The Cottars at Night Eagle Cafe

[Joe]

I've reserved my tickets for The Cottars' Aug, 27 appearance at the cafe in Oxford, NY.

Watch this space for updates!

[Joe]

Only seven days to go 'til Oxford NY!! I've booked my accomodation in Norwich NY...I wonder if the group have booked the same place as it's really the only hotel around.

The doors at the cafe open at 7.30 so I plan to be there at quarter past. I'm expecting the performance to last approx. an hour and a half.

Then I can tell everyone that I've been to Oxford... would've prefered Cambridge! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Joe]

The Cottars performed some songs that are not on their CD's at their Lake George, NY appearance. I'm thinking that the songs were done to showcase their amazing abilities.

Si Bheg, Si Mor (So Big, So Little) ...Jimmy - guitar MIDI file
Tullochgorum ...Roseanne - fiddle... click here for sheet music and MIDI file
Lament For Lost Books ...Fiona - penny whistle...also on Tony Mac Mahon's CD 'from Claire'
Right Field ...Ciaran - piano... (NO info)

Perhaps they will perform these songs at Night Eagle Cafe.

[Joe]

Hi all,
I'll be in central New York State all weekend to see The Cottars performance in Oxford. Since HWI are now affliated with The Cottars, I shall give a brief report late on Sunday or Monday. A complete review will follow. I also plan to provide photos of the group and myself... <-----dart}}}}}]

Have a good Bank Holiday Monday to all my wonderful friends in the UK...talk to you all soon!!

Joe

[HWI]

Hi Joe,

I will look forward to your report and photos. Hope you get a chance to meet them for a brief chat.

You lucky devil! Getting to see the Cottars live.

Cheers,
Keith.

[Joe]

Hi all,

Here's a brief report about The Cottars concert on Saturday.

It was just an amazing event. Every seat in the cafe was taken. The group performed nearly two-dozen songs; and the concert was over two hours in length. I got all of The Cottars autographs, chatted with them for a bit, and took lots of pictures.

Keith, I met up with Beverly MacGillivray (Fiona and Ciaran's mum) outside during the intermission and mentioned your name. She gave me a smile and said 'oh, that's right, he's from England ...but my husband Allister would know more', added Beverly.

(I told her that Keith sends his regards.)

So I went back into the cafe and made my way to Allister, who was adjusting a microphone on the stage. He knew that Keith ran a website. Allister said, 'Hayley...Hayley... ' and, looking at my sweatshirt, said 'Hayley Westenra International!' He knew that Hayley was eighteen but didn't know about Hayley's new CD.

My goodbyes to The Cottars at the end of their performance was really nice...but I would see everyone again on Sunday...

Check back soon for a full report and pictures!

[Joe]

The Cottars' performance at Night Eagle Café, Oxford NY. August 27, 2005

A review in two parts by Joe Sukenick,
The Cottars correspondent for Hayley Westenra International

PART ONE
It was a bright and sparkling day as my family headed up the interstate highway into New York State. After reaching our hotel, we journeyed to the village of Oxford. We located the Night Eagle Café about 6 PM. I was pleased to see The Cottars performing sound checks. I met the café manager at the door and confirmed that he had my name down for a table of four.

My family and I left the café steps and made our way to an Italian restaurant on the next street. After ordering dinner, I spotted people exiting the café. It was the two girls of the group, Fiona and Roseanne. Both of them came into the restaurant and were later joined by the other group members Ciarán and Jimmy. Shortly after that a woman and a gentleman wearing a black Cottars t-shirt entered the restaurant. It was none other than Allister MacGillivray (father of Ciarán and Fiona) and his wife Beverly. All eight people were seated at a table at the back of the restaurant. Of course I am too excited to eat.

It's now 7:00 and we leave the restaurant. Upon returning to the café, the door was locked, and the café manager was arranging the tables. Soon after, people begin queueing behind us. Finally the door was opened at 7:30 and paid the $20. I couldn't beleive how small the stage was...the place couldn't hold more than 50 people by the look of it. I located my table...it's on the right of the stage. There was NO way that I could see the group this way. Thankfully the manager allowed us to swap tables to a more central spot.

Eight o'clock comes around. The place is jam packed and people are still coming in. Finally The Cottars take the stage at quarter past. The group began with a catchy fiddle medley. Ciarán then introduced the other members of the group...


"Calling On Song" was next and is The Cottars 'intro song'. This was followed by a guitar and piano medley. The Pogues' "Poor Paddy"...a song about life on the railway was next. Ciarán's tin whistle and Fiona's a capella singing of "Suilean Dubh" ...meaning 'dark eyes' ...resulted in a standing ovation by the audience.

Jimmy's brilliant guitar style started the next song. A joyous medley followed; soon after that "Innis Aigh", a colorful song. "The Boholla Medley", consisting of four jigs played on the fiddle and tin whistle was a crowd favorite. A local Cape Breton song about fishing was next.

The first half of the show concluded with "The Honeysuckle Medley" with Fiona on tin whistle.

READ ON TO PART TWO !!

[Joe]

The Cottars performance at Night Eagle Café, Oxford NY. August 27, 2005

A review in two parts by Joe Sukenick,
The Cottars correspondent for Hayley Westenra International

PART TWO (welcome back!)

