Michael McGoldrick
Encyclopedia
Michael McGoldrick is a flute
and tin whistle
player. He also plays the Uilleann pipes
and low whistle
. He is well known for his ability to skate switch and regular with the same level of ability.
.
McGoldrick was a founder-member of Celtic rock
band, Toss the Feathers while still at school. He also competed in the Fleadhanna with Dezi Donnelly (fiddle
) and John-Jo Kelly (bodhrán
) whom he had met at local Comhaltas meetings. He made appearances at various local and national festivals and has run whistle/flute workshops at the Cambridge Folk Festival
and for Folkworks
on their "Flutopia" concert tour.
McGoldrick formed the band Fluke! (later renamed as Flook), with Brian Finnegan
and Sarah Allen in November 1995. After one tour, he left to pursue other projects. He was an early member of Lúnasa
and played on their first two albums.
He joined Capercaillie
in 1997, has played regularly for Afro-Celt Sound System and Kate Rusby
's band. He now leads the Michael McGoldrick Band.
He has recorded three solo albums: Morning Rory showcases his traditional skills, and Fused explores several other musical genres. including trance, while Wired, released in October 2005, takes the experimental approach of Fused even further. His album At First Light with John McSherry
(also ex-Lúnasa) goes back to his traditional roots.
In 2010 Michael is replacing John McCusker
together with Tim O'Brien
during Mark Knopfler
's US leg of the Get Lucky
Tour.
From 1997 until roughly 2000 he was was also a member of Lunasa
.
Irish flute
The term Irish Flute refers to a conical-bore, simple-system wooden flute of the type favored by classical flautists of the early 19th century, or to a flute of modern manufacture derived from this design...
and tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
player. He also plays the Uilleann pipes
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
and low whistle
Low whistle
The low whistle, or concert whistle, is a variation of the traditional tin whistle/pennywhistle, distinguished by its lower pitch and larger size. It is most closely associated with the performances of modern Irish musicians and groups such as Riverdance and Davy Spillane, and is increasingly...
. He is well known for his ability to skate switch and regular with the same level of ability.
Bands
McGoldrick has been a member of several influential bands. In 1994 he was awarded the BBC Young Tradition Award, and in 2001 he was given the Instrumentalist of the Year award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk AwardsBBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
.
McGoldrick was a founder-member of Celtic rock
Celtic rock
Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock and a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context...
band, Toss the Feathers while still at school. He also competed in the Fleadhanna with Dezi Donnelly (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
) and John-Jo Kelly (bodhrán
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
) whom he had met at local Comhaltas meetings. He made appearances at various local and national festivals and has run whistle/flute workshops at the Cambridge Folk Festival
Cambridge Folk Festival
The Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival held on the site of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cherry Hinton, one of the villages subsumed by the city of Cambridge, England. The festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. It occurs...
and for Folkworks
Folkworks
Folkworks is a non-profit organisation based at The Sage Gateshead and a part of the North Music Trust. It runs many workshops, summer schools and festivals to promote and encourage the furtherance of folk music. It was begun in 1988 by Alistair Anderson and Ros Rigby and became part of the North...
on their "Flutopia" concert tour.
McGoldrick formed the band Fluke! (later renamed as Flook), with Brian Finnegan
Brian Finnegan
Brian Finnegan is a tin whistle and flute player from Armagh, Northern Ireland.Finnegan first came to public attention with the Irish group Upstairs in a Tent, and then in 1993 he made a solo album "When the Party's Over", which was recorded at Redesdale Studios. From 1995 he played with Flook, ....
and Sarah Allen in November 1995. After one tour, he left to pursue other projects. He was an early member of Lúnasa
Lúnasa (band)
-History:Named after Lughnasadh, an ancient Irish harvest festival, Lúnasa was started when Seán Smyth, Trevor Hutchinson, and Donogh Hennessy briefly toured through Scandinavia in 1996. Upon their return to Ireland, they teamed up with Michael McGoldrick and John McSherry to record a few tracks...
and played on their first two albums.
He joined Capercaillie
Capercaillie (band)
Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted by Karen Matheson. They have seen four of their albums placed in the UK Albums Chart, and continue to perform and record to the present day.-History:...
in 1997, has played regularly for Afro-Celt Sound System and Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
's band. He now leads the Michael McGoldrick Band.
He has recorded three solo albums: Morning Rory showcases his traditional skills, and Fused explores several other musical genres. including trance, while Wired, released in October 2005, takes the experimental approach of Fused even further. His album At First Light with John McSherry
John McSherry (musician)
John McSherry is an Irish musician who plays the Uilleann pipes and tin whistle. He is known for being a founding member of Lunasa and Coolfin and has performed on recordings by a number of well-known artists in Irish traditional music.-Biography:...
(also ex-Lúnasa) goes back to his traditional roots.
