Hello Christy,
Well it was quite day yesterday. A recording studio on a narrowboat moored in chicken marina. The boat bobbed gently as blue damselflies flitted at the waters edge and birds swooped about and sang.
The whole thing was a great experience. The session was two hours and I went into it thinking I’d be done in 15 minutes. But there was loads of talking and quite a few forms to fill in…
The harp was a tight fit. First time on a narrowboat and they are named well. And it was luned with guitars, mandolin, you name it. At the far end was a sitting space with a great big cushion shaped like a fish. I was installed there, wires all around, mic two inches from my nose and a video camera behind it. Big thing with buttons to do the magic
I was nervous for the first song. Found my feet in the second two. Easy does it, take it easy. I followed exactly what you said. Thankyou for the advice!!
I don’t know what equipment he was using. He let me listen back afterwards.
When I get access to the recording I’ll post something up here. Id love you to have a listen because I’m proud of the noises we captured. As you know, I have no children, so these recording being freed into the wild are precious to me.
Hi Christy, we are heading to see you tonight in the Armagh hotel.
We are taking our 5 year old son to his first concert, he’s been listening to you since he was born.
Please could you sing Don’t forget your shovel for
Conal Kennedy, it would make his day from his mummy and daddy
Heading to the Armagh city hotel tonight to see Christy,
Any chance of hearing Smoke and Strong Whiskey or Missing You and maybe a verse of the Mary from Dungloe 👌
Looking forward to the concert first time in Armagh but been to Derry Barrowland vicar st Letterkenny Sligo and Castlebar I’m sure it’ll be great 👌
Hope all is well Christy. We’re heading for the Armagh City Hotel tomorrow evening. Any chance you’d play Viva La Quinta Brigada for the Gaoth Dobhair lads. 🙏
We’ve been to Vicar St, Barrowlands, Bundoran, Letterkenny, Dunlewy, Dungloe.
Thank you very much for the inspirational and reliable art/music over the years!
Hope there is a follow-up companion book to “One Voice” there in the work room that’ll include chords/transcriptions.
Hopefully you and/or some of your friends will have an inclination to record some more Jackson Browne songs and some additional gems from missing songwriters such as Mike Peters (Wales), Stuart Adamson (Scotland), Neil Peart (Canada), and Michael Been (America).
Regards,
Frank
Christy's reply
Thank you for listening and sharing…
So many wonderful songs on the air
so many writers creating new works
every now and then comes along a songthat tugs at the strings
as time moves on criteria gets reevaluated
some songs from years ago have grown to cringe
others gather fresh momentum and gain new found significence
yet still, some of us must sing… like breathing….meditating, medicating,…
maybe you dont want to say but, which end of the bog you from, how distant are you ??
birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, and some old chanters just gotta sing
in my experience , favourite songs have appeared as if by magic or destiny…..
other songs spring to life out of the blue….some new blood injected…a turn here, a grace note there, a verse becomes a chorus, a chorus becomes a verse
Good evening Christy. Looking forward to attending The Armagh City Hotel on Thursday night with my husband Anthony, an early Father’s Day gift from our boys. I was wondering if possible you could sign a record for him. We purchased a rare brand new copy of “On the road” for his record collection.
Many Thanks
Louise 🎶
Christy's reply
seek out a member of the road crew and we’ll make it even rarer….please enclose a note re dedication
Hi Christy, last Saturday we gathered in de Roma for a tribute to Willem Vermandere, our best folksong singer . He lives in the province of West-Vlaanderen and sang his songs in West Flemish. Now various West Flemish artists performed his songs in de Roma. His son Augustijn, also a singer, was with them. It was fantastic, a bit nostalgic too. Willem has given us so many beautiful songs and gigs. It was a nice celebration, a ray of light in our mad world,
Another light for me was that granddaughter Floor is back from Suriname after six months.
Sunny greethings
Moeke
Christy's reply
such gatherings are so special…to gather with dedicated listeners and to hear a favourite singer is always an emotional experience…..I recall occasions hearing The Watersons, , Brian Wilson,Margaret Barry,The Clancy Brothers, Chris Wood, Jeannie Robertson, Luke Kelly,The McPeakes, ……nights never forgotten
Hello Christy,
I want to thank you for replying to my post with your advice. I feel very grateful that you took the time to put your personal thoughts and experience right in front of me.
