UK: VAN MORRISON TOPS THE BILL AT THE "FLEADH", THE WORLD'S LARGEST CELTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

Record ID: 545251

  • Title: UK: VAN MORRISON TOPS THE BILL AT THE "FLEADH", THE WORLD'S LARGEST CELTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL
  • Date: 7th June 1997
  • Summary: FINSBURY PARK, LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 7, 1997) (REUTERS) SKY/ PULL DOWN TO PEOPLE SEATED ON GROUND PEOPLE SEATED ON GROUND/ EATING AND DRINKING FLEADH POSTER AT SIDE OF STAGE/ PULL BACK TO CROWD OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE FESTIVAL PEOPLE DANCING IN CROWD POSTER FOR THE FLEADH PEOPLE DANCING VARIOUS OF SHARON SHANNON PERFORMING ON STAGE WITH HER IRISH BAND CROWD APPLAUDING VIEW OF STAGE AS VAN MORRISON IS WELCOMED ON STAGE VARIOUS OF VAN MORRISON PERFORMING ON STAGE CROWD APPLAUDING PEOPLE IN CROWD PLAYING WITH BALLOON GLASSES OF GUINNESS LIGHTNING SEEDS ON STAGE AS BALLOONS FLOAT BY PEOPLE DANCING/ DRINKING GUINNESS
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ENGLAND, LONDON
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVA6LMCWLVQOTP81HFQLM978LQJA
  • Story Text: Britain's summer music festival season is well under way -- warm weather over the weekend inspired more than 20 thousand music lovers to gather in London on Saturday (June 7) for the world's largest Celtic music festival.
    The eighth annual Fleadh (pronounced Flah) is also London's longest running outdoor music event.
    This year's two stage Irish and international line-up at Finsbury Park was headed by Van Morrison and included The Lightning Seeds, Suzanne Vega, The Divine Comedy, The Mutton Birds and Sharon Shannon.
    Bob Dylan was to front the festival, but his absence through illness robbed the festival of its biggest name.
    Instead, Van Morrison took Dylan's place on the bill and his set, on the festival's main stage, focused on his new album "The Healing Game". Though refusing to play songs such as "Moondance" and "Brown-eyed Girl", in spite of repeated audience requests, Van Morrison delighted his fans with the newer numbers.
    For the Fleadh, Van Morrison was backed by singers Katie Kissoon and Brian Kennedy and an all-star band featuring Georgie Fame on keyboards.
    Sharon Shannon and her band provided some traditional Irish music, inspiring members of the audience to dance and jig to their hearts content in between swigs of Guinness.
    Later on the main stage The Lightning Seeds breezed through numbers such as "Suger Coated Iceberg" and "Lucky You" The park was transformed by more than 23 thousand people dancing and picnicing in the warm June sun.
    The Lightning Seed's lead singer Ian Broudie said the Fleadh was a good day out for everyone and a bit easier to cope with than the usual two or three day epic summer festivals.
    Next week the Fleadh moves to New York, where singer Sinead O'Connor tops the bill.
    American singer Suzanne Vega, who's claim to Celtic roots comes from her Scottish family tree, said she thought the New York Fleadh would be a success because of the large Irish community there.
    The next major summer festival is Glastonbury which runs from June 27-29.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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