KentFolk Fiddlers Various 2007 Tommy Peoples KentFolk is a supporter of fiddle-forum.

Master Irish fiddler Tommy Peoples from Donegal has accepted an invitation from KentFolk to visit the South East of England in the Summer of 2007, as a Fiddlers Various special event. Tommy Peoples is, quite simply, a living legend, the greatest exponent of the driving Donegal style which is his hallmark. Tommy Peoples was an early member of the Bothy Band, and has recorded numerous CDs (discography: a, b), some of which fail to do him full justice, and from some of which he has received little or no financial recompense. His remarkable self-produced CD "The Quiet Glen" (1998) earned him Ireland's highest accolade as "Traditional Musician of the Year", the first person to be so honored by the Irish Government. In spite of this he is an intensely modest man. At the time Tommy was living and playing regularly in County Clare - KentFolk paid a wonderful 10 day visit in 1999, following Tommy from gig to gig. Tommy then moved to the USA, where he gave many workshops and concerts. More recently Tommy has moved back to his old family home in County Donegal, and we have a chance to hear him again in the UK. Brief Tommy Peoples biography (tradmusic.com).

Catharine Kingcome, who has painted many Irish musicians in addition to the above picture about Tommy, and is a fiddler herself, says of Tommy : "in my opinion probably the best trad Irish fiddle player there's ever been". For myself, I hear a complexity and detail in his playing that I have not heard elsewhere.

KentFolk flew to Scotland just before Christmas 2005 and attended a workshop and recital by Tommy near Glasgow, and also Fiddle 2005 in Edinburgh, where Tommy gave both a talk and a concert. If anything there seemed to be an even greater depth to Tommy's playing.

These days Tommy rarely leaves his beloved Donegal, but KentFolk has arranged for Tommy Peoples to come from Donegal to the South East of England :

Fiddlers Various 2007 - Sussex : Tommy will hold an all-day fiddle workshop at the Lewes Arms, Lewes, near Brighton, Sussex, BN7 1YH, on Saturday 9th June, 2007, and then give an evening concert. The workshop will follow the standard format of Lewes Arms Folk Club workshop days and there will be twenty places at £35 each. Separate tickets for the evening folk club, when Tommy will give a recital, will be available in advance at £6 (maximum fifty people). To register interest in the Lewes Arms events and receive a booking form, please send your postal address to Valmai Goodyear. Full details are also on the club's website www.members.aol.com/lewesarmsfolk. Sorry: both Lewes workshop and concert SOLD OUT when there was still a month to go.

Fiddlers Various 2007 - Kent : The following day, on Sunday 10th June, 2007, Tommy Peoples will come to Kent, and hold a full afternoon's workshop at the excellent Littlebourne Thatched Barn, near Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1TU, followed by an evening concert. Workshop : 2pm - 4.45pm, in the Littlebourne Thatched Barn. Tickets are £20 per place, and places will be limited. Evening Concert : 7:30 pm for 8pm, to about 10:30pm in the Littlebourne Thatched Barn. Tickets are £12 each. Littlebourne Thatched barn is at the intersection of Jubilee Rd. and Church Road, just next to the church (map) - please park in the field. Note: there will be scaffolding up on the Anchor Pub in the centre of Littlebourne, on the 10th. There will be four-way traffic lights on the A257/Bekesbourne Lane junction, so please allow extra time to get to the workshop and concert. If you are interested in the workshop, please print and fill in a Workshop Booking Form, which gives further details. Please send your cheque (made out to "KentFolk") and an SAE and email addresses to : Beau Webber, Kent Folk, G17 Canterbury Enterprise Hub, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent. CT2 7NJ - or more simply, web based booking is now live for the Littlebourne events at www.KentFolk.com/tickets. Any questions : Beau@KentFolk.com

Fiddlers Various 2005 photo report

Tickets for Littlebourne workshop and concert are still available, but the last day I can order the chairs is Tuesday 5th - I will order extra, but to be sure of a seat, please book soon. If you are booking after this date it might be advisable to bring folding chairs, just in case.

Some of Tommy Peoples' CDs, including "The Quiet Glen", are available from Custy's Traditional Music Shop, 1 Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland. (Do a search on their site for "Peoples".)