This fourth of July weekend marked the 13th anniversary of the New Bedford Summerfest. The festival showcased some memorable acts such as Boston fav Laura Cortese, Scottish song quintet Malinky, and Quebecois legend Benoit Bourque.
Although the artists do solo shows throughout the weekend, one of the features of the Summerfest is the main stage 'workshops.' Unlike the traditional idea of a workshop, the organisers pair three or more performance acts together to do a show together. This is the first time many of these performers have met, but they all join in one each other's numbers. Some of my favorite highlights were Benoit and Laura doing a Quebecois waltz together, and Malinky, Benoit and the Kennedys doing a Djano Reinhardt minor swing number.
Malinky is no stranger to the folk scene. The band will celebrate their tenth anniversary this winter. Founder Steve Byrne is from Arbroath on the northeast coast of Scotland, and is equally skilled at cittern, bouzouki, guitar, and song. The other original member Mark Dunlop is from Antrim, Ireland and plays the bodhran, whistles, and contributes vocals. Fiona Hunter, vocals and cello, hails from Glasgow, and her beautiful voice leads the band on many numbers. The two newest members are David Wood, from Derbyshire, on guitar and bouzouki and Mike Vass, from Nairn, on fiddle.
This new lineup was debuted this weekend (it being Mike's second and third days with the band), but their performances were as sublime as ever. The band is equally at home with tune sets as with songs, and their repertoire pulls from Scotland, Ireland, England, Brittany, and even Sweden. Although I know the band from Scotland, this was my first time to see the new lineup, and I was very impressed. Look out for their new CD in the upcoming months.
1 comment:
Hey Abbie.... Great account of the festival. I couldn't make it at the last minute. Got to see Malinky in session a few days previously and they are dyno.
Delighted that Laura Cortese will be leading the Urban Ceilidh at ICONS again this year. They are going to be in the Comhaltas area where there is a big solid dance-floor, so it should be a blast.
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