òran mór

We got a special treat at McMenemy’s on Saturday night when a few friends stopped in to play with us, including Eamon Coyne, his son Thomas, Mike Jeanneau, Bill Zecker, Kevin Sheehan and Emery Hutchins. It was great craic — a fun night of music that, luckily, Dave was able to capture on his little recorder.

If you weren’t able to make it Saturday, you can hear a few samples that we’ve posted on our website’s music player…the first five tracks are from Saturday’s session.

The tunes, songs, and fun are ongoing… every Thursday night at McMenemy’s in Portsmouth.  We have enjoyed a long stand there…from back in the days when it was McNotMcMenemy’s… and we like the way that Thursday nights usually shape up – a little quieter than Saturday’s  – but with an intimacy and fun-with-friends atmosphere that’s easy to like.

Please drop by, with some songs or tunes, or just to kick back and listen.

If you missed the festivities, check out some of the photos that Beth Therriault took of us during our Sunday show at Kelley’s Row. She’s a great photog that specializes in events and weddings – and she offered to capture a few shots of òran mór in action. Hey, she’s so talented she makes us look good.

And a special thanks to our friend, the lovely and talented Sue Young, who stepped up on Tuesday to cover for Dave at the noontime gig. She was great, and now we have the makings of a new super group — sú & mór!

I'm not that much shorter than Dave, am I?

The artsy shot

Bob and Dave belt one out

Cross-pollination of tunes and songs is key to keeping the tradition alive, and entails traveling, listening, experiencing other players and singers, bringing new tunes and songs to others, and getting some new ones in return.  òran mór is certainly no exception.

I play at a seisiún in Concord, NH each week with these folks, and they are wonderful! Réagánta has just issued a new CD titled “Cup O’ Tea”, and it’s well worth a listen.  I was fortunate to have attended their CD release concert/party last night at the Elysium Arts Folk Club in Rollinsford, NH.   They presented a lovely mix of songs and tunes, some meancholy, some lively, in various simple and complex arrangements featuring harp, whistle, guitar and bodhrán.

For their last set, they invited all the musicians present to join them, then hosted a little party afterward.  If the reaction of the standing-room-only crowd was any indication, Réagánta (“easygoing” in Irish) will be brewing a strong cup ‘o tea for a long time to come!

The restaurant and pub will be in high gear all day Tuesday, the 17th.

We’ll be playing from 4PM onward until at least 11PM.

We’ll have our usual song and tune repertoire, and some extra surprises from the Clancy Brothers  and other favorites.  Pete has at least one special surprise up his sleeve.

Hoping you can join the fun.