Hi there folks, well we have been busy what with the back to school on slaught straight after a New Zealand tour, most of the band teach at schools as well as privately so it is always  a challenge to get back into the schooling routine. As soon as we found our feet we whisked ourselves off to Port Fairy Festival for the first time in four years and we had a fantastic time. They have been running this festival long enough to get it just right and we all felt honoured to perform at all the stages we appeared on.

Some of the highlights of other live acts for me were ” Les Chauferes a la Pied” from Canada, wild blisstering talent here, and Crooked Still also shone. The young Dutch born honourary Galway man!, Christov was sublime in the delivery of each of his superbly written songs and Christov will be one I will follow in the future with  keen ears.

Andy Irvine’s  and Rens van der Zelm concerts were outstanding, especially on Monday when they were joined by Tony Mc Manus on his Melville guitar for the last few songs. Tony was clearly moved to be included on stage with Andy.

Darren Hanlon did Queensland proud with his fine collection of original songs, such a relaxed endearing  performer he has become since we last saw him at Wintermoon in 2005/6  (it’s all a blur) when he was just getting started with his touring career. His storytelling between songs is very entertaining indeed.Of course we couldn’t catch everything that was on so this is not an accurate overview of the festival.

For ourselves we had a great time at our gigs and a restful fun time back at the house we were given by the festival. We sold lots and lots of our new CD   and would like to thank everyone who came to the gigs and supported us. See you all soon we hope.

Sunday night we caught up with our local mates OKA who said they had a huge festival, no surprises there, and it was special to have a few beers together out of town.

We drove part way along the Great Ocean Road on the way home and the sun came out and made everything look happy and healthy. A copy of  one of the bold Tommy Tiernan’s live CD had us in stiches and groaning at times. “Im a bit horny” … ” well you had yor chance”.

Steve Cook is heading to the National over Easter to do some All Australian shows with the brilliantly talented John Thompson from Cloudstreet. Well worth catching . 

On ward to glory and Wintermoon.

Today is Thursday and we have two shows. One at the Duck at 7pm (this venue has paving  no less) and what a gorgeous venue the Duck is this year. Then its a quick step up the hill and down the windy path to the Chai 9pm for the hessian smelling heaven that the Chai is. Erin is double booked to do Cloudstreet gig at the same time, and so Jason Bray will jump in on drums. Should be a blister in the sun, yes the sun is going to shine today.

While most of Queensland is in flood, Woodford festival has been but damp since it started, which has kept it cool and dust free. Perfect festival weather, once you have waterproof footwear. Everywhere you go at this festival you meet people eager to chat, laugh, and share a positive moment with you.

Our new CD “Grateful” makes it’s debut at this years Woodford so it is an even more exciting one for us.

Keep well and Happy New Year.

Until Jan 2nd when we return a little bit tired but a lot happier. I just have to say I absolutley adore this festival

Well we returned from yet another Neurem Creek festival filled with love and smelling of whiskey and fire side smoke. We had almighty sessions around the fire and caught up with old dear friends and made lots of new ones. I have to say these small special festivals really are so much more successful at what a festival is supposed to be about for me, and a lot of the other festival fans were echoing this sentiment. As a parent I have adifferent slant to the wild young ones free of all responsibilities. But there were soem of those types at this littel festivla nd they had a ball and fitted in perfect. I believe our children are richer, in intellect and spirit, from the experience of attending festivals year in year out. Always worth the trouble you go to to bring them with you too. If you got kids, like live music, I say get your whole clan along to any folk festival near you(we drive 12 hours at a pinch) and set up your camp and relax in one of lifes true golden cultural recharging experiences. Your kids will thank you for it for years to come.

Ku Rua , Alan and Krisitn’s duo confirm their third tour of New Zealand to be in January 2011. Watch out you dirty Kiwi’s.

Up and coming concerts include

Australia 2010

August 27,28 Gympie Muster, James Squire venue

Sep 5, 2pm, Peregian Originals, Open Air Peregian Beach, Qld

September 25, Full moon Dance, Verrierdale Hall, Sunshine coast, 8pm.

Oct 30 House with No Walls, Eumundi, QLD 7pm

30 April 2010 Wintermoon festival , duo appearances only

17 July Joe’s WAterhole, Eumundi, Live recording, special guests Cloudstreet, doors 7.30pm Admission $12.

Latest news,

Kristin And Alan have returned from 3 months overseas where they had some fantastic reunion concerts with Alan Doherty, Mark Heffernan and Dave Hingerty of the old Irish Barleyshakes line from 10 years ago. They also travelled around mainland Europe making music in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Prague and the UK. Back to the hard old slog here in Sunny Queensland where Alan is working on his second album of indie stuff which he says is heavily influenced by the Ocean, must be all that surfing. All other members are mad busy experimenting with lots of exciting musical projects. Erin Sulman is also drumming for the Jen Mize band and the infamous Acoustic Boogaloo Aussie covers band. Steve Cook continues to work with Tolca Mor and in duo format with Alan. Kristin Kelly is on her 5th year running a very succesful strings program at the Noosa Pengari Steiner school as well as performing with Alan in the duo project,”Cu Rua” who only just released their debut CD. Kristin has also just joined the Meridian grid, a highly experimental sextet of virtuoso instrumentalists bound on a collision course with improvisation along to tuning forks! Belinda Ford continues to teach an extensive music program at Villa Nova school in Brisbane, and has a new Brisbane based Celtic trio in the works. Alan continues his run of solo shows using a looping device, bodhran, djembae, guitar, a Koscillator synth, he also has launched a new band called the Roadside Diamonds for his more rock influenced compositions. The Debut album is in the making as we type. Gary Ward also works regularly with Alan in the Roadside Diamonds and has also formed the experimental song writing team called Delaney Ward who thrilled audiences at Woodford with their multi media show. they are due to tour Japan in 2010. So much to do such little time, The Barleyshakes are in planning for the next and 6th album but no deadlines yet. The duo

Ku Rua, now to be written Ku Rua (Aussie’s are having difficulty with the Gaeilge) recently had a rare old time at Wintermoon festival and metamorphasised into t stonking Quartet with Alex Rothier on his 6 string bass and Erin Sulman on bodhran and drums. For the finale concert they were joined by Chloe, Hall, Nadia Sundae, Dave Flower, Teel, Sophie Bahnson, the Twine and more. A very memorable hour of music was created by all and recorded by Gunadoo Productions. God bless you Darren and Carmen.