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'The Bandits' |
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The Bandits in concert at St. Patrick's Folk Festival, Portpatrick Scotland - 2002 |
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The
Bandits, despite their tender years, have been playing Traditional Music,
on their various instruments, for a number of years now, some of them
started with me as long ago as 1995. They are all long standing members
of the 'Jim McGill School of Traditional Music' & regularly attend
the school's weekly music classes. They are also enthusiastic members
of the Junior Sessions I have been running in Ballycastle every week
for the past eight years. |
Wishing
to develop their musical skills & confidence, & perhaps encourage
others to have a go, they have entertained regularly for many years
in all the local nursing homes, played each year on the Diamond stage
at all the local music festivals, represented Ballycastle musically
at the Scottish Folk Festivals in Campbeltown & Portpatrick &
entertained for the past three years on the Summer Bands programme for
the Coleraine Borough. |
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The
Tour 2003 |
On Friday, the 14th of March 2003, The Bandits headed off on their most exciting adventure to date, a four day concert tour, taking in concerts in Donaghadee, Portpatrick & Coleraine. All they had to do was pack a few belongings & get themselves to a from the Diamond, in Ballycastle -the rest of the weekend was all organised for them. They enjoyed accomodation in a 3 Star Hotel & in Caravans, which added to the whole holiday experience. The concert crowds weren't huge, but they were friendly, & the whole weekend was a great learning experience for them all. They performed in concert in the Community Centre in Donaghadee and the Grand Saturday night concert in the village hall, Portpatrick, supporting local group "Appalachian Mist". |
The weather couldn't have been kinder, sunshine all the way & friendly folk wherever we went . |
Monday lunchtime found them performing at Coleraine's first St. Patrick's Concert, outside Coleraine Town Hall, where they were filmed by both the BBC & UTV for their news bulletins that evening. Some of them were also interviewed by Radio Ulster. |
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Donaghadee
Folk Festival |
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Bandits
with Patrick Martin in Donaghadee |
Danielle
Brown & Bandits at 'Portpatrick Festival' |
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In Concert in Coleraine |
The Tour Team The Bandits on Tour were: Aileen Connor on Fiddle, Flute, & Whistle. Ann-Marie Brown on Fiddle, Mandolin, Whistle & Bodhran. Beth McMullan on Mandolin, Fiddle, Whistle & Bodhran. Danielle Brown on Vocals & Bodhran. David Hill on Whistle & Bodhran. Eihmear Connor on Fiddle, Flute, Whistle, Mandolin & Bodhran. Jenny Connor on Fiddle, Whistle, Guitar & Bodhran. Orlaigh Connor on Fiddle, Clarsach, Whistle & Bodhran. Stephanie Hill on Vocals Flute & Whistle. plus Dick Glasgow - Fiddle, Sabine Glasgow - Harp & Greg Gault - Guitar |
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Campbeltown
Folk Festival (
a few years ago ) |
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Busking
at the Lammas Fair |
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I first busked with a group of youngsters at the Lammas Fair way back in '95, when we made £520, £260 of which went to the local M. S. Unit & the other £260 went to 'Heartbeat' in Belfast. The Bandits have busked every year since for charity at the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle, and we always make at least £300 through the generousity of the towns visitors. |
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The Bandits were the resident traditional music group for a number of years, at the Jim McGill sessions in the Central Bar & House
of McDonnell Bar, & for nearly two years were the resident group
at the 'Black Nun Folk Club'. |
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Find
out about The Diamond
Ceili Bandit's own CD by visiting |
Wishing
the Bandits many years of enjoyment with their music |
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