The Celtic Flyers |
| It all began during Sean’s hiatus of two years after the demise of Roisin Dubh. The Muddy Farmer had just opened late 1997 and Suzanne (Current part-owner of The Clare Inn) who previously had managed The Blarney Stone was in charge. The band that had been booked to play St Patrick’s Day 1998 had cancelled due to having received a better offer. So Suzanne knowing that Sean was in between bands gave him a call with two weeks to go to the big day.
Sean never shying from a challenge said he would get something sorted. It just so happened that one week previously Bazza Caitcheon (Ex The Mockers) had been given Sean’s number as he had just arrived from Wellington where he had been gigging upstairs at Molly Malone’s. Bazza claimed to know all the Christy Moore stuff (he lied) but Sean and Baz got together and discovered there was sufficient common ground to form the basis of a band. Baz’s good mate Glyn Frewin was called in on bass, and then there were three. Glyn was and still is a great jazz bass player. Baz often says that Glyn plays lead on the bass. Sean remembered that Paul Crowther (Ex Split Enz) had once said that if he ever needed a drummer that he would be keen, and then there were four. The Celtic Flyers were formed as a five piece with Finlay Smith (Ex Roisin Dubh) on fiddle.
St Patrick’s Day 1998 in the marquee on Wyndham Street, Auckland, outside The Muddy Farmer was where it all began. The Celtic Flyers are still going strong, the only personnel change being the departure of Finlay Smith and the arrival of the one and only Julie Grace on fiddle.
The Celtic Flyers have been the main St Patrick’s Festival Concert band for the last eight years, playing in Aotea Square, Auckland on the Saturday before St Patrick’s Day every year. They have played throughout the North Island with some memorable gigs in New Plymouth during The Lions rugby tour, a two year residency at The Muddy Farmer, weddings galore and most recently a very successful concert at The Uxbridge Arts Centre, Howick on The 18th of August 2007. There will be a ‘back by popular demand’ concert in the not too distant future. Please refer to Youtube, search for ‘The Celtic Flyers’ and there we are on another St Patrick’s Day 2002 which started at The Immigrant (R.I.P) Fanshawe St, Auckland, then proceeded to The Dogs Bollix, Newton Rd., Auckland and finally back where it all began at The Muddy Farmer street party.
The Celtic Flyers have progressed from pub gigs to a professional concert band fit to travel the world with their original music and contemporary interpretations of traditional Irish and Celtic songs and tunes. |
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'
Dodgy & the Bastard' & 'Sean Kelly & Friends' |
Dodgy & The Bastard were born somewhere round the turn of the century, as an offshoot of 5 piece band The Celtic Flyers. They are: Sean Kelly from Derry, Northern Ireland - now living in Auckland, and kiwi Bazza Caitcheon.
Sean sings and plays flutes, whistles, guitar and the celtic drum - the bodhran.
Bazza plays guitar and sings.
The duo have played more than a thousand gigs together around new Zealand, and have a wide repertoire of celtic numbers traditional and modern, plus numerous other folk, pop, rock and blues numbers.
On a good night they are known for their comedy, involving members of the audience and getting a right old time going.
On a bad night they descend into taking the audience for a round of pelvic floor exercises |
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'Dodgy & The Bastard' play regularly at The Bog Irish Bar, Parnell Thursday nights
And 'Sean Kelly & Friends' perform live at The Clare Inn, Mt Eden every Friday evening
Checkout The Bog & The Clare Inn websites (on Links page) for more information |
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