Geordie - a few notes

The BIB editor writes:

During the past week, the following tributes to Geordie McAdam (right) have been published:

28 Feb. 'I ndílchuimhne Geordie McAdam', TG4 YouTube channel: Geordie and north Down fiddling, with Nigel Boullier

1 Mar. BangorBoat on Twitter; with brief video clip of Geordie fiddling 'Ashokan farewell'

2 Mar. 'Geordie McAdam, traditional musician (1938-2021)' by Maria MacAlister, Music Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland

2 Mar. Ulster American Folk Park Facebook

5 Mar. 'Tributes paid as NI Bluegrass legend Geordie McAdam plays his last tune' by Graeme Cousins, Belfast News Letter, 5 Mar. 2021 (quotes tributes by Richard Hurst, Frank Galligan, and Billy Kennedy, country music columnist of the News Letter)

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On 25 June 2019 the BIB carried a press release on the coming Cairncastle Ulster Scots Bluegrass Musical Evening, which included a substantial biographical article on Geordie, giving sources - one of which was the Irish News feature 'Bluegrass Music Festival back at Ulster American Folk Park' (25 Aug. 2016). The BIB, however, most strongly recommends the 28-minute video in which Geordie was interviewed on NVTV by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin in the 'Our generation' series, and gave a frank overview of his life.

As a traditional musician, playing Ulster Scots, Scottish, and Irish fiddle music as well as old-time and bluegrass, Geordie made significant contributions to Fintan Vallely's important book Tuned out: traditional music and identity in Northern Ireland (Cork University Press, 2008).

A cropped version of the photo above serves as the cover photo for the Belfast Bluegrass Facebook.

© Richard Hawkins