New European Dulcimer website!

Dulcimer players will I'm sure be interested to learn that I launched a new website last weekend which promotes the Dulcimer players of Europe, the many forms of Dulcimer in Europe and of course all the European Dulcimer music too. 

Joining this new site is easy and once you become a member, you will have lots of fun setting up your own page, where you can post lots of interesting PHOTOS of your musical Dulcimer experiences and instruments. You can also entertain other members by posting MP3s of your own playing, impress them with your playing on VIDEO too and keep other members informed of forthcoming Dulcimer EVENTS in your area. 

1. European Dulcimer Players
   

Cheers,

Dick

Nikita was a big hit in the Springhill Bar, Portrush!

Well, before we went out to the session, last Thursday, Nikita treated us to a few tunes on his Hackbrett, in our kitchen.

Then Nikita took his Hackbrett along to the Springhill Bar & the punters really loved his playing. 

As you can see from the second photo, he also took his accordion with him.

Tonight in the House of McDonnell, Nikita took only his two Castagnari Accordions, as there's not much room for a Hackbrett around our tiny session table!

Cheers

Dick

Hackbrett player visits North Antrim

Visiting musician, Nikita Pfister, will be with us for a few days at the start of July 2009. He lives in Lausanne, Switzerland where he plays and teaches the Swiss Hackbrett. He also plays Accordion and enjoys playing all sorts of music, including Swiss, Balkan, Irish & Scottish. It's going to be wonderful, to have the sound of a Hackbrett ringing around the Causeway Coast Sessions. You can learn more about Nikita's music by visiting his website.

1. Tympanon
   

I play the Dulcimer every week, in the Bushmills Inn, Co Antrim.

Dulcimer being Hammered in the Bushmills Inn

If anyone would like to see & hear a Hammered Dulcimer being played in County Antrim today, then you should visit the Bushmills Inn any Saturday night, where you will hear me play my Hammered Dulcimer along with our group Scad the Beggars at our weekly Session. 

1. The Bushmills Inn
   

The Causeway Dulcimer Festival

In front of Glenarm Castle at the Festival Launch.

In 2005, in an effort to raise the profile of the Co Antrim Dulcimer even higher & perhaps even kick start a revival, I organised the first ever Dulcimer Festival in Co Antrim, the 'Causeway Dulcimer Festival'.

This event took place in & around Bushmills over a weekend, with various warm up events taking place during the week before, plus classes, sessions, talks & concerts during the weekend itself.

Dulcimer players came from America, Scotland, England & mainland Europe too, to help celebrate the life of John Rea & the history of the Dulcimer in Co Antrim.

In 2006, funding was not to be had so a few enthusiast gathered & enjoyed a number of Dulcimer sessions over a weekend.

1. The Causeway Dulcimer Festival

The Black Nun Fest, Ballycastle, Co Antrim

An old photo of John Rea in typical stooped playing pose.

In 2004, for my Black Nun Fest in Ballycastle, I was very fortunate to be able to ask an American Hammered Dulcimer player, Rick Davis from North Carolina, to help keep the Dulcimer flame burning in Antrim.

1. The Black Nun Fest
   
2. Rick Davis
   

The Glenarm Castle Kitchen Concert

John Rea's Solo LP

In 2003, in memory of John Rea and also in an attempt to raise the profile of the County Antrim Dulcimer, I organised a concert in Glenarm Castle, the Glenarm Castle Kitchen Concert, which was attended by three County Antrim Hammered Dulcimers players, Nat Magee, William Rea & Barry Carroll, plus myself, now a Glens resident.

1. The Glenarm Castle Kitchen Concert