My mother’s ancestry is Irish and I grew up listening to Irish songs and being told about herprowess in school dancing the Irish Jig; indeed one of my heirlooms is a sash holding all the medals she won from those dancing competitions 100 years ago! And of course St Patrick’s Day was a staple holiday. So the Melbourne Celtic Festival On Tour was a no-brainer!
In Thursday night’s show we were treated to the best of Celtic music with Australian folk band of the year, Austral, direct from Scotland, international sensation, singer, songwriter, harpist,Chloe Matharu, and traditional Irish trio, Bhan Tre,(“Three Girls”). A veritable feast in anyone’s language!
Was it ‘foot-stomping’ moving? Oh, aye! Did it bring a tear to your eye? To be sure, to be sure!It was cracking. They were suckin diesel! (Irish for good – in superlative.) I can’t remember the last time I was stamping my feet to the very first tune and by the end of the night at least a third of the audience were up dancing! Indeed I haven’t bought a CD for a long time. I don’t think I have a player since my old laptop expired. But I bought one last night.
They began the night with Austral and Bhan Tre combined and a right old Hoedown Throwdown number. The one that got me stamping my feet – and not in a cranky way!Austral are: Rhys Crimmin, (guitars,didgeridoo,percussion,harmonica,backing vocals), Connor Hoy,(uilleann pipes,flute,whistle), Angus Barbary,(vocals,fiddle,mandolins,banjo,bodhran),Caity Brennan,(fiddle,backing vocals). Bhan Tre are: Geraldine Davis,(guitar,bodhran,vocals), Sue Foley,(vocals, bodhran,whistle), and Bec Humphreys,(fiddle,vocals.)
Then it was time for Chloe Matharu, harpist, singer/songwriter, with a unique voice and a selection of haunting Scottish Folk songs. Then Bhan Tre returned with their wonderful wistful melodies to take us to interval. The second half belonged to the star act Austral and, to quote King Charles recently, “It was hard to sit still!”
Of all the original material I think my favourite song was the one about driving the Hume Highway from Sydney to Melbourne in an old clunker. (Been there, done that.) This was followed closely by the love song, Beeswing. Beautiful. So Slainte! Erin go Bragh! (“Cheers! Ireland forever!”)
The concert I reviewed took place at Wollongong Town Hall on the 13th March 2025.
