|
More on Fleadh:
- Ticketmaster says that there is no reserved seating for this
show -- it's all general admission with 3 stages (prices
are in the article I've included below).
- American Express is offering a package for its Gold and
Platinum card holders. You get to be able to use the
on-site hospitality area at the festival; you also get
to take advantage of a free shuttle bus between the festival
site and Manhattan. I don't know if you have to pay extra
for these services. Call 1-800-786-GOLD or 1-212-307-GOLD
for more info.
Here's an article from yesterday's Newsday (Stephen Williams):
**********
ROCKIN' IRISH CELEBRATION HEADED FOR RANDALL'S ISLAND
Three months past St. Patrick's Day, the boundaries of Ireland will expand
to include Randall's Island.
A two-day celebration of Irish (and some American) music is scheduled for
June 14 and 15 as part of a "fleadh" (say flah) sponsored by Guinness, the
Irish brewery famous for its stout.
Among the attendees confirmed to appear at the venue's three stages are
Richard Thompson, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, Christy Moore and The
Chieftains, Suzanne Vega, Wilco and Natalie Merchant, which goes to show
that you don't have to be Irish to play in a fleadh. In all, more than
60 bands will play at the festival, which is to rock and roll from 11 a.m.
to 11 p.m. each day.
Promoters say tickets will be sold for both days ($64 plus a $6 parking fee)
or for one day ($37, plus $3). Tickets are to go on sale Saturday at
Ticketmaster outlets or Ticketmaster by phone (212-307-7171). [NOTE FROM
PAUL: According to the Boston Phoenix ad, you can get them locally, too.]
Event planners say they'll try to recreate the atmosphere of an "authentic
Irish Village" replete with street performers, dancers, craftsmen, Irish
crafts and cuisine.
Previous fleadhs have been held in London and Dublin in the past half-dozen
years, featuring acts including Morrison, U2, Sting and Bob Dylan.
*********
Finally, here's some info from CONCERTGOER David Knitowski:
Randall's Island is a small island between Spanish Harlem (in
Manhattan) and the South Bronx -- two of the worst neighborhoods in
NYC. It's not served by the subway and probably not by buses either.
It's connected to Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens by the
(appropriately named) Triboro Bridge. It's mostly park, several
baseball fields I think, but it's also home to the Triboro Bridge and
Tunnel Authority's offices. It was physically connected to Ward's
Island with landfill some years ago -- it's all one island now, but
people still call the north end "Randall's Island" and the south end
"Ward's Island". It certainly doesn't have enough parking for this
show so they'll probably have to set up some kind of shuttle service
(hopefully to a safe neighborhood with parking).
NOTE FROM PAUL: I know that Randall's Island was the site for Lollapalooza
for at least the last couple of years, so they have put on big events
there in the past. Beats me how successful they were. It is right off
the Triboro Bridge -- that's the bridge I use to get into Manhattan
and the exit for Randall Island is very obvious.
|