Traditional Irish Folk Music, At Its Best

Irish folk musicians, Jeff Thomas and John Neral, graced the Appalachian Festival, on the Compton Stage, with their recreations of traditional Irish folk music during the Appalachian Festival on Saturday September 18. Both musicians appeared to have dedicated much time and effort to learning the traditional songs of Ireland, over the course of their lives, and played flawlessly to a medium sized audience. Thomas, who played the concertina, built a great relationship with the audience. Talking in between each song to encourage the audience to dance to the music and explaining the origin of the next song, helped create a strong connection between the artist and the audience. At one point, Thomas told the audience, “We are among the many great musicians here,” which showed his respectful nature towards the rest of the musicians that played at the festival that day. Over the course of the concert, young children could be seen dancing to the catchy Irish beats and the soothing sound of the concertina and guitar. This was especially interesting because it showed that different generations could enjoy the feel and sound of traditional folk music, no matter their age. John Neral accompanied, Thomas, on the acoustic guitar. The guitar added a distinct melody that enhanced the natural feel and rhythm of the traditional Irish folk songs. An audience member, Camille Duverger, who was enjoying the show immensely, commented, “After all the school work, it’s nice to come out here and enjoy it.” The difference in generations of people, among the audience, connecting with the artists and music, helped create a thriving atmosphere that went great with the music itself. One of the most noteworthy things that could be viewed was that neither artist played a percussion instrument, which would appear odd when playing folk music. The Irish drum, bodrahn, usually accompanies Irish folk music to create a driving beat that allows the music to be danceable. However, Jeff Thomas and John Neral relied solely on their own instruments and the tapping of their feet to create a rhythm that allowed the audience to stand up and dance to. In a way, this added to the overall authenticity, but also dedication of the musicians. It was obvious that both Thomas and Neral were well experienced with the music they played. Another thing that was astounding about the musicians, was the fact that neither used sheet music to play the long set of music. All of the music, passion and rhythm came from memory for both Thomas and Neral. Not all of the audience, however, was interested in dancing and enjoying the feel of traditional folk music. Sadly enough, some audience members could be heard worrying about more modern day problems such as, “The mall closes at 9:30 tonight,” or “I want to eat another corndog.” For both Thomas and Neral, this is disappointing. An event such as the Appalachian Festival, along with the performance of traditional Irish folk music, is a means to escape modern day worries and cares. It would appear that not all of the audience was capable of enjoying the sound of a rich, cultural history.