Intermission took place around 9:15. My family and I exited the café for some fresh air. I spotted Beverly MacGillivray outside and I approached her. I asked if she remembered a Mr Keith Sheel recently. She replied 'from England', then added 'my husband Allister knows more.' I mentioned that we saw them at the restaurant. I learned that The Cottars and family were spending the night in the same hotel as my family! I thanked her and told her that Keith sends his regards.

I headed back inside and introduced myself to Allister, who was busily adjusting a microphone stand. He knew that Keith runs a website for Hayley. I told him that many fans are keen on The Cottars in the UK. I gave him a card to autograph and thanked him.

Young Jimmy MacKenzie brought a guitar to the stage...I handed him a photo I printed. It was Ciarán's photo. Oh well...I knew I was going to get them mixed up. Now a wooden board was placed across the stage...a little Irish Stepdancing was in store!

I resumed my seat and saw Ciarán talking to some of the audience. I waited for a bit and got his autograph. He liked the card containing his photo.

The twenty-minute intermission ended and Jimmy played his solo, "Green Eyes" on his guitar. It was beautiful and melodic. Ciarán's solo turn was called "Right Field"...a song about a small boy learning how to be a baseball star. The crowd was given a chance to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

Fiona and Rosanne joined the boys for "The Boy's Lament Medley", a group of Cape Breton reels. Next was Fiona's solo, "Lament For Lost Books"...a very powerful and emotional rendition on the tin whistle. "Tullachgorum" was Roseanne's solo turn. This song is a showcase for her amazing fiddle dexterity.

Roseanne, after catching her breath, said that they don't normally take requests. But "Ready For the Storm" was performed next. Brilliant vocals by Fiona! The Planxty Mira Medley was awesome and features a piece written by Ciarán. The song "The Brier and The Rose" is now a signature tune of The Cottars. The song was so moving that a few members of the audience has tears in their eyes.

The final song was "The Bodhrán/Fiddle Medley". Fiona instructed the audience to stomp their feet to get a rhythm going throughout the song. The group, with the exception of Jimmy, broke out in a rapid stepdance at the end of the song. The group left the stage to a risen crowd.

But the group made an encore. The Cottars performed "The Parting Glass" to a clapping audience. The night ended with "The Three Polka Song" comprised of fast Nova Scotian tunes.

The highlight of the evening was still to come. I saw Fiona and Roseanne near the back door of the café. I asked them for their autograph. Roseanne asked me if I collected autographs. I replied "Only from famous people!" This caused her to break out in a fit of laughter. The two girls graciously and without hesitation posed with me for a one-in-a-million picture...

Upon making out way out the front of the café, I thanked Bev for her kindness and young Ciarán for a wonderful performance. I wished them well and headed back to the car. I spent a while going over the events of the evening in my head and began rewriting my notes.

It's now Sunday Morning. I return to the hotel room after a light breakfast. Who do I see but Allister, who's room is only a few doors away from mine! He didn't see me though. My mother and I even shared the elevator with Ciarán, who had his suitcase. He said that their next concert was in ten hours...and the trip to Pawling, NY will take five hours. Ciarán joined his family at the entrance at the back of reception, all loading their cases in a minivan. Roseanne saw me and waved at me. I then see Fiona and her parents John and Valerie exiting the main doors on the other side of the hotel. I considered asking the four Cottars to all be in a picture with me. I felt that this would definitely be invading their privacy; they must be on a strict time schedule anyway. But I was happy to see them drive off...I'll have so many memories.

I was such a pleasure meeting The Cottars and their families. Very kind and personable to their fans. The concert was unforgettable.

I hope all of you like my review and the pictures.
Thank you kindly,
Joe

[HWI]

Hi Joe,

Thank you for an excellent review. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it, even though it makes me jealous that I wasn't there. But, obviously, a great night was had by all.

And thank you for the photos. I particularly like the one of you with Fiona and Roseanne. They look so happy and, at last, we know what you look like.

Let's hope it's not too long before you get to see them again.

Keith.

[Richard]

Hello Joe!

Thank you for the excellent review and great pictures. I'm glad you had a good time, and it's good to see what you look like at last!

Now I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of you with Hayley! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes from London,

Richard

[roger]

Hi Joe,

Many thanks for your fine review. I can imagine what the atmosphere must have been like in a small venue such as that - probably quite electrifying during some of the jigs and reels? All super stuff. I am even more impatient now to receive their two CDs which are currently on order.

All the best, Joe
Roger

[HWI]

I ahve only one thing to say in response to that, Roger.

I've got them and, in the words of that famous character Tony, "they're Grrrrrrrreat!".

Keith.

[roger]

Haha, Tony said that so often, they should have made a "cereal" of it!

Apologies to anyone who isn't aware of the advert for Kellogs Frosties!

Seriously, I have been hoping for a group to come along to *replace* the Rankin Family. From what Joe and others have said, I may have found them in The Cottars. I'll let you know when the CDs arrive.

Roger

[Joe]

Hi all,

Thanks for your kind words. During some of the songs, the crowd was really into it...clapping and stomping their feet like mad.

It was so cool to seem all at both the restaurant and at my hotel. Two wonderful families they are. They share the same magic that Hayley has with her parents.

If you look at the picture of the me and the girls, it looks like either someone was blowing bubbles or there was a disco ball above us. I don't know the cause it; it must me my electric charm!

Here's one more picture of some stepdancing...

[Joe]

Here's an article from the Binghamton, NY Press & Sun-Bulletin about The Cottars' appearance at the Night Eagle Cafe in Oxford NY.

Above link is © Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin