A Night Showcasing Mongolia’s Top Rock Bands
A few weeks ago ten of Mongolia’s top new alternative rock bands showed off their skills under one roof. It was the annual NisNis Fest, a concert hosted by Mongolia’s first grunge band, Nisvanis. This year’s show marked the 16th anniversary of the Nirvana-inspired group. It was only fitting that the band that in many ways paved the way for today’s vibrant and varied music scene feature some of the groups expanding the scene today.
Feria de San Telmo
San Telmo’s Sunday street market is a mosaic of kitschy tango paraphernalia, rainbow-colored knickknacks, and captivating music makers. The body of the market runs down Defensa street, but its heart, which pulses with tango, is in Plaza Dorrego. Crowds of gawking onlookers stand frozen, entranced by the seductive dance playing out before their eyes. The surrounding kiosks are supplied with stereotypical Argentine memorabilia, including tango dancer keychains, Carlos Gardel on vinyl, and cow-hoof mate gourds. During my time in Buenos Aires, I’ve made a conscious effort not to focus my recordings on tango, but I’m quickly becoming an expert in failing to do this.
Last week, my brother came all the way from occasionally-sunny Northern California to visit me in Buenos Aires, which meant an opportunity to play shameless tourist. On Sunday, we made our way to San Telmo to pay our respects to the market. While my brother was browsing through a variety of Che Guevara hats—the military-style ones with an embroidered red star—I became distracted by a band of drummers, who were surrounded by a cluster of dancers, moving like celestial bodies in, out, and among the market-goers. A mass of people collected around them.
I followed the hypnotic beat through the market, dodging fresh-squeezed orange juice vendors and precariously-stacked artisanal jewelry displays, as I wove through the throng to get a closer view. At the front of the procession was this man, a de facto leader with a practiced sway:
Attempting to ignore how sound pushes movement in this city would be like trying not to breathe.
Titanic: ‘What Happened Was A Disaster, She Was Not’
The title quote is from Una Reily, MBE of the Belfast Titanic Society, and I couldn’t agree with her more. Belfast has a great deal to be proud of regarding the construction of Titanic and these past few weeks of commemoration have seen the reconnection of the city with the pride of the people who built her. I was pleased to attend the 100th Anniversary Titanic Commemoration Service at Belfast City Hall this past Sunday April 14th, the date of the ship’s sinking 100 years ago. The service included music from the Harlandic Male Voice Choir and Queen’s Island Male Voice Choir, the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra Brass Section, and music guest Brian Kennedy. The video above has some highlights from the ceremony including speeches from the Lord Mayor Niall O’ Donnghaile, MBE of the Belfast Titanic Society Una Reilly, and memoirs from the late President of the Belfast Titanic Society John Parkinson who remembered seeing the ship before she set sail. The music in the video is a compilation of music that was performed during the ceremony. The first song is a hymn that would have been well known and sung 100 years ago, ‘Eternal Father Strong to Save,’ which is a plea to ‘hear us when we cry to thee, For those in peril on the sea.’ The final song ‘Nearer my God to Thee’ was heard by the people on the last life boats as they rowed away from Titanic while she sank, it is the last song performed by the ship musicians in attempts to keep a sense of calm on the ship.
Introducing: Gráinne Holland
I met Gráinne last year before a performance and was immediately taken with her personality. She seemed to radiate kindness and good will from her core, and when I heard her sing later that evening I wasn’t the least bit surprised that her music sounded pure and unique. That night she sang several Gaelic songs, and while she also sang some English tunes I could tell that her passion was deeply rooted in her Irish music.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Belfast!
I hope everyone state-side had a fantastic Paddy’s Day; I had the pleasure of enjoying some wonderful festivities in Belfast and got some great photos and footage of their annual parade. Enjoy!
The parade itself was much smaller than I had expected, but the floats and participants were splendid! The parade’s theme was ‘2012’ a celebration of all the wonderful events to look forward to for this year. Titanic was a major topic due to the upcoming 100th anniversary of her maiden voyage and there is much bustle about Belfast in preparation for the opening of a new museum dedicated to the ship and construction in her native Belfast, stay tuned into the blog for more on that topic down the road and remember what the locals say; ‘it was fine when it left here!’ There were also many references to the London Olympics in the costumes and performances. As always, music had its part to play and several drumming groups, armature and professional, as well as a traditional set showed off their rhythms and tunes. Some of the highlights included wonderful characters, a few great floats, colorful costumes, some brilliant hats, street performers, and great craic (Irish for fun)! The parade made its way through town from beautiful City Hall, and afterwards everyone parted ways to continue the festivities in the pubs or at home. Locals say that the annual St. Patrick’s parade is in its early years of becoming a Belfast tradition, but it seems to be on a good track to becoming a brilliant addition to Belfast’s many staple carnival activities.
