What's On

Whats on in 2008

Lossiemouth Folk Club is not run by either a commitee or any single individual. It runs by common agreement of the people who attend the club, we do not charge a membership fee because we are not an exclusive club, everyone is welcome to attend and have a voice in what goes on.

We do not charge admission for normal club nights, however, on occasions when either food is provided or a paid artiste is playing, we may charge a nominal admission to cover our expenses
but not with the intention of making a profit.

DONAL O'CONNOR

Tuesday April 29th

Another BIG Thankyou to Donal for another great evening

Donal O'Connor was born 10/10/'59 the fourth and youngest child of Patsy (printer) from Longford and Margaret (BookKeeper) from Boyle. He was born in Boyle. He learned guitar informally by picking the brains of his oldest sister who was being taught guitar in the local Convent Secondary School. He would have been about 10 years of age at this time. Alongside playing football (very poorly) and basketball (slightly less poorly) he continued with the guitar independently and without any great seriousness or fuss for some 10 more years. It wasn't until sometime in 1979 when he was asked to "give a song" at a house party in Dublin where he was studying to be an Environmental Health Officer that he actually realised he could play to a satisfying level. He bought his first guitar with his first proper week's wages when he was 21years old.
At this stage he was working as an Environmental Health Officer in Donegal but was before long to return to his native Boyle to set down his roots. It was around this time that he started to take his music more seriously. He listened to such international stars as James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot and Paul Simon. His favourites on the Irish scene included Christy Moore and indeed all of the then disbanded members of Planxty (whom his brother had introduced him to when he was about 12 years old), Moving Hearts, Barry Moore, Freddie White, Scullion and Jargon not to mention the numerous brilliant female vocalists such as Mary Black, Maura O'Connell and Delores Keane who seemed to be around in the late eighties through to the late nineties. During the eighties and into the nineties Donal was gaining some respect as a not too pushy, laid back Pub gigger. He could also be seen backing traditional sessions at Fleadhs in the West and Northwest. The traditional music it would appear was in his bones as his maternal grandfather who died some 20 years before Donal was born was a fiddle player from Ballinafad, Co. Sligo (part of the south Co. Sligo tradition).
Donal took a year out in the eighties and did the "round the world" Auzzie/USA thing. Along with dishwashing, factory working, roustabouting, painting/decorating he also did a share of busking particularly in Melbourne.
In late 1992 at the height of the Somalian Famine, Donal and some of his follow giggers around the Boyle area got together and recorded an Album, the proceeds of which went to famine relief and to Trocaire in particular. Donal had written a song for that album called "Oh! No! Somalia" which RTE picked out and used as a musical backdrop to some of their news reports from the famine stricken areas of Somalia. It was at this point really that Donal felt encouraged to write more songs. This album is the culmination of some 8 years of writing. Infact the second album is basically written at this stage.
In the mid nineties he did some recording of traditional music to demo level with Peter Gallagher (Accordion) Padraig Morrell (Banjo) and John Murphy (Fiddle). They had great crack but they didn't push it too far. He has also done some accompanying guitar work on an as yet unreleased solo flute album for his musician and author friend Bernard Flaherty.
It might appear that Donal's life at this stage was one totally focused on music. Infact this has never been the case. He took time in the mid nineties to return to college for a number of years and qualify with a Professional Dipl. in Psychotherapy and Counselling. He now runs a small Counselling service in the Boyle area. He also is employed by the NorthWestern Health Board as an Environmental Health Officer. He also in the nineties realised what was up to then a dormant ambition. He learned how to sail. While he has done some offshore sailing and has crewed "Around Ireland" he can be seen sailing with his long time friend Brian Kelly, battling the winds on his native Lough Key. Donal has always maintained a strong interest in Gaelic Football despite his counties mediocre showing throughout the eighties and nineties.
At present he can be seen gigging at the Moving Stairs, Boyle on a fortnightly basis with his friend and musical partner Mr. Kieran McGowan (Ballymote) aswell as doing some solo gigs in the vicinity. He listens to the song writing of Mick Hanley, Jimmy McCarthy, Kieran Goss, Charlie McGettigan and Don Mescall with passion.
This album has been critically acclaimed by non other than the Great Christy Moore who wrote to Donal describing the work as "a pure joy". It was "CD of the week" on his native ShannonsideFM in December. Donal is also tickled by the fact that it was the most played CD on a radio station called Celtic Coast Radio, Queensland, Australia on the week before Xmas, where a DJ of Irish extraction has taken it to his heart. Niall Toner and Maxi have all congratulated. It has been played regularly by John Creedon and Ronan Collins. Infact Donal has appeared live on John Creedon's Show on Jan. 24th. An appearance on RTE 's "Open House" is confirmed.He has also appeared live on the John Bennett Show(BBC Northern Ireland). Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics has also heard the CD. His reply is eagerly awaited.
The acclaim that this CD has received in such a short time is extra ordinary given that Donal is a very small player in a huge industry. He financed the entire project himself and is totally independent, unsigned and without a promotional budget.
Donal O'Connor 079 63633 . donieoconnor@eirecom.net. http://donal.firebird.net
http://donal.firebird.net

J B BUTTERFIELD

Tuesday 18th March 8.30 pm

A big thankyou to JB as a good night was had by one and all

JB is from Hartlepool and is best described as Hank Williams crossed with Joy Division.
He's been in the game for many years, mostly as a solo act.
His music is essentially Americana and roots, formed from a wide range of influences.
His album, The Passionate Pilgrim, released on Lossie's own Spook Records, has been critically acclaimed and has been named album of the week
In county Durham.
JBs own songs are a blend of up tempo bluesy numbers and heartrenching ballads.

Wil has only been frequenting the club since August 2007, a lot of new/old faces were there on the night.
Some dropped in said hello but had to go. Some were total strangers drawn in from the main bar because the vibe was so good.
Pipes, geetars, flutes, singing, no dancing thankfully, and more flutes, mandolins, guitars and loads of table banging foot stamping and glass rattling stuff.

The only critism is that there coulda shoulda been more education/insights into Burns and some of his writings.
I guess we shall have to wait till next year.

This is the very satisfying letter we found in a well known Scottish newspaper.