Make Me An Island

Where Paris Takes Us: Sansbut and the Music of Chance

Sansbut is the first release on David Kitt's new Awayday label.
 
At the heart of the record are a series of powerful collaborations with Saxophonist Catherine Sikora that happened spontaneously at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris during lockdown this summer.
 
In this Episode #35 of Make Me An island, Dónal Dineen gets both sides of the story.
 
https://sansbut.bandcamp.com/album/vol-1
 
https://catherinesikora.bandcamp.com/
 
https://davidkitt.bandcamp.com/
 
 

The Swashbuckling Style of Julia Clifford and the Sliabh Luachra sound

Recorded at The Kino in Washington Street, Cork, Donal Dineen presents an introduction to the fiddle-playing magic of Julia Clifford and a rough guide to the music of Sliabh Luachra.
Musician, soldier-on-the-ground and longtime advocate of the Sliabh Luachra sound, Eoin Stan O' Sullivan, is our guide and illustrator.
https://sliabhluachra.bandcamp.com/releases
http://kinocork.com/
 

Fresh Éire

Dónal Dineen takes a deep dive through all the new music released by Irish artists since the summer.
Patrick Kelleher joins him in the second half to talk about his comeback EP Stereolith forthcoming on Remote Town records.
https://patrick-kelleher.bandcamp.com/
 

Make Me an Islander #6 with Hilary Woods

Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the Scottish maverick genius Ivor Cutler and his album Privilege.
 
Hilary Woods then joins Dónal for a deep dive into her last two records, Colt and Birthmarks, as well as a trip through some her favourite tunes from Sybille Baier to Eartha Kitt.
 
https://hilarywoodsmusic.bandcamp.com/

Digs from the Floor

In an extended Lockdown Episode #31, Dónal introduces some new music from Loraine James and Star Feminine Band before checking in with two leading Irish lights stateside.
 
First up is acclaimed author and all-round total legend, Maeve Higgins, who discusses post-election relief on the ground in Brooklyn as well as her sterling work for the New York Times and other publications.
 
Then it's onto Los Angeles to check back in with B+. As well as making art and films and writing and lecturing, B+ remains a committed vinyl digger and here he puts together four short sets of 'Digs from the Floor' especially for us.
 
As well as being a significant player, he also talks a good game and the chats in-between sets are lengthy and strong. 

Make Me An Islander Special Edition with Eoghan O Ceannabháin and Ultan O Brien.

To celebrate the release of their debut album Solas An Lae and to mark the 30th episode of Make Me An Island, Eoghan and Ultan join Dónal for an extended birthday edition.
In between a feast of live music they discuss the provenance of the songs and the making of the record in Scotland.
https://eoghanultan.bandcamp.com/album/solas-an-lae-the-light-of-the-day

Make Me An Islander #5 with Cormac Begley

For the second show of the Lockdown #2 series, Dónal Dineen is joined by the concertina master from West Kerry, Cormac Begley.  There’s a handful of live tunes as well as discussions on subjects ranging from the origins of his sound, inspiration, and his role in the acclaimed dance production Mám by Michael Keegan-Dolan.
 
https://cormacbegley.bandcamp.com/
 
 

From Ocean’s Floor to the High Andes

Dónal Dineen takes a trip back in time to the High Andean city of Ayacucho in Peru to marvel at the field recordings made by David Lewiston in 1967 at the annual carnival. He explores the roots of Huayno music which evolved around ritual celebrations during the Inca Empire. 
The temperature drops in the second half with special guest Linda Buckley discussing how inspiration for her album From Ocean’s Floor emerged from the cold seas.
https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/composers/linda-buckley
 
 
 
 
 

Wicklow Gold and Silver Apples

In Episode #27 Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the legendary Simeon Cox whose band Silver Apples were responsible for electronic music’s Big Bang in 1969.
Special guest is Jonny Dillon. He plays a selection of tunes from the LP ‘Songs for a One-String Guitar’ and introduces tracks from the Automatic Tasty record A Farewell to Reason, as well as discussing some influences and his work at the National Folklore Collection.

Groove is in the Heartland: The Irrepressible Beat of the Congo

On this episode, Dónal Dineen talks seasonal anthems and the magic of Johnathan Richman’s ‘That Summer Feeling’ before heading back to the Georgia Sea Islands for another look at the Get In Union collection of songs from Bessie Jones and friends.
Niwel Tsumbu is the special guest and he presents an illustrated guide to the roots of Congolese dance music as well as an alternative theory on the origin of the blues.