By Paddy McCarthy
I was all over Long Island over the weekend as on Saturday we headed out to Montauk, the last stop on the train, you could see Ireland almost from there, just kidding. The town was packed and traffic, forget about it as it was at a crawling pace. That is the only spoiler as you could not ask for anything better than their sandy beaches . That’s the good news the not so good news is everything is booked and I do mean hotels, camp sites and rooms, all booked up and very high rates, now you’ve got it. I got out of town early as I knew that the congestion of people and cars leaving meant the journey would take hours, so I took the highway fast.
Montauk, New York, is a village at the east end of the Long Island peninsula. It’s known for its beaches, like Ditch Plains, with its strong Atlantic surf. At the peninsula’s tip, Montauk Point State Park is home to the 1796 Montauk Point Lighthouse. A museum in the keeper’s house displays historical documents signed by George Washington. Camp Hero State Park, once a military base, has WWII bunkers and a radar tower, so it is still worth a visit.
Now Sunday was so different as we headed out to Origin Point on the North Shore of Long Island. You’ve got to check it out as it is just beautiful and well worth a visit and their are lots of wineries on the way out or in to stop at for one or two glasses just to test, which I did. You can keep your French wine as Long Island has some of the best wines in the world. I should know because I did taste a lot of them in my travels ha-ha!
Here is a cause that is near to my heart and my friend Shane Humphries has put his heart and soul in to this to make it a huge success and that is the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s 5K Run and Walk which will be held on Sunday, September 25 starting at 9:30 am from the Ikea Parking Lot 9 (1 Beard Street in Brooklyn). If anyone is of a mind to sponsor him in this event you can do so at runsignup.com/Race/118632/Donate/DSSOI6pNwvRJtdv8.
As I was Out&About on Long Island last Saturday evening, I came across this fabulous session that was happening in a place called Ralph’s Fishing Station and Marina. It was unbelievable, a full blown Irish traditional session going on outdoors with all the tables full and singing along with the group that must have had ten musicians playing together, it was just brilliant. I was told that this is the regular Grafton Street Open Irish Session at Ralph’s Fishing Station (250 Harbor Beach Road in Mount Sinai; (631) 331-6655) and the session is an outgrowth of the Bob Morris Irish Band, a traditional Irish band performing songs and tunes across the island for over 20 years.
The band has survived, largely due to the commitment of Brian and John Morris, nephews of founder Bob Morris and the talents of Father Bill Brisoti. The open Irish Session began at the Grafton Street Pub some time in 2018 or 2019. It has since moved on to numerous sites around Long Island and continues to nurture players of all levels. You can find them on Face Book as the Grafton Street Open Irish Session. The BMIB continues to bring their broad repertoire to Katie’s in Smithtown on a monthly basis. They too have a Facebook Page. You have to check this out and hear them as it’s like walking to a country pub and listening to real Irish traditional music and having a pint as well.
As I am still on the music as I am always, here is a group coming out from Ireland to play in Connolly’s in Time Square (121 West 45th Street) on September 15th and I checked them out and all I can say is that you should go and see them when they play. The name of the band is All Folk’d Up and it will be Half Way to St Patrick’s Day. This will be the start of their US Tour.
The band, who play contemporary Irish Folk-Rock, were originally formed in Dublin by banjo virtuoso and lead singer Pauric Mohan while studying for a music degree there. He soon brought in younger brother Barry and other members to bolster the band’s line-up. After polishing their live set with a full band line up, All Folk’d Up soon landed themselves a residency at Dublin’s world-famous Temple Bar, developing a devoted and impassioned fanbase along the way.
From those early days in Dublin the band have evolved and captured fans from all over the world. Sell out shows ensued in Ireland and the UK, and the band have impressed festival audiences in Europe, America, Germany and Spain throughout their tenure.
All Folk’d Up have garnered a reputation as one of the best bands on the Irish folk circuit with a unique ability to rework old Irish folk and traditional songs, sprinkling their own modern and up-tempo twist; fans have become accustomed to hearing bouncing melodies, enticing lyrical stories, vintage Folk-Rock sounds with jaw-dropping banjo progressions.
The band released their hugely successful self-titled debut album in 2013 and, after extensive touring, All Folk’d Up released their enormously popular follow up “Draw Back the Curtain” in 2016.
With the imposition of lockdowns in 2020 the band recorded and live streamed a show from County Armagh on St. Patrick’s Day, later releasing the recording as a live album, “Live at The Market Place”.
Recording is currently underway for the group’s third studio album for release in the autumn. 2022 is looking like a pinnacle year for the band with early performances including Tradfest in January and a debut Arena performance at the SSE Arena, Belfast at the Farmers Bash festival. The band are gearing up to stun crowds on the festival circuit in Ireland and the UK this summer and now in the US in September.
Tickets for this show $20 at the door with the show beginning at 8:30 pm. For more info go to www.allfolkdup.ie. I hope to be there myself because they sound fabulous.
See you all next week when I am Out&About again.