Galway Advertiser 2002/2002_10_17/GA_17102002_E1_040.pdf 

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PADDY KEENAN, who has been described as 'The Jimi Hendrix of the pipes' in Irish traditional music is this year's TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year. He talks to Ua Kelly about his music. The citation in his honour reads 'For his pioneering work on the music of the uilleann pipes over the last 30 years; for his widespread influence on young musicians; and for the allegiance that he has always shown to his unique musical and cultural heritage.' That heritage is the rich musical legacy Keenan inherited from his father and his grandfather who were both pipers and it is also that of the Travelling pipers, the Cashes, the Dorans and others who went before them. However, this is the first such accolade Keenan has received. He remembers once taking part in the All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil under-18 competitions at the age of 16. His entire family travelled from Dublin to Westmeath for the day. His father, who was also his teacher, was very interested in competition and indeed there was rivalry between him and their neighbour Ted Furey, Finbarr's father. That day Keenan and his brother Johnny won the duet competition on banjo and pipes, a combination unheard of at the time, and Ins brother Brendan entered on whistle and won his competition too. When it came to Keenan's own turn on the pipes, the adjudicator commenting on his performance said it was so good that if he should enter the senior competition that day he would have to win it too. "I never entered a competition since." he tells me. "I looked at those other kids - they didn't even get a chance to play at the competition. I felt so bad towards the other kids. I decided that was it," It's interesting to note that in the last five years three of the recipients of the TG4 Traditional Music Award have been exBothy Band members - the other two were Tommy, Peoples and Matt Molloy. Talking to Donal Lunny a few years ago, he described the significance of those three musicians' contribution to The Bothy Band; "The brilliant thing about Matt, Tommy and Paddy was how effortless they made it sownd It was realty Luce three birds flying, just beautiful, always controlled and so brilliant.'' Keenan smiles thinking about the Bothy s and hints that we might see a reunion in some shape on the night of the awards concert. The wild and free spirit that hallmarked The Bothy Band's music is certainly that of Paddy Keenan's musk too. Often called the "last of the travelling pipers" since his people were Travellers or Pavees. he carries the legacy of the pipers of that community with him. He is regarded as Johnny Doran's successor and has studied Doran's music in depth. Asked to describe what is so unique

OCEAN COLOUR Scene's affable lead singer Simon Fowler and drummer Oscar Harrison are playing the Roisin Dubh on October 21 and 22. He spoke to Kevin McGwire about the tour, Oasis, Panl Weller, and meeting Sir Panl McCartney. The man who is nicknamed Foxy started out as a journalist with the Birmingham Post and Mail. However, his true love was music. He once commented: "I'm happy - I've got Elvis's job." Early in his career he contributed vocals to albums from artists as diverse as The Fine Young Cannibals
(The Raw and The

Simon Fowler - My mates Paul Weller and McCartney

Cooked),

Alison Moyet (Hoodoo, Essex), The Lightning Seeds (Jollification) and Paul Weller
(Wild Wood).

going on in there as I'm playing - my mind is wandering and if it's a slow piece, obviously its going to be more emotional. The music takes in a lot of memories and reminiscing as I'm playing. It's a mixture of the whole whatever it is that you're capable of doing on the instrument, trying your utmost to project a mood - for me that's what it's all about. I think my expression is different obviously to the person who has been raised perfectly with no problems or worries, it has lo be different - your lifestyle has to affect you." While Keenan is seen as a traditional musician, a wide range of music influences him and he considers his music to be more Irish than traditional. "Sometimes I don't play it the way it should be played. My influences come from all over the place." He is also his own harshest critic; "I love music but 1 have never really been happy with anything I've ever done because listening back to it. there's always flaws. In most of my music there's a mood and that's what keeps me going." Thinking about the future he adds; "I'd like very much to put some kind of musical thing together myself - an album or CD with other people that I can stand beside and say openly 'Yes I stand beside that - that's the best thing I've done so far' - that hasn't happened yet. My ambition would be to compose something like a symphony - and that would be way out -1 don't think I have the time or the patience or the brain for that. I'd love to do it and you never know maybe some day." Paddy Keenan will be feted at a special televised concert on November 16 next at the Opera House in Cork along with the other TCI award winners this year. Liam O'Connor. Ceoltdir 6g aa Bliana. Peter Horan. Hall of Fame. Brendan Tonra, Composer of the Year and Lcn Graham,

