Pure Irish Drops Tour

 Pure Irish Drop Tour

The pure Irish Drop tour was inspired by Micho Russell and the tv series of (almost) the same name! Every year they get  some musicians together to prepare a programme with a general theme or overall inspiration

 "The programme therefore contains a series of solos, duets and ensemble pieces of music. The musicians have not necessarily previously played together in already existing formations, sometimes they only know of each other but never met before. They come together and develop a programme especially for the aspect of the tour, which they then present in 25 to 30 concerts in Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France and Germany."

This years schedule is:

 18 Sep 2009 20:00

Rathaus Stuhr Stuhr, Niedersachsen

19 Sep 2009 20:00

Festhalle Bad Oldesloe, Schleswig-Holstein

20 Sep 2009 20:00

Oosterpoort Groningen, Netherlands, Groningen

22 Sep 2009 20:00

Store Okseø Sønderhav, Denmark, Syddanmark

23 Sep 2009 20:00

Posten Odense C., Denmark, Midtjylland

24 Sep 2009 20:00

Hagges Musikpub Tønder, Denmark, Syddanmark

25 Sep 2009 20:00

Portalen Hundige, Denmark, Sjælland

26 Sep 2009 20:00

Copenhagen Folk Club København, Denmark, Sjælland

27 Sep 2009 20:00

Det Bruunske Pakhus Fredericia, Denmark, Midtjylland

28 Sep 2009 20:00

Kulturhaus Spandau Berlin, Berlin

30 Sep 2009 20:00

KulturForum in der Stadtgalerie Neues Rathaus Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

1 Oct 2009 20:00

Der Speicher Schwerin Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

2 Oct 2009 19:30

Tabakspeicher Nordhausen, Thüringen

3 Oct 2009 20:00

Loni-Übler-Haus Nürnberg, Bayern

4 Oct 2009 20:00

Bürgersaal Musberg Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Baden-Württemberg

8 Oct 2009 20:00

Cultureel Centrum Leopoldsburg Leopoldsburg, Belgium, Limburg

9 Oct 2009 20:00

Maison de la culture ’A Rousen’ Petange, Luxembourg

10 Oct 2009 20:00

Acienne Salle des pompiers vis-à-vis de l’église Boevange, Luxembourg

11 Oct 2009 20:00

Feuerschlösschen Bad Honnef, Rheinland-Pfalz

12 Oct 2009 20:00

Irish Folk Club München, Bayern

14 Oct 2009 20:00

Cobbler’s Irish Pub Germering, Bayern

15 Oct 2009 20:00

Parterre Basel Basel, Switzerland, Basle-City

16 Oct 2009 20:00

Stadtscheuer Waldshut Waldshut Tiengen, Baden-Württemberg

17 Oct 2009 20:00

Espace Rhénan "Le Forum" Kembs, France, Alsace

Incase ye don't know the 3 lads!!:  

Dave Harper - flute, banjo, vocals and guitar

.......

Dave, born in Co. Wexford, is today one of Co. Clare's most sought-after musicians, as he has a passion for Clare music like not many other musician even in the county. He plays all the old music with a true understanding of the nuances and peculiarities of the tradition. You won't find him very often in his residency, the little village of Crusheen, such is his enthusiasm for playing, touring and learning new music throughout Co. Clare and beyond it's borders. 

A superb flautist and guitarist, Dave is also a dab hand on the banjo, an instrument he teaches at the renowned Feakle Festival in East Clare every year. 

As a result of his passion, Dave has an extraordinary knowledge of Clare music, he has collected many old tunes which could easily have been lost and he is in many respects "more Clare" than some of the Clare people themselves.

Michael "Blackie" O'Connell - uillean pipes

.......

Michael is one of the most exciting young uilleann pipers on the Traditional Circuit. He was taught the uilleann pipes by the great Limerick piper Mickey Dunne and is heavily influenced by the playing of Paddy Keenan, who is a regular visitor to his home in Clare, and the great Johnny Doran.

Blackie is a regular guest at the Armagh Pipers Club and has toured extensively with various dance troupes in the USA, China, Taiwan and Dubai, including a performance in Carnegie Hall in 1998! He has recently returned from a concert tour of Sweden and in November Michael will be guest artist at the Amnesty International Concert in Stockholm.

He has been playing the pipes from a young age and is currently performing mostly in the Ennis and Doolin area of County Clare. He has completed tours in Europe, the USA and the Far East but is also very much at home in the small bars of Ennis or Doolin. At concerts and sessions Michael O'Connell performs with gusto, and audiences are swept away by his exuberant and fast flowing piping style. He has recently started teaching the pipes in Clare and his first pupil won the All Ireland title at the fleadh in Letterkenny in 2006.

Conor Keane - diatonic accordion

.......

Conor comes from a strong musical family in Clare. His grandmother played the concertina and his uncle Tommy Marrinan from Lisdoonvarna was a fine flute player. Conor was brought up in Ennis and spent his Summers with his uncle Tommy around Lisdoonvarna and Doolin where he regularly played with the famous Russell brothers. He played for a year with the renowned Tulla Ceili band under the leadership of the legendary PJ Hayes. Later he recorded and toured with a variety of successful bands including Shaskeen, Arcady and the Four Men and a Dog. He spent two years resident in Brittany where he worked with the legendary Breton singer and writer Gilles Servat. These days Conor is in regular demand as a solo musician where he is sought after for his own unique style of playing the C sharp D accordion. He has written several new pieces of music for the diatonic accordion which are gaining in popularity.