Daoirí Farrell: ‘The Creggan White Hare’

I’ve long suspected that the ideal folk festival for me to attend exists in Britain, not in North America. The lineup at this year’s Cambridge Folk Festival is proving me right.

For example, here’s Daorí Farrell playing his version of ‘The Creggan White Hare’.

Here’s what the Festival website has to say about him:

A former electrician, who decided to change profession after seeing Christy Moore perform on Irish TV, Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell is being described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years, and has delivered the album to prove them right.

Six months after releasing the album ‘True Born Irishman’ Daoirí won two prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017 for Best Newcomer, and Best Traditional Track and also performed live at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Here’s his website.

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Stan Rogers: ‘Field Behind the Plow’

And for a final Canada Day weekend bonus: Stan singing his great western farming song ‘Field Behind the Plow’

Stan Rogers: ‘Northwest Passage’

And to finish off our festival of Canadian music for Canada Day weekend, there can really only be one closing song.

James Keelaghan: ‘Kiri’s Piano’

For this Canada Day holiday Monday, one of Canada’s finest living songwriters plays one of his finest songs.

Gordon Lightfoot: ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’

Our Canada weekend continues with Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’. I have a very clear memory of the time I first heard this song on the radio; at the time I was used to short lyrical songs, so a longer, narrative piece seemed a little unusual to me. Now that I sing traditional songs, I understand the form a lot better. I think this is a true Canadian classic – but then, so many of Lightfoot’s songs fit into that category!

Arrogant Worms: ‘Canada’s Really Big’ and ‘Carrot Juice is Murder’

Two for the price of one tonight. Yes, folks, this is the Arrogant Worms in all their glory.

Bruce Cockburn: ‘All the Diamonds’ and ‘Gifts’

Forty years after I first heard ‘All the Diamonds’ in a live concert at Ontario Place, it’s still one of my favourites. ‘Gifts’ was a new one for me, though, and I like it too. Note that Bruce is playing a baritone guitar here.