A Maine Irish Song Project Workshop with Castlebay
Sunday, November 16th
12:00pm-3:00pm
Go deeper into the living tradition of Maine’s Irish songs with an intimate, hands-on workshop led by Castlebay (Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee), Maine’s premier Celtic folk duo. Building on their concert performance, this workshop will guide participants through the fascinating process of uncovering, preserving, and performing songs collected in Maine’s Irish communities during the early 20th century.
This workshop offers a unique opportunity to not only enjoy Maine’s traditional Irish songs but to actively engage with them. Whether you are a musician, singer, historian, or simply curious about Maine’s cultural heritage, you’ll come away with new insights into the stories, humor, and humanity woven into this potent musical legacy.
About the Artists
Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee have been exploring and transcribing archives of music collected in Maine in the early 20th century. Collectors ranged throughout the state gathering hundreds of traditional songs many of which are from Ireland brought by the people emigrating and settling here and working on the coast, in the woods, farms and factories. Field recordings and journals document over 1000 songs from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance. In addition to singing these versions of old Irish music, Castlebay will share the lore and history of this potent musical legacy which embodies stories of romance and rogues, shipwreck and survival as well as a good dose of humor and blarney. The duo has transcribed many of these songs, “mending” them, and publishing a series titled “Bygone Ballads of Maine”. Volume 1, “Songs of Ships and Sailors” was presented by Loomis House Press in 2021 and is available in local bookstores as well as online. Castlebay has recorded two albums of these songs “Bound Away” and “The Maid on the Shore” which are available from their website. A subsequent volume and recording of Maine’s Irish songs is in process.
For over 30 years, Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Scotland, England and Ireland being appreciated at arts centers, folk clubs, festivals, schools and on radio and television. They have released over two dozen recordings and their music has been used on numerous video soundtracks. More information is available at their website www.castlebay.net
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