I’ll be doing exactly as you advise when I get to the session tomorrow. Simple and easy going. With my sensible head on.
I’ve read very carefully Mark’s requirements. He wants three songs that have no copyright issues, so I could take three of my own or three folk songs that are old enough to not have an author in living memory.
I’ll be singing
Dalesman’s Litany
Spancil Hill (just about old enough…)
Parting Glass.
I’m so looking forward to it.
The harp will be getting a damn good tuning today!
Hello Christy, Hope all is well with you and your’s. On Wednesday I’m off into North Wales to do a bit of recording. Me and the harp, with Steve at the wheel. We’re going to the Narrowboat sessions. Folk singers record three songs with Mark in his narrowboat studio. I’m taking three songs plus Musgrave. It’s longer than he wants but I’m hoping he might let me sing it. I was watching the Planxty 2004 dvd yesterday. Musgrave feels like the best ever story to tell. I love it.
Rebecca
Christy's reply
hope it goes well
I’ll share something
at this early point in your recording you might consider keeping it simple
prob best fit in with the ethos of the Narrowboat Session….
save recording the big songs until such time as it is your own session
I think I was 10 years into recording studios before I felt equipped to take on the “big” songs
take it easy, easy does it
Morra Christy,
Yesterday i had enjoyment listening to one of the box set CDs.
Your intro to Middle of the Island was well said, glad to see online the DRCC is still on the go, though of course we all wish it were not needed.
The Box Set is such a joy , thanks for its creation.
Rory
Christy's reply
Rory…it means a lot to receive your comments, to know that these old recordings still resonate….I must go back and listen to the intro you reference…I’m hopin to record that song again as part of a specific project
Hi Christy,
As always C4N leads the way with the important and truthful news.
Tonight they reported on Mexico’s equivalent to El Salvador’s Los Desaparecidos , as Jalisco is the place with the unwelcome record of having the largest populus of Los Disperados. There are the glaant Mothers of the Missing who have searched with rudimentary tools and hands to find their relatives bodies for well over 10 years, many Mothers having themselves been ‘disappeared’ for their work.
They interviewed ‘the crow’, a horrid beast we admitted killing 100 people and chopping up their bodies.
Thank goodness that good people like Wally Page have been writing songs, and those who sing those songs, about people like these, and stand to be counted…..mama’s still waiting for someone to say, Zara Christina was found yesterday,the ghost of not knowing still leads her away, Zara Christina was missing……
Rory
Thanks Christy for a great concert.
45 years ago, me and my sister hitchhiked around Ireland. You gave us a lift and tickets to your concert in the National Stadium that evening.
A lot has happened since. I married an Irishman, lived in Dublin for more than 10 years, moved back to Belgium and since 2 years we have a holiday home in Ireland. I got 2 tickets for your concert in the National Concert Hall for my sister’s birthday. We sang along with every song. Thanks a lot for all your songs over the years.
I watched “In Time Donal Lunny” at the Irish Film Festival in Tokyo.
It was a wonderful Nuala O’Connor’s production team, I was moved and saddened at the same time, and tears drop down in my eyes. It’s difficult to put this feeling into words. . .
Christy's reply
greetings Yas….
thanks for sharing news of the film being shown in Tokyo…
its remarkable how our Trad & Folk Music has travelled so well to distant countries..
I regret never having visited Japan….other players have shared their experiences while performing there
I too was deeply moved and saddened when Donal & I performed “Natives” in the film ….but those feelings never shadow the joyful music we played together across the decades that preceded…
always good to get news from the Far East
Well Christy, the 2026 World Cup kicks off tomorrow. Thanks to F.I.F.A. and the likes of Infantino the once ‘beautiful game’ becomes more ugly, greedy, & corrupt by the day. I’ve attended football matches for almost 60 years but I don’t intend to spend a single minute watching this years tournament. Football, stolen from the poor and needy by the rich and greedy. Joxer (along with Jinky & Bestie) would be turning in his grave. 2DC John
Christy's reply
Infantino, Blatter, Trump ,Delaney,
rotten peas in the same pod
Good luck in Armagh tonight Christy, I’m sure those lucky enough to be in attendance will come away with memories so glorious and grand.
