CambridgeFolkFestival2012-2

CONCERT & FESTIVAL IMAGES

- 2012 -

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL SATURDAY 28th JULY 2012

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Clannad's start late evening Saturday was delayed due to technical reasons in setting up the stage but the wait was worth it. They were the reason I had booked in the first place. I had been to a number of the lead singer's solo concerts, but never with the band Clannad, a family group formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal, composed of siblings Moya Brennan (Irish: Máire Ní Bhraonáin), Ciarán Brennan (Irish: Ciarán Ó Braonáin), Pól Brennan (Irish: Pól Ó Braonáin, who left in 1990 and rejoined in 2011) and their twin uncles Noel Duggan (Irish: Noel Ó Dúgáin) and Pádraig Duggan (Irish: Pádraig Ó Dúgáin). Their sister/niece Enya (Irish: Eithne Ní Bhraonáin) left the group in 1981 to pursue a solo career. The original band members were scheduled to perform at the esteemed festival. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, traditional Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant.

It's the younger members of the band who exude the most energy on stage, notably Pól , Ciarán and Moya Brennan. Moya, centre stage, takes lead vocals whilst on occasions, accompanying herself on harp. They played a number of the more popular hits from their vast repertoire, including the theme to Harry's Game, which remains the only hit single in the UK ever to be sung entirely in Irish Gaelic, as well as the theme song to the movie The Last of The Mohicans, whilst also tapping into the more traditional earlier music. Not having seen them before, it's hard to say whether they are still as good as they were in the most prolific period of the musical history, in the 1980's and 1990's. Their last studio album "Landmarks" was recorded in 1997. They are rumoured to be recording a new album.

Clannad