"We're doing this tour," he bloody good Christmas party!" tells me. "Then we go on to Scotland and England. So we'll The last time OCS played in Galway was as part of the do about 18 dates. It's a good chance to air out new songs. Heineken Weekender a few years ago alongside Ash, Muse, The other side of it is that Steve [Craddock] and Damon The Waterboys, and Morcheeba. Steve recalls "Relish played [Minchella] are off with Paul Weller. So, I thought I can support and we thought they were really brilliant but we either sit at home or go out and do this tour. That's what I haven't heard anything from them since." They also played decided to do - go out and tour. We'll be doing a lot of the Slane Castle this year. "Was Slane with Stereophonies?" old Ocean Colour Scene stuff but we'll also be doing some askes Fowler [hey, buddy, I'll ask the questions here!] "Oh, songs people aren't used to us playing, like Richard yeah, it was. Well, when you support at those kind of Thompson. That's the kind of stuff I've been listening to. So, festivals it's quite an easy ride. The crowd were really it's very much a labour of love." appreciative. It was a nice day out. It's a lot easier than The band originate from Birmingham, England, and were playing your own gig - that's for sure. Then a week ago we formed from the remnants of The Fanatics, themselves played support to Oasis in Deny. Again, it's kind of one of formed by Fowler and Minchella. Harrison was a member of those nice gigs to play. Apart from the fact that it was a reggae group before he joined Ocean Colour Scene (not torrential rain!" entirely surprising considering UB40 come from the same So, what has Ocean Colour Scene's relationship been with area). Craddock, who was previously playing for modthe bould Gallaghers and Co over the years? "We've known revival outfit The Boys, joined on lead guitar. They all came together at a Stone Roses concert The name Ocean Colour them since they played support in about 15 or 20 pubs in Scene came about when they brainstormed for a name and Birmingham many years ago," admits Fowler, looking back, kept coming up with the words ocean, colour, and scene. "Next minute you know they're the biggest thing since sliced Their influences vary from The Beatles lo The Jam to Stevie bread, aren't they. We've always got on really great with the Wonder and Fairport Convention. So, is it strange working both of them. We've worked with them, stayed up late with with Paul Weller considering The Jam is one of their main them and done all sorts of things with them! But you have to influences? "It is amazing really," enthuses Fowler, "Steve remember that we were around for many years before Oasis and Damon have played nearly 90 per cent of the last two or came along. Overnight Oasis made it cool to like The three Paul Weller albums. Paul was basically Steve's hero Beatles. We'd been telling people thai for years before and when he was growing up. He used to hang around outside we were laughed out of court. For a band like ours it's very Paul's gigs trying to meet him and ending up getting told off. difficult to be influenced by the 1980s, it bites! Oasis kicked So, when we were doing the first album Paul was involved open that door in 1996 and suddenly what we'd always been doing was pop music. We were the second biggest band in and we became very good friends." Britain in 1996. Well, technically that's not true. We were the Ocean Colour Scene have recently signed a new deal with third biggest. The second biggest selling band was the Sanctuary Records. Their last album with Universal was a Lighthouse Family but they don't really count for what Greatest Hits package Music From The Front Row. It we're talking about here. Do they?" included such chart successes as'The Day We Caught The Again with the questions! Ocean Colour Scene is far from Train', 'The Circle', 'Hundred Mile High City' (which features in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), humble when it comes to touting the benefits of their breed 'Better Day', 'Profit in Peace' and, 'July' (which formed the of pop/rock. So, is there any time Fowler was stars-struck? theme tune to the television series of Lock Stock... So, is this "I was fairly star-struck when I met Sir Paul McCartney a new chapter for Ocean Colour Scene? "I suppose it can be when we were doing the 'War Child' single together. I met seen like that but whether it is for us, or not, I don't quite him in Abbey Road and it was like 'wow'. It was kind of like know yet. Things aren't always that black and white. It's a that when we met Paul Weller for the first time too but now new record label so I suppose it is a new chapter. Although he's Paul lo us. Our mate." What company Ocean Colour Scene keep - now you have we've had very Utile contact with Sanctuary - I mean we only met them the day we signed. It's like a new football the chance lo keep Simon Fowler's company in the Roisin's, manager, there's always that honeymoon period. We're the the only venue that will host two nights. Tickets are priced at 22.55. Be Scene there! darlings at the moment along with Alison Moyet. We've known Alison for at least 12 years so at least that makes for a

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