What does it take to conjure all the magnificent musical moments that help make our lives meaningful? It certainly takes a lot of heart to devote a lifetime to the craft of creating the stimuli that make it possible. It undoubtedly takes a lot of brain power to keep pushing boundaries in order to make it interesting. But we can all agree it requires a lot of manpower, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to render it all tangible and make it unforgettable. And our guest for this episode is no stranger to these principles that, even if the current physical distance between our bodies make it harder for their magic to materialise, always work their way towards helping make life enjoyable. This Newcastle native now residing in Ciudad de Mexico has been globetrotting from New Delhi to New Mexico and everywhere in between, casting his rhythmic spells and deploying the aural charms that suspend time and space in hexstatic sets at every single stop. Much the same way he does here by taking us on a lengthy trip during which we barely feel its three hours and through which he takes across a multitude of soundscapes, eras and moods only to leave us craving for more at the end.

Gop Cast 068 - Man Power

78rpm Disc 161: Seamus Ennis:  Miss Monaghan/The Merry Blacksmith (reels)

We're back after a bit of a holiday with a 78rpm disc from Seamus Ennis. On the heels of Na Píobairí Uilleann's release of Taisce Luachmhar (Valuable Treasure) – The Piping Album, this set of reels is another that was recorded for Bill Stapleton's Irish Recording Company and made their way to the States on this Presto instantaneous disc. The catalog number (1021-B) is consistent with Stapleton's other numbers during that time.

From the David Giovannoni Collection, DG 78 00-185.

DG 78 00-185

Seamus Ennis:  Miss Monaghan/The Merry Blacksmith (reels)

78rpm Disc 210: Frank Quinn: The Basket of Shamrocks (jig)

This week's disc features accordion work from Frank Quinn with a jig better known as the Mug of Brown Ale these days. This disc was recorded in 1922 and released on the Vocalion label (14541).

From the Ted McGraw Collection, McGraw 78 01-135.

McGraw 78 01-135

Frank Quinn: The Basket of Shamrocks (jig)

Danny Diamond and David Munnelly play two traditional Irish reels, Dr Glibert and The Queen of May. 

There's a twist: instead of playing them one-after-another in the usual fashion, we blended the melodies together into something new...

Recorded November 2015 in The Cobblestone, Dublin.

Dr Gilbert / The Queen of May

An Triúr, 1996. Bernard Molloy, fiddle. Patricia O'Riordan, keyboards. Kevin Cotter, flute.

An Triúr - Reels - Track 1 from The Demo Tape

Recorded at Gosforth Folk Club, 1970

Tape recorded for Packie Russell of Doolin, Co Clare

Andrew Knight, Gosforth Folk Club circa 1970

Andrew Knight, Lesley Briggs - Wedding Invitation / Sally Gardens (Reel)

Knight Family Tunes

Patrick Knight - Paddy Fahy's / The Creel of Turf / Father Quinn's (Jigs)

Songs In The Knight (Part 1)

John Knight - The Scolding Wife

Here's a side of jigs from another Seamus Ennis 78rpm disc from the David Giovannoni Collection. This disc also appears to be from Bill Stapleton's Irish Recording Company, a Presto disc that plays back from the inside out.

David Giovannoni Collection, object id DG 78 00-001.

DG 78 00-001

Seamus Ennis: Kitty's Rambles/Sixpenny Money (jigs)

Nolenslaan

The Ace and Deuce of Piping

‘Knight, Briggs et al’ has been set up to house archival recordings of the folk and traditional music associated with the Knight family of Surrey and the Briggs family of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The collection includes music from the Knight Brothers (Simon, Chris, Andrew & Patrick) and the Briggs Sisters (Anna, Lesley, Astrid, Gael, Stephanie & Claire), amongst others.

Furthermore, the archive serves as a platform for John Knight's culturally priceless 1970's and 80's folk club, tune session and kitchen table recordings, which are slowly but surely being digitised by his descendants. More info here - https://soundcloud.com/knight-briggs-et-al/sets/john-knights-tapes

John Knight - The Scolding Wife

Knight, Briggs et al.