Hello Christy,
Well it was quite day yesterday. A recording studio on a narrowboat moored in chicken marina. The boat bobbed gently as blue damselflies flitted at the waters edge and birds swooped about and sang.
The whole thing was a great experience. The session was two hours and I went into it thinking I’d be done in 15 minutes. But there was loads of talking and quite a few forms to fill in…
The harp was a tight fit. First time on a narrowboat and they are named well. And it was luned with guitars, mandolin, you name it. At the far end was a sitting space with a great big cushion shaped like a fish. I was installed there, wires all around, mic two inches from my nose and a video camera behind it. Big thing with buttons to do the magic
I was nervous for the first song. Found my feet in the second two. Easy does it, take it easy. I followed exactly what you said. Thankyou for the advice!!
I don’t know what equipment he was using. He let me listen back afterwards.
When I get access to the recording I’ll post something up here. Id love you to have a listen because I’m proud of the noises we captured. As you know, I have no children, so these recording being freed into the wild are precious to me.
Rebecca
Hi Christy, we are heading to see you tonight in the Armagh hotel.
We are taking our 5 year old son to his first concert, he’s been listening to you since he was born.
Please could you sing Don’t forget your shovel for
Conal Kennedy, it would make his day from his mummy and daddy
Thank you!
Paula
Heading to the Armagh city hotel tonight to see Christy,
Any chance of hearing Smoke and Strong Whiskey or Missing You and maybe a verse of the Mary from Dungloe 👌
Looking forward to the concert first time in Armagh but been to Derry Barrowland vicar st Letterkenny Sligo and Castlebar I’m sure it’ll be great 👌
Hope all is well Christy. We’re heading for the Armagh City Hotel tomorrow evening. Any chance you’d play Viva La Quinta Brigada for the Gaoth Dobhair lads. 🙏
We’ve been to Vicar St, Barrowlands, Bundoran, Letterkenny, Dunlewy, Dungloe.
Peace Christy,
Thank you very much for the inspirational and reliable art/music over the years!
Hope there is a follow-up companion book to “One Voice” there in the work room that’ll include chords/transcriptions.
Hopefully you and/or some of your friends will have an inclination to record some more Jackson Browne songs and some additional gems from missing songwriters such as Mike Peters (Wales), Stuart Adamson (Scotland), Neil Peart (Canada), and Michael Been (America).
Regards,
Frank
Thank you for listening and sharing…
So many wonderful songs on the air
so many writers creating new works
every now and then comes along a songthat tugs at the strings
as time moves on criteria gets reevaluated
some songs from years ago have grown to cringe
others gather fresh momentum and gain new found significence
yet still, some of us must sing… like breathing….meditating, medicating,…
maybe you dont want to say but, which end of the bog you from, how distant are you ??
birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, and some old chanters just gotta sing
in my experience , favourite songs have appeared as if by magic or destiny…..
other songs spring to life out of the blue….some new blood injected…a turn here, a grace note there, a verse becomes a chorus, a chorus becomes a verse
Good evening Christy. Looking forward to attending The Armagh City Hotel on Thursday night with my husband Anthony, an early Father’s Day gift from our boys. I was wondering if possible you could sign a record for him. We purchased a rare brand new copy of “On the road” for his record collection.
Many Thanks
Louise 🎶
seek out a member of the road crew and we’ll make it even rarer….please enclose a note re dedication
Hi Christy, last Saturday we gathered in de Roma for a tribute to Willem Vermandere, our best folksong singer . He lives in the province of West-Vlaanderen and sang his songs in West Flemish. Now various West Flemish artists performed his songs in de Roma. His son Augustijn, also a singer, was with them. It was fantastic, a bit nostalgic too. Willem has given us so many beautiful songs and gigs. It was a nice celebration, a ray of light in our mad world,
Another light for me was that granddaughter Floor is back from Suriname after six months.
Sunny greethings
Moeke
such gatherings are so special…to gather with dedicated listeners and to hear a favourite singer is always an emotional experience…..I recall occasions hearing The Watersons, , Brian Wilson,Margaret Barry,The Clancy Brothers, Chris Wood, Jeannie Robertson, Luke Kelly,The McPeakes, ……nights never forgotten
Hello Christy,
I want to thank you for replying to my post with your advice. I feel very grateful that you took the time to put your personal thoughts and experience right in front of me.
