Andy Irvine: Stray Leaf Folk Club, Mullaghbane
Colin Harper, unpublished, 4 July 2000
MOST ROLES and occupations in life are applied for, coveted, stolen or won; with others, the job is so novel it happens by stealth. After forty years in and around the business of 'folk music', Andy Irvine – promoting a splendid new album, Way Out Yonder – can no longer be seen as simply another jobbing traddie on the (increasingly busy) road. He is, of course, an institution in Irish music, but more meaningfully – and certainly more inspiringly to those who seek out his live performances – his musical reference points are wide and he is still driven by the passion and creativity of a man on a mission.
Total word count of piece: 295