News
Stuart Cassells leaves The Red Hot Chilli Pipers!
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lsewhere in this issue, Niamh Ní Charra says “A rule of the road is, ‘eat when you can, and sleep when you can!’ It’s important to do this to keep yourself from getting sick, because getting sick is not an option!” After nearly 10 years since forming the band, founder and frontman of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and bagpipe rock-star Stuart Cassells has left the band.
For the last two years, Stuart has been suffering with the condition called ‘Focal Dystonia’ also known as Musicians’s or writer’s cramp. This has meant he has had to have various different treatments to allow him to perform to his high standard, including Botox injections into the arm. He is hoping his time away from performing will allow him to fully focus on recovering from focal dystonia and he can rejoin the band for a few special gigs in the future.
‘Focal Dystonia’ is a neurological movement disorder that affects
about 1 in every 200 musicians and it prevents musicians from using the fine motor control required to play their instrument, resulting in cramps and abnormal postures. As well as musicians, the condition can also affect others who perform high precision hand movements such as surgeons and artists. Research is being carried out but at the moment there is no cure.
Always a natural showman, Stuart was the recipient of The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005 and was the first person to gain a degree in bagpipes from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He went on to record with rock group The Darkness for their second album One Way Ticket to Hell and Back and for the Harry Potter film Goblet of Fire.
Despite achieving much success in traditional bagpipe competitions, Stuart got greater pleasure and satisfaction from entertaining with the bagpipes and soon found himself in great
Leitrim Launch - 2
demand all over the world performing at a variety of functions and engagements. It was in 2002 whilst a student at the RSAMD, Stuart thought that there was a demand for a new, modern bagpipe group that could take the bagpipes to a wider audience by putting on show and taking the formality away from bagpipes.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have been ‘Rockin all over the World’ from New York to Beijing playing to huge festivals and packed venues. The band found fame after winning the BBC One Saturday Night television Talent show When Will I be Famous and the band was named Live Act of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2007 and 2010.
Their four CDs, which Stuart co- produced, have sold over 250,000 copies combined.
www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk
Information on Focal Dystonia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Focal_dystonia
Temple Bar, Dublin, November 24 2011
The youngest on stage was a 12 year old Irish dancer who brought youthful exuberance and showmanship together. To cap it off she then led a set of tunes on harmonica. A star in the making! Eleanor Shanley, Rosie Stewart and Cathy Jordan singing together was joy – but it would be unfair to single out any one performance as the finale said it all, this was all about a community celebrating its traditions.
Leitrim Eqation 2, Concert Finale • Photo: Pete Heywood
Leitrim moved to the capital with a launch concert for The Leitrim Equation 2 CD at The Button Factory in Temple Bar, Dublin. There was a celebratory mood
The Living Tradition - Page 6
from beginning to end with Dervish doing what they do best and Cathy Jordan on top form introducing the performers and making them all feel special.
The Leitrim launch coincided with the launch of the Companion to Irish Music and also a concert in support of the Japanese Tsunami appeal.
The Hartcourt Hotel was busy late into the night as people from the various events joined up for a session. The bus back to Leitrim was probably also an experience of note!
Both The Living Tradition and Celtic Music Radio bring their own extensive track records of achievement and share many common goals, volunteers and partnership links. Broadband Internet coupled with ‘listen again‘ facilities from the major broadcasters has effectively opened up this music to an increasingly interested audience worldwide. The Living Tradition and Celtic Music Radio 1530AM are in an ideal position to focus on the community aspect of the roots of this music.
A common link between the two organisations is that they are both part of a thriving living tradition. The Living Tradition name, currently associated more with the printed magazine, will be used within some of the programming of Celtic Music Radio and The Living Tradition will feature content from the presenters and volunteers at Celtic Music Radio.
Gordon Hotchkiss, a Board member of Celtic Music Radio 1530AM and a long time contributor to The Living Tradition magazine, will lead on programming ideas spanning broadcast and print media.
www.celticmusicradio.net
...Heard it on the Grapevine
Celtic Music Radio and Living Tradition to collaborate
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n an exciting development The Living Tradition has embarked on a working relationship with Glasgow- based Celtic Music Radio 1530AM enhancing the capacity of both organisations to provide knowledgeable and passionate coverage of folk music spanning print media, studio-based Radio broadcasting, Internet streaming digital media and coverage and broadcast of live music events.
Both companies are united by a common interest in traditional arts development through education in the informal sector, and will work closely together for planning and development purposes as they continue to explore areas of joint working.
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