I’ll be doing exactly as you advise when I get to the session tomorrow. Simple and easy going. With my sensible head on.
I’ve read very carefully Mark’s requirements. He wants three songs that have no copyright issues, so I could take three of my own or three folk songs that are old enough to not have an author in living memory.
I’ll be singing
Dalesman’s Litany
Spancil Hill (just about old enough…)
Parting Glass.
I’m so looking forward to it.
The harp will be getting a damn good tuning today!
Rebecca x
Hello Christy, Hope all is well with you and your’s. On Wednesday I’m off into North Wales to do a bit of recording. Me and the harp, with Steve at the wheel. We’re going to the Narrowboat sessions. Folk singers record three songs with Mark in his narrowboat studio. I’m taking three songs plus Musgrave. It’s longer than he wants but I’m hoping he might let me sing it. I was watching the Planxty 2004 dvd yesterday. Musgrave feels like the best ever story to tell. I love it.
Rebecca
hope it goes well
I’ll share something
at this early point in your recording you might consider keeping it simple
prob best fit in with the ethos of the Narrowboat Session….
save recording the big songs until such time as it is your own session
I think I was 10 years into recording studios before I felt equipped to take on the “big” songs
take it easy, easy does it
Morra Christy,
Yesterday i had enjoyment listening to one of the box set CDs.
Your intro to Middle of the Island was well said, glad to see online the DRCC is still on the go, though of course we all wish it were not needed.
The Box Set is such a joy , thanks for its creation.
Rory
Rory…it means a lot to receive your comments, to know that these old recordings still resonate….I must go back and listen to the intro you reference…I’m hopin to record that song again as part of a specific project
Hi Christy,
As always C4N leads the way with the important and truthful news.
Tonight they reported on Mexico’s equivalent to El Salvador’s Los Desaparecidos , as Jalisco is the place with the unwelcome record of having the largest populus of Los Disperados. There are the glaant Mothers of the Missing who have searched with rudimentary tools and hands to find their relatives bodies for well over 10 years, many Mothers having themselves been ‘disappeared’ for their work.
They interviewed ‘the crow’, a horrid beast we admitted killing 100 people and chopping up their bodies.
Thank goodness that good people like Wally Page have been writing songs, and those who sing those songs, about people like these, and stand to be counted…..mama’s still waiting for someone to say, Zara Christina was found yesterday,the ghost of not knowing still leads her away, Zara Christina was missing……
Rory
Thanks Christy for a great concert.
45 years ago, me and my sister hitchhiked around Ireland. You gave us a lift and tickets to your concert in the National Stadium that evening.
A lot has happened since. I married an Irishman, lived in Dublin for more than 10 years, moved back to Belgium and since 2 years we have a holiday home in Ireland. I got 2 tickets for your concert in the National Concert Hall for my sister’s birthday. We sang along with every song. Thanks a lot for all your songs over the years.
Isabelle and Bambi from Belgium/
welcome back….
I watched “In Time Donal Lunny” at the Irish Film Festival in Tokyo.
It was a wonderful Nuala O’Connor’s production team, I was moved and saddened at the same time, and tears drop down in my eyes. It’s difficult to put this feeling into words. . .
greetings Yas….
thanks for sharing news of the film being shown in Tokyo…
its remarkable how our Trad & Folk Music has travelled so well to distant countries..
I regret never having visited Japan….other players have shared their experiences while performing there
I too was deeply moved and saddened when Donal & I performed “Natives” in the film ….but those feelings never shadow the joyful music we played together across the decades that preceded…
always good to get news from the Far East
Well Christy, the 2026 World Cup kicks off tomorrow. Thanks to F.I.F.A. and the likes of Infantino the once ‘beautiful game’ becomes more ugly, greedy, & corrupt by the day. I’ve attended football matches for almost 60 years but I don’t intend to spend a single minute watching this years tournament. Football, stolen from the poor and needy by the rich and greedy. Joxer (along with Jinky & Bestie) would be turning in his grave. 2DC John
Infantino, Blatter, Trump ,Delaney,
rotten peas in the same pod