Strawhead Wendy Arrowsmith Jerry O'Reilly

Our next guests 2010 (click all images to enlarge)

Click all images to enlarge

Strawhead (August 13th)

http://www.strawhead.org.uk/

Wendy Arrowsmith (September 3rd)

http://www.wendyarrowsmith.com/

Wendy has sung many different styles of music but with folk music she has found songs that come from the heart and allow great emotional expression and social commentary.  Originally from Glasgow, Wendy performs a mixture of British folk songs including a generous helping of Scottish material plus songs of her own. She generally accompanies herself on guitar, but whistles, bodhran, mandolin and accordion have also been known to appear. Rumour has it that she’s taken up fiddle too, but the same rumour says it will be a long time before it gets a public airing – this is a good thing!

Jerry O'Reilly (September 17th)

http://www.jerryoreilly.net/index.html

While standing in the street I heard a traveller sing The Lowlands of Holland and couldn’t get it out of my mind after that.  Luckily the teacher I had in primary school Jerry Mahony was also the teacher who ran the school choir.  Jerry’s idea of song was Anach Cuain, An Spailpín Fanach, Silent O Moyle, and The West Awake. Another great influence. The songs I sing are songs that I’ve picked up from various sources and people and I’ve been singing and enjoying for years. I’m indebted to all of the wonderful singers that I’ve met over the years who gave of their songs and friendship so freely and who have gone ‘Ar Sli na Firrinnge’:  Frank Harte, Tom Lenihan, Nora Cleary, Mikey ‘Straighty’ Flanagan, Martin Reidy, Con Greaney, Geordie Hanna, Martin Long, Martin Howley, Maggie McGee, Cornie McDaid, Katie Droney, Miko Russell, Frank Bryson, Liz Jeffries, Willie Clancy, Sean Ac Dhonnachda, and many more. “Ar dheis Dé a raibh a N-anam usail”