Maiden City Festival Weblog

The Maiden City Festival held a review eveing on 5 February 2009. It was an event were we could showcase the variety and diversity of the Festival to many from the community or business sectors who would not be around in August: August is the traditional holiday period in Londonderry much as the first two weeks of July are in Belfast. It was a great night of drama, music and dance. 

It is not fair to pick one of the performances for special attention, but as editor I will anyway.  The Henry Girls have been a long-standing feature of our lunchtime events at the Verbal Arts Centre each August and they were more than happy to be available for our review night. There are two songs from them up on YouTube from the night. This one silenced Londonderry’s Guildhall. It is available on their latest CD called DAWN, which can be found on their website www.thehenrygirls.com

There are a number of other videos on the website including dance from the Sollus Highland Dancers from Bready and the Victoria Line Dancers. Apologies for the video as the digital struggled to cope with the changing lights: though the result has an impact of its own. More photos of the night on Flickr very soon.

Festival over, but lots more to hear here on the Weblog. A more traditional offering from a band of young Scottish musicians, Breeches of the Peace with the Tunesters. The band played a very successful Scots Ceilidh Night, and played some more in the 13 Rounds Bar later.

Also performing at the Scots Ceilidh night were dancers from the Sollus Highland Dance, Bready. A number of dancers also performed each day on the historic Walls of Londonderry. Adding to the exhibition, were demonstrations of championship drumming and some tunes on the pipes. Very much appreciated by the many visitors touring the Walls.