 6pm.
Early risers on Saturday were greeted by the music of impromptu
sessions of pipers, fiddlers, and accordionists who had played
throughout the night till the light of day. The scheduled events
were not strictly Irish but included other celtic and Canadian
music, and appalachian dancing.
Being a fiddler I was fascinated by a multimedia lecture on the
life and music of Francis O'Neill, the former Chicago Police Chief
who made a point of hiring immigrant musicians to the force so
as to support traditional Irish culture.
I had ample opportunity to chat and share music with many performers
who record on the Green Linnet label. This was possible because
of the way that the weekend is organized. Everyone, performers
and attendees alike, share meals, walk the same hallways, and
are generally very sociable. Just when you think you've heard
the best fiddling of your life at a scheduled concert, a visit
to the hotel lobby reveals an informal session with players of
all ages making amazing music together. The nature of these sessions
changes every few minutes as new musicians join in, and others
leave. This is true folk music, where well known performers and
newcomers alike, join together in music and song just for the
joy of it.
The intensity and energy of the musicians was possibly exceeded
only by the large number of set and ceili dancers who danced tirelessly
through out the day, and continued to encourage the scheduled
dance bands for more more music, even as the clock passed the
2AM mark.
The best part of the Green Linnet weekend was the fun of sharing
a celebration of celtic culture with so many folks of like interest,
all in the same place, at the same time. Highly recommended!
For more information contact Green Linnet Records Inc., 43 Beaver
Brook Road, Danbury, CT 06810, 203-730-0345,
This review by Ryan J Thomson copyright ©1995