In 2010 Michael is replacing John McCusker
John McCusker
John McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby...
together with Tim O'Brien
Tim O'Brien
Tim O'Brien may refer to:* Tim O'Brien , American author* Timothy O'Brien , Irish professor* Timothy L...
during Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
's US leg of the Get Lucky
Get Lucky (Mark Knopfler album)
Get Lucky is the sixth solo album by Mark Knopfler, released on 14 September 2009 in Europe and 15 September in the United States in three configurations...
Tour.
From 1997 until roughly 2000 he was was also a member of Lunasa
Lúnasa (band)
-History:Named after Lughnasadh, an ancient Irish harvest festival, Lúnasa was started when Seán Smyth, Trevor Hutchinson, and Donogh Hennessy briefly toured through Scandinavia in 1996. Upon their return to Ireland, they teamed up with Michael McGoldrick and John McSherry to record a few tracks...
.
Solo/duo
- Morning Rory – Aughgrim Records AUGH01 (1996)
- Fused – Vertical Records VERTCD051 (2000)
- At First Light (with John McSherry) – Vertical Records VERTCD061 (2001)
- Wired – Vertical Records VERTCD074 (2005)
- Aurora – Vertical Records VERTCD090 (2010)
As band member
- Flook! Live! (Flook) – Small CD 9405 (1996)
- Live at the 32 Club (Toss the Feathers) – ? (1988)
- Rude Awakening (Toss the Feathers) – Magnetic Music MMMRCD301 (1993)
- Columbus Eclipse (Toss the Feathers) – Magnetic Music MMMRCD401 (1989 & 1993)
- Awakening (Toss the Feathers) – ? (1991)
- TTF'94 Live (Toss the Feathers) – ? (1994)
- The Next Round (Toss the Feathers) – Magnetic Music MMMRCD1004 (1995)
- Many Happy Returns (Arcady) – Dara Records DARACD080 (1995)
- Beautiful WastelandBeautiful Wasteland (album)Beautiful Wasteland is an album by folk rock band Capercaillie. It was reissued in North America by Valley Entertainment in 2002.- Track listing :# "M'Ionam"# "Inexile"# "The Tree"# "Am Mur Gorm "# "Beautiful Wasteland"...
(Capercaillie) - Nàdurra (Capercaillie)
- Lúnasa (Lúnasa) (1997)
- Otherworld (Lúnasa) – Green Linnet GLCD1200 (1999)
- Hourglass (Kate Rusby) – Pure Records PRCD02 (1997)
- Sleepless (Kate Rusby) – Pure Records PRCD06 (1999)
- Little Lights (Kate Rusby) – Pure Records PRCD07 (2001)
- Tunes (Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Jim Murray) – Compass (2005)
- Upside Down (Sharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray) – Daisy Label (2006)
- Renegade (Sharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray – Daisy Label (2007)
As guest artist
- 1 Douar (Alan Stivell) (1998)
- Volume One – The Source (Big Sky) (1999)
- Volume Two – Release (Afro-Celt Sound System) (1999)
- identités (Idir)
- Seal Maiden (Karan CaseyKaran CaseyKaran Casey is an Irish folk singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas.-Early years:Casey was born in Ballyduff Lower, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland. Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she...
) - Yella Hoose (John McCuskerJohn McCuskerJohn McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby...
) (2000) - Shots (Damien DempseyDamien DempseyDamien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk with contemporary lyrics to deliver social comment on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society.-Early life:...
) - The Armsdealer's Daughter (ShoogleniftyShoogleniftyShooglenifty are an Edinburgh-based six-piece Celtic fusion band that tours internationally. The band blends Scottish traditional music with influences ranging from electronica to alternative rock...
) (2004) - ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM (Aquarium) (2005)
- Before the RuinBefore the RuinBefore the Ruin is a studio album by Kris Drever, John McCusker and Roddy Woomble, released 15 September 2008 through Navigator Records. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at #156 and the Scottish Albums chart at #45...
(Kris DreverKris DreverKris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water...
, John McCuskerJohn McCuskerJohn McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby...
& Roddy WoombleRoddy WoombleRoderick "Roddy" Woomble is the lead singer of Scottish rock band, Idlewild and a solo contemporary folk musician. To date, Woomble has released six full-length studio albums with Idlewild, and two solo albums, My Secret is My Silence and The Impossible Song & Other Songs...
) (2008) - ImeallImeall- Personnel :*Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - vocals, Irish fiddle, Hardanger fiddle*Manus Lunny - bouzouki, programming, vocals, guitar*Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill - piano*Dónal Lunny - bodhrán*Michael McGoldrick - flute, uileann Pipes*Jim Higgins - percussion, bodhrán...
(Mairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní MhaonaighMairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.-Biography:Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore , County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland....
) (2009) - Get LuckyGet Lucky (Mark Knopfler album)Get Lucky is the sixth solo album by Mark Knopfler, released on 14 September 2009 in Europe and 15 September in the United States in three configurations...
(Mark KnopflerMark KnopflerMark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
) (2009)
External links
- Michael McGoldrick
- [ Review of Fused]
- [ Review of At First Light]
- Review of Aurora by Folk Radio UK